Biological Design

Overview

Students pursuing the MS degree in Biological Design at Arizona State University are trained in the continuum between technology and biology by participating in a flexible training program that requires students to take one program core course, one course from a suite of biotechnology courses, and one from a suite of statistics courses.

The flexibility of this program, while maintaining key instructional structure, allows students from both traditional and non-traditional engineering backgrounds to have access to training and mentoring simultaneously in both engineering and technology with a biological focus. This allows students from diverse backgrounds to have access to transdisciplinary education and training that they would not have in traditional program settings.

As part of coursework and applied projects or theses, students read literature; identify critical problems related to energy, environment, human health, sustainability and security; and develop solutions to these problems using a synergy of technological and biological solutions, either in teams (course projects) or individually (thesis or applied project). Students are mentored by faculty from different colleges and schools at ASU.

Career opportunities

The master of science program in biological design trains a new type of student at this very interface, with cutting-edge skills at the continuum spanning technology and biology. It is anticipated that graduates will find placement in the broader biotechnology industry including biopharmaceutical processing, biomanufacturing, sustainable biotechnology, and food and agribusiness industries. Some graduates will likely pursue careers in entrepreneurship (e.g. start-up companies), law (e.g. patent law), regulatory affairs and medicine.

Career examples include:

• clinical laboratory technologists
• environmental engineers
• environmental scientists and specialists
• epidemiologists
• health and safety engineers
• microbiologists