phd biotechnology mit

Biomedical and Biotechnology

Using the tenets of biology and the applied tools of engineering, researchers develop an understanding of living systems, opening new opportunities and solutions in these complex systems.

Brandon DeKosky and colleagues take on Cancer Grand Challenges

Institute for medical engineering and science (imes).

Langer Lab and colleagues use new nanoparticle to improve vaccines

Koch institute for integrative cancer research.

Kroll Lab finds germicidal UV lights could be producing indoor air pollutants

Atacama Biomaterials, co-founded by former Rutledge Lab postdoc Paloma...

Guillermo ameer scd ’99 helps create implant & app to monitor bladder..., undergraduate research opportunities.

New center for continuous mRNA manufacturing unveiled

Katie Galloway’s research on DNA & gene orientation hold promise for...

Langer lab helps to find potential therapy for alzheimer’s, biophysical instrumentation facility.

Kwanghun Chung & colleagues discover silent synapses abundant in the brain

The Furst Lab turns carbon dioxide into valuable products

Chris love and colleagues improve blood tests’ ability to detect cancer.

The Langer Lab finds microparticles could be used to deliver...

Langer Lab & colleagues’ ingestible device detects breathing & heart rate in...

Doyle lab develops new way to deliver drugs more efficiently.

The Strano Lab boosts signals from fluorescent sensors

BecomingX Film: Robert Langer

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Department of Biological Engineering

The mission of the Department of Biological Engineering (BE) is to educate next-generation leaders and to generate and translate new knowledge in a new bioscience-based engineering discipline fusing engineering analysis and synthesis approaches with modern molecular-to-genomic biology. Combining quantitative, physical, and integrative principles with advances in mechanistic molecular and cellular bioscience, biological engineering increases understanding of how biological systems function as both physical and chemical mechanisms; how they respond when perturbed by factors such as medical therapeutics, environmental agents, and genetic variation; and how to manipulate and construct them toward beneficial use. Through this understanding, new technologies can be created to improve human health in a variety of medical applications, and biology-based paradigms can be generated to address many of the diverse challenges facing society across a broad spectrum, including energy, the environment, nutrition, and manufacturing.

The department's premise is that the science of biology is as important to the development of technology and society in the 21st century as physics and chemistry were in the 20th century, and that an increasing ability to measure, model, and manipulate properties of biological systems at the molecular, cellular, and multicellular levels will continue to shape this development. A new generation of engineers and scientists is learning to address problems through their ability to measure, model, and rationally manipulate the technological and environmental factors affecting biological systems. They are applying not only engineering principles to the analytical understanding of how biological systems operate, especially when impacted by genetic, chemical, physical, infectious, or other interventions; but also a synthetic design perspective to creating biology-based technologies for medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and prosthetics, as well as for applications in diverse industries beyond human health care. 

Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering (Course 20)

Minor in biomedical engineering, minor in toxicology and environmental health, undergraduate study.

The Department of Biological Engineering (BE) offers an undergraduate curriculum emphasizing quantitative, engineering-based analysis, design, and synthesis in the study of modern biology from the molecular to the systems level. Completion of the curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering and prepares students for careers in diverse fields ranging from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to materials, devices, ecology, and public health. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter positions in basic research or project-oriented product development, as well as graduate school or further professional study.

The required core curriculum includes a strong foundation in biological and biochemical sciences, which are integrated with quantitative analysis and engineering principles throughout the entire core. Students who wish to pursue the Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering are encouraged to complete the Biology General Institute Requirement during their first year and may delay completion of Physics II until the fall term of sophomore year if necessary. The optional subject Introduction to Biological Engineering Design, offered during the spring term of the first year, provides a framework for understanding the Biological Engineering SB program.

Students are encouraged to take the sophomore fall-term subject 20.110[J] Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems . This subject also fulfills an SB degree requirement in Biology. Students are also encouraged to take Organic Chemistry I and Differential Equations during their sophomore year in order to prepare for the introductory biological engineering laboratory subject that provides context for the lecture subjects and a strong foundation for subsequent undergraduate research in biological engineering through Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program projects or summer internships.

