Certificate
Biology and Biotechnology
Faculty
R. P. Rao, Professor and Department Head; Ph.D., Penn State University-Medical School; M.S. (Dual), Drexel University; emerging infectious diseases, virulence and host defense mechanisms.
F. Brownwell, Professor of Practice; Ph.D., University of Vermont
M.A. Buckholt, Professor of Teaching; Ph.D., Worcester Polytechnic Institute
C. Collins, Associate Professor of Teaching; Ph.D., SUNY Albany
J. B. Duffy, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Texas; defining signaling pathways that program cellular diversity.
N. G. Farny, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. Harvard University; synthetic biology, cell biology of stress response, and microbiome engineering for environmental applications.
J. A. King, Professor and Peterson Family Dean of Arts and Sciences; Ph.D., New York University; M.S, City University of New York; neuronal plasticity associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging, molecular biology and behavior.
A. L. Manning, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Dartmouth University-Geisel School of Medicine; cancer cell biology, cell cycle regulation, mitotic progression and chromosome segregation, chromatin regulation, and genome stability.
L. M. Mathews, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Louisiana; aquatic ecology, plant-insect coevolution, design and application of molecular genetic tools for ecological research, conservation biology.
S. G. McInally, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., University of California, Davis; M.P.H. University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health; quantitative cell biological, mathematical modeling, organization and size control of cytoskeletal structures.
I. Nechipurenko, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine; developmental neurobiology, genetics, cilia assembly and signaling in neurons.
K. K. Oates, Professor; Ph.D., George Washington University Biochemistry; thymic hormone characterization, monoclonal antibody production, immunology of disease, undergraduate STEM education, STEM Education for Development.
L. Roberts, Assoicate Professor of Teaching; Ph.D., Cornell University
J. Rulfs, Associate Professor; Ph.D., Tufts University; cell culture model systems of signal transduction, metabolic effects of phytoestrogens, cultured cells in tissue engineering.
E. F. Ryder, Professor; Ph.D., Harvard University; M.S., Harvard School of Public Health; bioinformatics and computational approaches to understanding biological systems.
S. S. Shell, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of California San Diego; understanding how gene regulation controls stress responses and antibiotic sensitivity in mycobacteria.
J. Srinivasan, Associate Professor; Ph.D., University of Tuebingen, Germany; neural networks underlying social behaviors, role of olfactory dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders, optogenetics and engineering of neural networks.
L. Vidali, Professor; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts-Amherst; understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the role of the cytoskeleton in plant cell organization and growth.
Karl-Frederic Vieux, Assistant Professor; PhD., McGill University; Understanding RNA tailing by terminal nucleotidyl transferases and their role in C. elegans fertility to better understand the RNA contribution to oocyte quality and embryonic viability, and the effects of detrimental factors like maternal age on that relationship
P. J. Weathers, Professor; Ph.D., Michigan State University; investigation of Artemisia annua antimalarial, antimicrobial drug production in planta, and bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo.
Research Interests
Enabled by a world-class research infrastructure, students explore their passion for discovery while driving cutting-edge, hypothesis-driven research alongside our diverse and dynamic faculty body. Faculty areas of expertise in which students may engage in directed student include:
- Cancer cell biology
- Cognition and behavior
- Cytoskeletal dynamics
- Drug resistance
- Epigenetics and gene regulation
- Infectious diseases
- Neurobiology
- Regenerative medicine
- Signal transduction mechanisms
- Synthetic Biology
The department strongly recommends that, prior to applying, prospective students review the information on the department’s website to identify potential research interests and faculty advisors.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Areas of focus: Cytoskeletal dynamics, epigenetics/gene regulation, and signal transduction mechanisms
Biological systems: C. elegans, Drosophila, M. musculus, Physcomitrella, and C. albicans, S. cerevisae, Cultured cells
Faculty: Joe Duffy, Natalie Farny, Amity Manning, Lauren Mathews, Shane McInally, Inna Nechipurenko, Reeta Rao, Jill Rulfs, Liz Ryder, Scarlet Shell, Jagan Srinivasan, Luis Vidali, Karl-Frederic Vieux, and Pam Weathers.
