Unit information: Engineering Biology Design Across Scales: From Biomolecules to Cells in 2027/28

Unit name	Engineering Biology Design Across Scales: From Biomolecules to Cells
Unit code	SEMTM0002
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Marucci
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	Foundational training (delivered in Oxford, does not bear credit).
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

This unit provides an entry point into specialised Engineering Biology training. Students will be exposed to interdisciplinary and state-of-the-art methodologies and applications of Engineering Biology, with teaching staff from a wide range of schools and faculties, and across two Institutions (Bristol and Oxford).

How does the unit fit into your programme of study?

Knowledge gained in the unit will be fundamental to access other units in year 1, and to gain skills needed for the individual short projects and the PhD project.

Your learning on this unit

Overview of the content

The unit will cover three key topics:

1. Biomolecular Design and Construction. Sessions may include concepts and methodologies for the synthesis, modification, and assembly of biomolecules; design of nanostructures and their assemblies; and rational and computational de novo protein design.
2. Biological Circuit Design. Sessions may include scale-up of engineered biological complexity, advanced genetic circuit design, standardisation of parts, devices and genetic design, design-build-test-learn cycles, and computer-aided biological design tools.
3. Cell and Multicellular Design. Sessions may include metabolic engineering, microbial communities, and whole-cell modelling.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

At the end of this unit, students will have gained specialised knowledge in interdisciplinary Engineering Biology topics, learned to work in a multidisciplinary environment (including learning how to learn from each other), and they will have had a chance to think creatively about their future research plans.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Describe the concepts and experimental/computational methodologies that are key to the design and engineering of biomolecules;
2. Compare and contrast design, modelling, and engineering tools for biocircuits and choose appropriate tools for different tasks;
3. Design and model whole-cell bioprocesses.

How you will learn

The unit will be delivered via a combination of:

• in-person lectures, online seminars and recorded videos/notes from experts in Engineering Biology (both academics and industrialists) with the aim of introducing students to core Engineering Biology design concepts;
• hands-on and interactive demonstrations, led by academic lecturers and senior students;
• self-directed activities where students can in their own time revise the literature and access bespoke training material prepared by Engineering Biology experts.

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Formative feedback will be provided throughout the course. The formative assessment of the previous unit “Foundations in EngBio” will also be essential for ensuring that all students are familiar with the interdisciplinary methods and language of Engineering Biology.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

Report (100%): In this individual coursework that tests all ILOs, you will demonstrate your understanding of at least 1 core experimental or 1 core computational methodology for Engineering Biology design and give a few examples of applications.

When assessment does not go to plan

Re-assessment takes the same form as the original summative assessment.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SEMTM0002).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.