The advanced subjects required in the junior and senior years introduce additional engineering skills through lecture and laboratory subjects and culminate in a senior design project. These advanced subjects maintain the theme of molecular to systems–level analysis, design, and synthesis based on a strong integration with biology fundamentals. They also include a variety of restricted electives that allow students to develop expertise in one of six thematic areas: systems biology, synthetic biology, biophysics, pharmacology/toxicology, cell and tissue engineering, and microbial systems. Many of these advanced subjects are jointly taught with other departments in the School of Engineering or School of Science and may fulfill degree requirements in other programs.

An interdepartmental Minor in Biomedical Engineering is available to all undergraduate students outside the BE (Course 20) major, described in detail under Interdisciplinary Programs.

The Department of Biological Engineering offers an undergraduate Minor in Toxicology and Environmental Health. The goal of this program is to meet the growing demand for undergraduates to acquire the intellectual tools needed to understand and assess the impact of new products and processes on human health, and to provide a perspective on the risks of human exposure to synthetic and natural chemicals, physical agents, and microorganisms.

Given the importance of environmental education at MIT, the program is designed to be accessible to any MIT undergraduate. The program consists of three required didactic core subjects and one laboratory subject, as well as one restricted elective. The prerequisites for the core subjects are 5.111  / 5.112 Principles of Chemical Science or 3.091 Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry plus Introductory Biology ( 7.012  /  7.013  /  7.014  /  7.015  /  7.016 ).

For further information on the undergraduate programs, see the Biological Engineering website or contact the BE Academic Office , Room 16-267, 617-452-2465.

Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering

Doctoral Program in Biological Engineering

Graduate Study

Graduate students in the Department of Biological Engineering can carry out their research as part of a number of multi-investigator, multidisciplinary research centers at MIT, including the Center for Biomedical Engineering, the Center for Environmental Health Sciences , the Division of Comparative Medicine , and the Synthetic Biology Engineering Research Center . These opportunities include collaboration with faculty in the Schools of Engineering and Science , the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research , the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research , and the Broad Institute , along with the Harvard University School of Medicine, Harvard University School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, and Boston University School of Medicine.

The Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering (MEBE) program is a five-year program leading to a bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline along with a Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. The program emphasizes the fusion of engineering with modern molecular-to-genomic biology, as in our SB and PhD degree programs. Admission to the MEBE program is open only to MIT undergraduate students, and requires candidates to demonstrate adequate quantitative and engineering credentials through their undergraduate coursework.

In addition to satisfying the requirements of their departmental program, candidates also are expected to complete the following:

Applications to the MEBE program are accepted from students in any of the departments in the School of Engineering or School of Science. Students interested in applying to the MEBE program should submit a standard MIT graduate application by the end of their junior year; they are informed of the decision by the end of that summer.

Additional information on application procedures, objectives, and program requirements can be obtained by contacting the BE Academic Office , Room 16-127.

Program Requirements

In addition to thesis credits, at least 66 units of coursework are required. At least 42 of these subject units must be from graduate subjects. The remaining units may be satisfied, in some cases, with advanced undergraduate subjects that are not requirements in MIT's undergraduate curriculum. Of the 66 units, a minimum distribution in each of three categories is specified below.

The student is required to complete a thesis that must be approved by the program director. The thesis is an original work of research, design, or development. If the supervisor is not a member of the Department of Biological Engineering, a reader who belongs to the BE faculty must also approve and sign the thesis. The student submits a thesis proposal by the end of the fourth year.

Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science in Biological Engineering

The Department of Biological Engineering offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (ScD) in Biological Engineering; the program is the same for both degrees. The Biological Engineering doctoral program educates students to use engineering principles in the analysis and manipulation of biological systems, allowing them to solve problems across a spectrum of important applications. The curriculum is inherently interdisciplinary in that it brings together engineering and biology as fundamentally as possible and cuts across the boundaries of the traditional engineering disciplines.

The written part of the doctoral qualifying examinations—focused on the core curriculum—is taken after the second term. The student selects a research advisor, typically by the start of the spring term in the first year, and begins research before the end of that year. The oral part of the doctoral qualifying examinations, which focuses on the student's area of research, is taken prior to December 1 of the third year. A total of approximately five years in residence is needed to complete the doctoral thesis and other degree requirements. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded either the PhD or ScD in biological engineering.