Development, Neurobiology, and Organismal Biology
Areas of focus: Cancer biology, regenerative medicine, neuronal migration, circuits, and degeneration, pathogenic mechanisms, and plant biology
Model systems: C. elegans, Drosophila, M. musculus, Physcomitrella, and C. albicans, Cultured cells
Faculty: Joe Duffy, Amity Manning, Inna Nechipurenko, Reeta Rao, Liz Ryder, Scarlet Shell, Jagan Srinivasan, Luis Vidali, Karl-Frederic Vieux, and Pam Weathers.
Behavioral and Environmental Biology
Areas of focus: Animal behavior, biological diversity, biosensing and bioremediation, brain plasticity, and plant biology
Model systems: Danaus plexippus, Orconectes spp., and Drosophila
Faculty: Joe Duffy, Natalie Farny, Lauren Mathews, and Jagan Srinivasan.
Programs of Study
With the advent of genomics, the 21st Century has been termed a “revolutionary” era in Biology and Biotechnology. The Department of Biology and Biotechnology (BB) is perfectly situated for this transition with the construction of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center at Gateway Park. This state-of-the-art building integrates Life Sciences and Bioengineering at WPI in addition to housing several technology centers and biotechnology start-ups.
The Department offers a fulltime research-oriented program for incoming graduate students, leading to either a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biology and Biotechnology or Masters (M.S.) degree in Biology and Biotechnology. These programs require students to successfully complete a set of required courses in the field and a thesis project or dissertation that applies the basic principles of biology and biotechnology using hypothesis driven experimental methods to address a specific research problem.
In addition, the department also offers a skills-based non-thesis MS degree in Biotechnology, delivered in a blended format. The non-thesis M.S. program is designed to provide a broad base in advanced coursework and laboratory training in techniques that are applicable to the Biotechnology industry.
Graduates will have a broad knowledge of the field of biology and biotechnology, a detailed knowledge in their area of specialization, a working knowledge of modern research tools, a strong appreciation for scientific research in theoretical and experimental areas, and a foundation for lifelong learning and experimenting, both individually and as part of a team. Students who complete these programs will be well prepared for careers in the academics and private sectors or further graduate education.
Application and Admission
Applications should be made to the specific degree programs. The department accepts applications for admission to the M.S. or Ph.D. in biology and biotechnology programs in the Fall semester only. M.S. in Biotechnology applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Admission Requirements
Research Facilities and Centers
Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center (LSBC)
Located in Gateway Park, the world-class, 124,600-square-foot LSBC was built in 2007 and serves as the school’s focal point for graduate education and research in the life sciences and related bioengineering fields. It’s also home to life sciences companies, state-of-the-art core facilities, and WPI’s Graduate & Professional Studies division.
The Core facilities include an Imaging core providing a wide range of imaging capabilities for live and fixed samples including Confocal microscopy with FRET and FRAP, Atomic Force Microscopy, and microinjection/manipulation and histology capabilities; an Analytical core, with NMR, Atomic-absorption (AA) spectroscopy, LC-MS and GC-MS capabilities; and Molecular Cores for DNA/RNA/tissue work. Additional shared common spaces include centralized facilities for waste disposal, media preparation as well as dishwashing. The facility is part of the WPI-University of Massachusetts Consortium which allows researchers at both institutions to access facilities and services at the other institution at “in-house” rates.
Bioprocess Center (BPC)
Researchers at the BPC design and develop scalable processes for drug manufacturing. The BPC contracts with biotechnology companies, to supply drug targets in research quantities and conduct lab- and pilot-scale process development.
Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center (BETC)
WPI’s Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center, the first of its kind in the Northeast, provides innovative workforce development solutions customized to the specific needs of an industry. Serving life sciences companies from across the region and the globe, the center represents an innovative partnership of academia and industry by offering hands-on and classroom training by experts in a wide-range of roles and disciplines.
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Certificate in Biomanufacturing, -
M.S. in Biology and Biotechnology (thesis-based), Master of Science -
M.S. in Biotechnology (skills-based), Master of Science -
Ph.D. in Biology and Biotechnology, Ph.D.
