Biotechnology

Certificate Program

The field of biotechnology is vibrant, with constant new developments and advances that are generating opportunities for scientific exploration and employment. New biotechnology-derived pharmaceutical products are gaining FDA approval, the sequencing of the human genome will lead to tremendous new opportunities in disease prevention, and transgenic plants and animals are offering new options in large-scale production of products. The ability to manipulate the genetic content of microbial, insect, animal, and plant cells has led to a variety of commercial applications in medicine, nutrition, materials science, and the environment.

Through industry-based projects and case studies, the certificate courses cover the fundamentals and practical considerations in the field, including construction of recombinant DNA and the production of enzymes, therapeutic proteins, vaccines and small-molecule primary and secondary metabolites. The curriculum features modern techniques for separation and purification of small and large biomolecules, including techniques specially designed for today's biotechnology products. In addition, production and separation case studies emphasize process economics, GMP, and QA/QC.

Who Should Apply?
The program is open to students with a bachelor's degree and a background in biology, chemistry, or engineering. Students who lack the necessary biology or engineering background can take primer courses during the summer.

Students interested in earning a graduate degree can often apply the biotechnology engineering certificate courses toward a Tufts master's degree in biotechnology engineering.

Program of Study
Two certificate programs are available. Each certificate requires four courses.

• Biotechnology: emphasizes molecular biology practices and state-of-the-art cloning and expression techniques
  1. Two core courses from the following:
     • Biochemical Separations (CHBE 161)
     • Molecular Biotechnology (CHBE 162)
     • Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (BME 164)
     • Principles of Cell and Microbe Cultivation (CHBE 166)
     • Topics in Biotechnology (CHBE 169 A and B 1.0 credit)
     • Biochemistry (CHEM 171/172)
     • Molecular Biology (BIO 105)
     • Biochemistry and Cellular Metabolism (BIO 152)
     • Topics in Biochemistry (BIO 153)
  2. One laboratory course:
     • Tissue Engineering (BME 175)
     • Recombinant DNA Techniques (CHBE 163)
     • Biotechnology Projects Laboratory (CHBE 168)
  3. One approved elective course in biology, chemistry, or chemical and biological engineering
• Biotechnology Engineering: emphasizes biochemical process engineering principles and state-of-the-art biotechnology production techniques
  1. Two core courses:
     • Biochemical Separations (CHBE 161)
     • Principles of Cell and Microbe Cultivation (CHBE 166)
  2. One laboratory course from the following:
     • Recombinant DNA Techniques (CHBE 163)
     • Biotechnology Processing Projects Laboratory (CHBE 168)
  3. One approved elective course in biology, chemistry, or chemical engineering

These certificates are offered in collaboration with the Tufts Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Tufts Tissue Engineering Resource Center.

Tuition:
Certificate students pay a course rate for each required certificate course of $3,050 per course (2009-2010).

For course information, contact:
Certificate Faculty Advisor:
David Kaplan (617) 627-2580

For Application Forms for the certificate program.

Course numbers/titles are subject to change. Course descriptions are available at http://ase.tufts.edu/bulletin/.