Students admitted to the Biological Engineering doctoral program typically have a bachelor's or master's degree in science or engineering. Foundational coursework in biochemistry and molecular cell biology is required, either prior to admission or during the first year of graduate study. Students who have not taken biochemistry previously should take 7.05 General Biochemistry or 5.07[J] Introduction to Biological Chemistry , and those who have not taken cell biology previously should take 7.06 Cell Biology , prior to taking the core classes. During their first year, students pursue a unified core curriculum in which engineering approaches are used to analyze biological systems and technologies over a wide range of length and time scales. The subjects in the unified core bring central engineering principles to bear on the operation of biological systems from molecular to cell to tissue/organ/device systems levels. These are then supplemented by electives in the biological sciences and engineering to enhance breadth and depth.

Faculty members associated with the program possess a wide range of research interests. Areas in which students may specialize include systems and synthetic biology; biological and physiological transport phenomena; biological imaging and functional measurement; biomolecular engineering; cell and tissue engineering; computational modeling of biological and physiological systems; bioinformatics; design, discovery, and delivery of molecular therapeutics; molecular, cell, and tissue biomechanics; development of in vitro models of the immune system and lymphoid tissue; development of molecular methods for direct measurement of mutations in humans; metabolism of foreign compounds; genetic toxicology; the molecular aspects and dosimetry of interactions between mutagens and carcinogens with nucleic acids and proteins; molecular mechanisms of DNA damage and repair; design and mechanisms of action of chemotherapeutic agents; environmental carcinogenesis and epidemiology; molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis; cell physiology; extracellular regulation and signal transduction; molecular and pathologic interactions between infectious microbial agents and carcinogens; and new tools for genomics, proteomics, and glycomics.

Interdisciplinary Programs

The 24-month Leaders for Global Operations (LGO)  program  combines graduate degrees in engineering and management for those with previous postgraduate work experience and strong undergraduate degrees in a technical field . During the two-year program, students complete a six-month internship  at one of LGO's partner companies, where  they conduct  research that  forms the basis of a dual-degree thesis. Students finish the program with two MIT degrees: an MBA (or SM in management) and an SM from one of seven engineering programs, some of which have optional or required LGO tracks.  After graduation, alumni  lead strategic initiatives in high-tech, operations, and manufacturing companies.

The Program in Polymers and Soft Matter (PPSM)  offers students from participating departments an interdisciplinary core curriculum in polymer science and engineering, exposure to the broader polymer community through seminars, contact with visitors from industry and academia, and interdepartmental collaboration while working towards a PhD or ScD degree.

Research opportunities include functional polymers, controlled drug delivery, nanostructured polymers, polymers at interfaces, biomaterials, molecular modeling, polymer synthesis, biomimetic materials, polymer mechanics and rheology, self-assembly, and polymers in energy. The program is described in more detail under Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs.

For further information on the graduate programs, see the Biological Engineering website or contact the BE Academic Office , Room 16-267, 617-253-1712.

Faculty and Teaching Staff

Christopher A. Voigt, PhD

Wang Professor

Professor of Biological Engineering

Head, Department of Biological Engineering

Scott R. Manalis, PhD

David H. Koch Professor in Engineering

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Associate Head, Department of Biological Engineering

Eric J. Alm, PhD

Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Mark Bathe, PhD

(On leave, spring)

Angela M. Belcher, PhD

James Mason Crafts Professor

Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

Edward S. Boyden III, PhD

Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology

Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Professor of Media Arts and Sciences

(On sabbatical, fall)