Classes
BB 501: Seminar
Department
This course will help students develop scientific communication skills through their attendance and participation in weekly research seminars. Research talks will include both external guest speakers and graduate students from the Biology and Biotechnology department, giving students an opportunity to learn by example while also honing their data presentation and communication skills through practice. Students will receive feedback from an audience of their peers and departmental faculty. Talks given by guest speakers will be paired with informal meetings between the guest and students to promote networking and broaden the student’s exposure to the greater scientific community. This course is a requirement for the PhD degree in Biology and Biotechnology and it is expected that both Ph.D. and M.S. students register for it each semester that they are enrolled in the program.
BB 504: Molecular Biology of the Cell
Department
This course will facilitate a student’s functional knowledge of living cells from a biological, biochemical and technological perspective. Topics covered will include the structure, organization, growth, regulation, movements, and interaction of cells, as well as details of cellular metabolism and molecular biology. Emphasis will be placed on visualizing cellular architecture, describing the structure of DNA, describing the fate of various cellular RNAs, articulating information flow in cells, and describing protein outcomes. This course is intended to achieve a homogenous level of student understanding and can be used as a foundation course for the program. This course is designed to familiarize students with basic concepts of molecular biology including structure, organization, growth, regulation, movements, and interactions within a cell. Details of metabolism and molecular biology will be covered through projects and study of the primary literature to achieve a homogenous level of student understanding and rigor. Weekly online assessments are designed to ensure understanding. Note: Students may not receive credit for BB 504 and BB 570-196.
BB 505: Fermentation Biology
Department
Material in this course focuses on biological (especially microbiological) systems by which materials and energy can be interconverted (e.g., waste products into useful chemicals or fuels). The processes are dealt with at the physiological and the system level, with emphasis on the means by which useful conversions can be harnessed in a biologically intelligent way. The laboratory focuses on measurements of microbial physiology and on bench-scale process design.
BB 508: Animal Cell Culture
Department
Animal cell culture technology is about maintaining cells in vitro under controlled conditions. In recent decades this technology has advanced significantly, and animal cells are used in variety of application both in research and product development. The students in this course will be exposed to the different methodologies utilized to grow cells and how this technology is becoming critical in production of many of the health care products used to control human diseases. The course is covers four general skills (1) Basic techniques for culturing and sub-culturing animal cells and growth parameters, (2) Quality control of a cell culture laboratory/How to control contamination, (3) Primary cell culture and development of cell lines, and (4) Scale-up of cell culture from a T-Flask to a bioreactor. Note: Students may not receive credit for BB 508 and BB 570-198
BB 509: Scale Up of Bioprocessing
Department
Strategies for optimization of bioprocesses for scale-up applications will be explored. In addition to the theory of scaling up unit operations in bioprocessing, students will scale up a bench-scale bioprocess (3 liters), including fermenta- tion and downstream processing to 33 liters. Specific topics include the effects of scaling up on: mass transfer and bioreactor design, harvesting techniques including tangential flow filtration and centrifugation, and chromatography (open column and HPLC).
BB 515: Environmental Change: Problems and Approaches
Department
This seminar course will examine what is known about ecological responses to both natural and human-mediated environmental changes, and explore approaches for solving ecological problems and increasing environmental sustainability.
Areas of focus may include, and are not limited to, conservation genetics, ecological responses to global climate change, sustainable use of living natural resources, and the environmental impacts of agricultural biotechnology.
BB 526: Synthetic Biology
Department
Do we yet have the technology to engineer life? Can we control gene expression to create organisms that function in useful ways? Do we understand the tenets of genetic regulation as well as we think we do? These important questions and more are investigated by the emerging field of Synthetic Biology. In this course, students will explore this exciting new realm of biology through in-depth analysis and discussion of primary literature. Topics to be covered include the design and construction of synthetic gene circuits, synthesis of new genes and genomes, logic gate regulation of gene expression, and the latest applications of synthetic biology to advances in medicine, information processing, and the environment.
BB 550 : Cancer Biology
Department
In this course, students will learn and apply advanced cellular and molecular biology concepts to understand causes and consequences of cancer cell transformation. Through an integration of primary literature and lecture material students will explore how research into basic mechanisms of cancer biology is used to identify therapeutic targets and inform drug design. This course will cover discussion of the hallmarks of cancer including the deregulation of cell growth, cell death, and metabolism; corruption of genome stability; evasion of immune response; and metastatic potential. Students may not earn credit for both BB 4050 and BB 550.