Laurie Boyer, PhD

Professor of Biology

Christopher B. Burge, PhD

James J. Collins, PhD

Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering and Science

Core Faculty, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science

Peter C. Dedon, MD, PhD

Underwood-Prescott Professor

Professor of Toxicology and Biological Engineering

Bevin P. Engelward, DSc

John M. Essigmann, PhD

Professor Post-Tenure of Toxicology and Biological Engineering

Professor Post-Tenure of Chemistry

James G. Fox, DVM

Professor Post-Tenure of Biological Engineering

Ernest Fraenkel, PhD

Linda G. Griffith, PhD

School of Engineering Professor of Teaching Innovation

Jongyoon Han, PhD

Professor of Electrical Engineering

Darrell J. Irvine, PhD

Professor of Materials Science

Alan P. Jasanoff, PhD

Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Roger Dale Kamm, PhD

Cecil H. Green Distinguished Professor Post-Tenure

Professor Post-Tenure of Mechanical Engineering

Amy E. Keating, PhD

Jay A. Stein (1968) Professor

Head, Department of Biology

Robert Langer, ScD

David H. Koch (1962) Institute Professor

Professor of Chemical Engineering

Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science

Douglas A. Lauffenburger, PhD

Ford Foundation Professor

Harvey F. Lodish, PhD

(On leave, fall)

Jacquin Niles, MD, PhD

Whitaker Professor

Katharina Ribbeck, PhD

Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor

Ram Sasisekharan, PhD

Alfred H. Caspary Professor

Peter T. C. So, PhD

Steven R. Tannenbaum, PhD

Underwood-Prescott Professor Post-Tenure

William G. Thilly, ScD

Bruce Tidor, PhD

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Ron Weiss, PhD

Forest M. White, PhD

Ned C. and Janet Bemis Rice Professor

Karl Dane Wittrup, PhD

Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering

Michael B. Yaffe, MD, PhD

David H. Koch Professor in Science

Feng Zhang, PhD

James and Patricia Poitras (1963) Professor of Neuroscience

(On sabbatical, spring)

Associate Professors

Michael Birnbaum, PhD

Class of 1956 Career Development Professor

Associate Professor of Biological Engineering

Paul C. Blainey, PhD

Bryan Bryson, PhD

Angela N. Koehler, PhD

Kelly Ann Metcalf Pate, DVM, PhD

Dorothy W. Poitras Associate Professor of Biological Engineering

Assistant Professors

Anders Hansen, PhD

Underwood-Prescott Career Development Professor

Assistant Professor of Biological Engineering

Senior Lecturers

Maxine Jonas, PhD

Senior Lecturer of Biological Engineering

Noreen L. Lyell, PhD

Steven Wasserman, MS

Justin Buck, PhD

Principal Lecturer of Biological Engineering

Sean Aidan Clarke, PhD

Rebecca Meyer, PhD

Lecturer of Biological Engineering

Chiara Ricci-Tam, PhD

Technical Instructors

Kevin Ly, BS

Technical Instructor of Biological Engineering

Jaime Zhan, MS

Research Staff

Principal research scientists.

Michal Caspi Tal, PhD

Principal Research Scientist of Biological Engineering

Research Engineers

Mark Coughlin, PhD

Research Engineer of Biological Engineering

Research Scientists

Swapnil Chhabra, PhD

Research Scientist of Biological Engineering

Robert G. Croy, PhD

Michael S. DeMott, PhD

Aneesh Donde, PhD

David B. Gordon, PhD

Elena V. Gostjeva, PhD

Beth Pollack, MS

Jifa Qi, PhD

Rahul Raman, PhD

Zhengpeng Wan, PhD

Kelsey Morgan Wheeler, PhD

Yu-Xin Xu, PhD

Professors Emeriti

C. Forbes Dewey Jr, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering

Professor Emeritus of Biological Engineering

Alan J. Grodzinsky, ScD

Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering

Alexander M. Klibanov, PhD

Novartis Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Chemistry

Professor Emeritus of Bioengineering

Leona D. Samson, PhD

Uncas (1923) and Helen Whitaker Professor Emerita

Professor Emerita of Biological Engineering

Professor Emerita of Biology

20.001 Introduction to Professional Success and Leadership in Biological Engineering

Prereq: None U (Fall) 1-0-2 units

Interactive introduction to the discipline of Biological Engineering through presentations by alumni practitioners, with additional panels and discussions on skills for professional development. Presentations emphasize the roles of communication through writing and speaking, building and maintaining professional networks, and interpersonal and leadership skills in building successful careers. Provides practical advice about how to prepare for job searches and graduate or professional school applications from an informed viewpoint. Prepares students for UROPs, internships, and selection of BE electives. Subject can count toward the 6-unit discovery-focused credit limit for first-year students.  

L. Griffith

20.005 Ethics for Engineers

Subject meets with 1.082[J] , 2.900[J] , 6.9320[J] , 6.9321 , 10.01[J] , 16.676[J] , 22.014[J] Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) 2-0-7 units

Explores how to be an ethical engineer. Students examine engineering case studies along with foundational ethical readings, and investigate which ethical approaches are best and how to apply them as engineers. Topics include justice, rights, cost-benefit analysis, safety, bias, genetic engineering, climate change, and the promise and peril of AI. Discussion-based. All sections cover the same core ethical frameworks, but some sections have a particular focus for engineering case studies, such as Computer Science or Bioengineering. Students are eligible to take any section of the course, regardless of their registered course number. The subject is taught in separate sections. For 20.005 , students additionally undertake an ethical-technical analysis of a BE-related topic of their choosing.

D. Lauffenburger, P. Hansen

20.010 Introduction to Experimentation in BE

Teaches students to ask research questions and use the steps in the experimental method to test hypotheses. Introduces best practices in basic data analysis and interpretation. Additional topics include exploring experimental failures, unexpected results, and troubleshooting. Goal is to prepare students for undergraduate research opportunities and laboratory-based coursework. This is a discussion-based subject and is dependent on group participation. Preference to first- and second-year students.

20.020 Introduction to Biological Engineering Design Using Synthetic Biology

Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-3-3 units

Project-based introduction to the engineering of synthetic biological systems. Throughout the term, students develop projects that are responsive to real-world problems of their choosing, and whose solutions depend on biological technologies. Lectures, discussions, and studio exercises introduce components and control of prokaryotic and eukaryotic behavior; DNA synthesis, standards, and abstraction in biological engineering; and issues of human practice, including biological safety, security, ethics and ownership, sharing, and innovation. Students may have the option to continue projects for participation in the iGEM competition. Preference to first-year students.

20.051 Introduction to NEET: Living Machines

Prereq: Biology (GIR) , Calculus II (GIR) , Chemistry (GIR) , and Physics I (GIR) U (Fall, Spring) 2-3-4 units

Focuses on physiomimetics: transforming therapeutic strategy and development. Overview of development of therapies for complex diseases, including disease mechanisms in heterogeneous patient populations, developing therapeutic strategies, modeling these in vitro, and testing the therapies. Explores the five essential technological contributions to this process: computational systems biology, synthetic biology, immuno-engineering, microphysiological systems devices/tissue engineering, and microfluidic device engineering for in vitro models and analysis. Introduces disease modeling, patient stratification, and drug development processes, includes extensive examples from industry, and provides context for choosing a concentration track in the Living Machines thread. Weekly lectures from experts in the field supplemented with structured, short projects in each topic area. Limited to 24; preference to students in the NEET Living Machines thread.

L. Griffith, M. Salek

20.054 NEET - Living Machines Research Immersion

Prereq: 20.051 U (Fall, Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

A structured lab research experience in a specific Living Machines track. Students identify a project in a participating research lab, on a topic related to the five tracks in the NEET Living Machines program, propose a project related to the drug development theme, and prepare interim and final presentations and reports while conducting the project. Links to industry-sponsored research projects at MIT are encouraged. Project proposal must be submitted and approved in the term prior to enrollment. Limited to students in the NEET Living Machines thread.

L. Griffith, E. Alm, M. Salek

20.101 Metakaryotic Biology and Epidemiology

Subject meets with 20.A02 Prereq: None U (Fall) 2-0-4 units

Introduces non-eukaryotic, "metakaryotic" cells with hollow bell-shaped nuclei that serve as the stem cells of human fetal/juvenile growth and development as well as of tumors and atherosclerotic plaques. Studies the relationship of lifetime growth and mutations of metakaryotic stem cells to age-specific death rates. Considers the biological bases of treatment protocols found to kill metakaryotic cancer stem cells in vitro and in human pancreatic cancers in vivo .