BB 551: Research Integrity in the Sciences
Department
Students are exposed to various issues related to integrity in doing research to enable development of an appropriately reasonable course of action in order to maintain integrity on a variety of research-related performance and reporting activities. These activities include, but are not limited to data fabrication, authorship, copyright, plagiarism, unintended dual use of technology, and responsibilities towards peers who may request your confidential review or feedback.
The course will use class discussion, case studies, and exercises to facilitate an understanding of the responsibilities of scientists to their profession. Students may receive credit for either BB551 or a BB570 course entitled Research Integrity in the Sciences but not both.
BB 552: Scientific Writing and Proposal Development
Department
This course will cover key elements to writing successful grant proposals including identification and justification of a research question, experimental approaches, and experimental system selection. Emphasis will be placed on how significance, innovation, rigor and reproducibility of prior and proposed work help shape the broader research question being addressed and the specific aims proposed. Students will be expected to develop an NIH F31 style proposal based within the life sciences and outside their dissertation field. Interactive peer feedback will complement guidance obtained from the instructors and the student’s own research advisor and is a critical part of this course. Students are expected to complete this course in their second year of their thesis research, prior to their Qualifying Exam. Students may receive credit for either BB552 or a BB570 course entitled Scientific Writing and Proposal Development but not both.
BB 553: Experimental Design and Statistics in the Life Sciences
Department
This applied course introduces students to the basics of experimental design and data analysis. Emphasis will be placed on designing biological experiments that are suitable for statistical analysis, choosing appropriate statistical tests to perform, and interpreting the results of statistical tests. We will cover statistical methods commonly used by biologists to analyze experimental data, including testing the fit of data to theoretical distributions, comparisons of groups, and regression analysis. Both parametric and non-parametric tests will be discussed. Students will use computer packages to analyze their own experimental data. Students may receive credit for either BB553 or a BB570 course entitled Experimental Design and Statistics in the Life Sciences but not both.
BB 554: Journal Club
Department
This primary literature and discussion based course is designed to help graduate students further their scientific reading and interpretation skills. Topics covered typically reflect the expertise or interest of the instructor and students. Students will read, discuss, and present on the research questions, results, and interpretation of published research papers of the chosen topic. Through discussion of the strengths, limitations and controls for experimental approaches described in the selected manuscripts students will gain critical evaluation and experimental design skills that will translate to their own research projects.
BB 556: Mentored Teaching Experience
Department
This course is arranged with an individual faculty member within the student’s discipline. The graduate student is involved in the development of course materials, such as a syllabus, projects, or quizzes, and course delivery, such as lecturing or facilitating a conference session (20% delivery limit). In addition to covering course pedagogy, the faculty member arranges for the student teacher to be evaluated by students enrolled in the course and reviews the student reports with the student teacher.
BB 560: Methods of Protein Purification and Downstream Processing
Department
This course provides a detailed hands-on survey of state-of-the-art methods employed by the biotechnology industry for the purification of products, proteins in particular, from fermentation processes. Focus is on methods that offer the best potential for scale-up. Included is the theory of the design, as well as the operation of these methods both at the laboratory scale and scaled up. It is intended for biology, biotechnology, chemical engineering and biochemistry students.
Prerequisites
knowledge of basic biochemistry is assumed
BB 561: Model Systems: Experimental Approaches and Applications
Department
The course is intended to introduce students to the use of model experimental systems in modern biological research. The course covers prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems including microbial (.Escherichia coli) and single cells eukaryotes (fungi); invertebrate (Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster) and vertebrate (mice, zebra fish) systems and plants (moss, algae and Arahidopsis thaliana). Use of these systems in basic and applied research will be examined. Students may receive credit for either BB561 or a BB570 course entitled Model Systems: Experimental Approaches and Applications but not both.