W. G. Thilly

20.102 Metakaryotic Stem Cells in Carcinogenesis: Origins and Cures

Subject meets with 20.215 Prereq: Biology (GIR) , Calculus II (GIR) , and Chemistry (GIR) U (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Metakaryotic stem cells of organogenesis, wound healing, and the pathogenic lesions of cancers and atherosclerotic plaques. Metakaryotic cell resistance to x-ray- and chemo-therapies. Common drug treatment protocols lethal to metakaryotic cancer stem cells in vivo first clinical trial against pancreatic cancer. Application of a hypermutable/mutator stem cell model to the age-specific mortality from clonal diseases, and the expected responses to metakaryocidal drugs in attempted cure and prevention of tumors or atherosclerotic plaques. Students taking 20.215 responsible for de novo computer modeling.

E. V. Gostjeva, W. G. Thilly

20.104[J] Environmental Cancer Risks, Prevention, and Therapy

Same subject as 1.081[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) , Calculus II (GIR) , and Chemistry (GIR) U (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Analysis of the history of cancer and vascular disease mortality rates in predominantly European- and African-American US cohorts, 1895-2016, to discover specific historical shifts. Explored in terms of contemporaneously changing environmental risk factors: air-, food- and water-borne chemicals; subclinical infections; diet and lifestyles. Special section on occupational risk factors. Considers the hypotheses that genetic and/or environmental factors affect metakaryotic stem cell mutation rates in fetuses and juveniles and/or their growth rates of preneoplastic in adults.

W. Thilly, R. McCunney

20.106[J] Applied Microbiology

Same subject as 1.084[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) and Chemistry (GIR) U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Introductory microbiology from a systems perspective - considers microbial diversity and the integration of data from a molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological context to understand the interaction of microbial organisms with their environment. Special emphasis on specific viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic microorganisms and their interaction with animal hosts with focus on contemporary problems in areas such as vaccination, emerging disease, antimicrobial drug resistance, and toxicology.

J. C. Niles, K. Ribbeck

20.109 Laboratory Fundamentals in Biological Engineering

Prereq: Biology (GIR) , Chemistry (GIR) , 6.100B , 18.03 , and 20.110[J] U (Fall, Spring) 2-8-5 units. Institute LAB

Introduces experimental biochemical and molecular techniques from a quantitative engineering perspective. Experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication form the underpinnings of this subject. In this, students complete discovery-based experimental modules drawn from current technologies and active research projects of BE faculty. Generally, topics include DNA engineering, in which students design, construct, and use genetic material; parts engineering, emphasizing protein design and quantitative assessment of protein performance; systems engineering, which considers genome-wide consequences of genetic perturbations; and biomaterials engineering, in which students use biologically-encoded devices to design and build materials. Enrollment limited; priority to Course 20 majors.

N. Lyell, A. Koehler, B. Engelward, L. McClain, B. Meyer, S. Clarke, P. Bhargava

20.110[J] Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems

Same subject as 2.772[J] Prereq: ( Biology (GIR) , Calculus II (GIR) , Chemistry (GIR) , and Physics I (GIR) ) or permission of instructor U (Fall) 5-0-7 units. REST

Equilibrium properties of macroscopic and microscopic systems. Basic thermodynamics: state of a system, state variables. Work, heat, first law of thermodynamics, thermochemistry. Second and third law of thermodynamics: entropy and its statistical basis, Gibbs function. Chemical equilibrium of reactions in gas and solution phase. Macromolecular structure and interactions in solution. Driving forces for molecular self-assembly. Binding cooperativity, solvation, titration of macromolecules.

M. Birnbaum, C. Voigt

20.129[J] Biological Circuit Engineering Laboratory

Same subject as 6.4880[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) and Calculus II (GIR) U (Spring) 2-8-2 units. Institute LAB

Students assemble individual genes and regulatory elements into larger-scale circuits; they experimentally characterize these circuits in yeast cells using quantitative techniques, including flow cytometry, and model their results computationally. Emphasizes concepts and techniques to perform independent experimental and computational synthetic biology research. Discusses current literature and ongoing research in the field of synthetic biology. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment limited.