BB 562: Cell Cycle Regulation
Department
This course focuses on molecular events that regulate cell cycle transitions and their relevance to mammalian differentiated and undifferentiated cells. Topics include control of the Gl/S and G2/M transitions, relationships between tumor suppressor genes such as pi6, Rb, p53 or oncogenes such as cyclin D, cdc25A, MDM2 or c-myc and cell cycle control. Where appropriate, the focus is on understanding regulation of cell cycle control through transcriptional induction of gene expression, protein associations, posttranslational modifications like phosphorylation or regulation of protein stability like ubiquitin degradation. Students may receive credit for either BB562 or a BB570 course entitled Cell Cycle Regulation but not both.
BB 565: Virology
Department
This advanced level course uses a seminar format based on research articles to discuss current topics related to the molecular/cell biology of viral structure, function, and evolution. Particular emphasis is placed on pathological mechanisms of various human disorders, especially emerging disease, and the use of viruses in research.
BB 570: Special Topics
Department
This course will engage students at an advanced level in the exploration of special topics that reflect the expertise of the department faculty. Course offerings change regularly, and past iterations have included both literature-based courses such as Medical and Applied Immunology and Biostatistics and skills-based courses such as Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Biology and Practical Process Control. NOTE: Students may earn credit for multiple offerings of this course provided each offering bear distinct course descriptions and course content.'
BB 575: Advanced Genetics and Cellular Biology
Department
Topics in this course focus on the basic building blocks of life: molecules, genes and cells. The course will address areas of the organization, structure, function and analysis of the genome and of cells.
Prerequisites
A familiarity with fundamentals of recombinant DNA and molecular biological techniques as well as cell biology
BB 581/BCB 501: Bioinformatics
Department
This course will provide an overview of bioinformatics, covering a broad selection of the most important techniques used to analyze biological sequence and expression data.
Students will acquire a working knowledge of bioinformatics applications through hands-on use of software to ask and answer biological questions. In addition, the course will provide students with an introduction to the theory behind some of the most important algorithms used to analyze sequence data (for example, alignment algorithms and the use of hidden Markov models). Topics covered will include protein and DNA sequence alignments, evolutionary analysis and phylogenetic trees, obtaining protein secondary structure from sequence, and analysis of gene expression including clustering methods.
Students may not receive credit for both BB 581 and BB 4801.
Prerequisites
knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, and statistics at the undergraduate level
BB 590: Advanced Topics in Biology and Biotechnology
Department
These classes will serve as integrative experiences for graduate students who are early in their doctoral training. The course will help students integrate concepts from other courses in the curriculum, practice skills of critical analysis, and evaluate and communicate scientific information effectively. The specific theme of each offering will center around a current topic of biological interest, and may include such areas as genomics, cancer, environmental problems, and synthetic biology. NOTE: Students may not earn credit for both BB 4900 and BB 590 that bear the same course description.
BB 598: Directed Research
Department
Directed research conducted under the guidance of a faculty member in the BB Program.
BB 599: Master's Thesis
Department
A Master’s thesis in Biology and Biotechnology consists of a research and development project worth a minimum of 9 graduate credit hours advised by a faculty member in the BB Program. The student must satisfactorily complete a written dissertation, public presentation, and private defense with thesis committee.
BB 699: Ph.D. Dissertation
Department
A Ph.D. thesis in Biology and Biotechnology consists of a research and development project worth a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours advised by a faculty member affiliated with the BB Program. Students must pass a qualifying exam before the student can register for Ph.D. thesis credits. The student must satisfactorily complete a written dissertation, defend in a public presentation and private defense with thesis committee.
BCB 501/BB 581: Bioinformatics
Credits
3.0
This course will provide an overview of bioinformatics, covering a broad selection of the most important techniques used to analyze biological sequence and expression data. Students will acquire a working knowledge of bioinformatics applications through hands-on use of software to ask and answer biological questions. In addition, the course will provide students with an introduction to the theory behind some of the most important algorithms used to analyze sequence data (for example, alignment algorithms and the use of hidden Markov models). Topics covered will include protein and DNA sequence alignments, evolutionary analysis and phylogenetic trees, obtaining protein secondary structure from sequence, and analysis of gene expression including clustering methods. Students may not receive credit for both BCB 4001 and BCB 501.
Prerequisites
knowledge of genetics, molecular biology, and statistics at the undergraduate level