T. Lu, R. Weiss

20.200 Biological Engineering Seminar

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) 1-0-2 units Can be repeated for credit.

Weekly one-hour seminars covering graduate student research and presentations by invited speakers.

B. Engelward

20.201 Fundamentals of Drug Development

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) 4-0-8 units

Team-based exploration of the scientific basis for developing new drugs. First portion of term covers fundamentals of target identification, drug discovery, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, regulatory policy, and intellectual property. Industry experts and academic entrepreneurs then present case studies of specific drugs, drug classes, and therapeutic targets. In a term-long project, student teams develop novel therapeutics to solve major unmet medical needs, with a trajectory to a "start-up" company. Culminates with team presentations to a panel of industry and scientific leaders.

P. C. Dedon, R. Sasisekharan

20.202 In vivo Models: Principles and Practices

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 1-1-4 units

Selected aspects of anatomy, histology, immuno-cytochemistry, in situ hybridization, physiology, and cell biology of mammalian organisms and their pathogens. Subject material integrated with principles of toxicology, in vivo genetic engineering, and molecular biology. A lab/demonstration period each week involves experiments in anatomy (in vivo), physiology, and microscopy to augment the lectures. Offered first half of spring term.

J. G. Fox, B. Marini, M. Whary

20.203[J] Neurotechnology in Action

Same subject as 9.123[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-6-3 units

See description under subject 9.123[J] .

A. Jasanoff

20.205[J] Principles and Applications of Genetic Engineering for Biotechnology and Neuroscience

Same subject as 9.26[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 9.26[J] .

20.213 Genome Stability and Engineering in the Context of Diseases, Drugs, and Public Health

Prereq: 5.07[J] , 7.05 , or permission of instructor U (Spring; second half of term) 4-0-5 units

Studies how DNA damage leads to diseases, and how DNA repair modulates cancer risk and treatment. Also covers how DNA repair impacts genetic engineering, whether by targeted gene therapy or CRISPR-mediated genetic changes. Students gain a public health perspective by examining how DNA-damaging agents in our environment can lead to downstream cancer. Explores the underlying chemical, molecular and biochemical processes of DNA damage and repair, and their implications for disease susceptibility and treatment.

B. P. Engelward

20.215 Macroepidemiology, Population Genetics, and Stem Cell Biology of Human Clonal Diseases

Subject meets with 20.102 Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 1.00 G (Fall) 3-0-15 units

Studies the logic and technology needed to discover genetic and environmental risks for common human cancers and vascular diseases. Includes an introduction to metakaryotic stem cell biology. Analyzes large, organized historical public health databases using quantitative cascade computer models that include population stratification of stem cell mutation rates in fetal/juvenile tissues and growth rates in preneoplastic colonies and atherosclerotic plaques. Means to test hypotheses (CAST) that certain genes carry mutations conferring risk for common cancers via genetic analyses in large human cohorts. Involves de novo computer modeling of a lifetime disease experience or test of a student-developed hypothesis.

20.219 Selected Topics in Biological Engineering

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Detailed discussion of selected topics of current interest. Classwork in various areas not covered by regular subjects.

20.230[J] Immunology

Same subject as 7.23[J] Subject meets with 7.63[J] , 20.630[J] Prereq: 7.06 U (Spring) 5-0-7 units

See description under subject 7.23[J] .

S. Spranger, M. Birnbaum

20.260 Computational Analysis of Biological Data

Subject meets with 20.460 Prereq: 6.100A or permission of instructor U (Spring) 3-0-6 units

Presents foundational methods for analysis of complex biological datasets. Covers fundamental concepts in probability, statistics, and linear algebra underlying computational tools that enable generation of biological insights. Assignments focus on practical examples spanning basic science and medical applications. Assumes basic knowledge of calculus and programming (experience with MATLAB, Python, or R is recommended). Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

D. Lauffenburger, F. White

20.265 Genetics for Biological Engineering

Prereq: 6.100A or permission of instructor U (Spring; second half of term) 3-0-3 units

Covers topics in genetics from an engineering perspective. Designed to be taken before, concurrently with, or after a traditional genetics class. Focuses primarily on the quantitative methods and algorithms used in genetics and genomics. Provides a strong foundation in genomics and bioinformatics and prepares students, through real-world problem-solving, for upper-level classes in those topics. Basics of modern genomics tools and approaches -- including RNAseq, high-throughout genome sequencing, genome-wide association studies, metagenomics, and others -- presented. Requires some experience with Python programming.

20.305[J] Principles of Synthetic Biology

Same subject as 6.8721[J] Subject meets with 6.8720[J] , 20.405[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Introduces the basics of synthetic biology, including quantitative cellular network characterization and modeling. Considers the discovery and genetic factoring of useful cellular activities into reusable functions for design. Emphasizes the principles of biomolecular system design and diagnosis of designed systems. Illustrates cutting-edge applications in synthetic biology and enhances skills in analysis and design of synthetic biological applications. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

20.309[J] Instrumentation and Measurement for Biological Systems

Same subject as 2.673[J] Subject meets with 20.409 Prereq: ( Biology (GIR) , Physics II (GIR) , 6.100B , and 18.03 ) or permission of instructor U (Fall, Spring) 3-6-3 units

Sensing and measurement aimed at quantitative molecular/cell/tissue analysis in terms of genetic, biochemical, and biophysical properties. Methods include light and fluorescence microscopies, and electro-mechanical probes (atomic force microscopy, optical traps, MEMS devices). Application of statistics, probability, signal and noise analysis, and Fourier techniques to experimental data. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 20 undergraduates.

P. Blainey, S. Manalis, E. Frank, S. Wasserman, J. Bagnall, E. Boyden, P. So

20.310[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics

Same subject as 2.797[J] , 3.053[J] , 6.4840[J] Subject meets with 2.798[J] , 3.971[J] , 6.4842[J] , 10.537[J] , 20.410[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum mechanics to biomechanical phenomena over a range of length scales. Topics include structure of tissues and the molecular basis for macroscopic properties; chemical and electrical effects on mechanical behavior; cell mechanics, motility and adhesion; biomembranes; biomolecular mechanics and molecular motors. Experimental methods for probing structures at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

M. Bathe, K. Ribbeck, P. T. So

20.315 Physical Biology

Subject meets with 20.415 Prereq: 5.60 , 20.110[J] , or permission of instructor U (Fall, Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units Credit cannot also be received for 8.241

Focuses on current major research topics in quantitative, physical biology. Covers synthetic structural biology, synthetic cell biology, microbial systems biology and evolution, cellular decision making, neuronal circuits, and development and morphogenesis. Emphasizes current motivation and historical background, state-of-the-art measurement methodologies and techniques, and quantitative physical modeling frameworks. Experimental techniques include structural biology, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy, and quantitative biochemistry. Modeling approaches include stochastic rate equations, statistical thermodynamics, and statistical inference. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 20.315 and 20.415 meet with 8.241 when offered concurrently.

J. Gore, I. Cisse

20.320 Analysis of Biomolecular and Cellular Systems

Prereq: 6.100B , 18.03 , and 20.110[J] ; Coreq: 5.07[J] or 7.05 U (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Analysis of molecular and cellular processes across a hierarchy of scales, including genetic, molecular, cellular, and cell population levels. Topics include gene sequence analysis, molecular modeling, metabolic and gene regulation networks, signal transduction pathways and cell populations in tissues. Emphasis on experimental methods, quantitative analysis, and computational modeling.

F. White, K. D. Wittrup

20.330[J] Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems

Same subject as 2.793[J] , 6.4830[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) , Physics II (GIR) , and 18.03 U (Spring) 4-0-8 units

Introduction to electric fields, fluid flows, transport phenomena and their application to biological systems. Flux and continuity laws, Maxwell's equations, electro-quasistatics, electro-chemical-mechanical driving forces, conservation of mass and momentum, Navier-Stokes flows, and electrokinetics. Applications include biomolecular transport in tissues, electrophoresis, and microfluidics.

J. Han, S. Manalis

20.334 Biological Systems Modeling

Prereq: 20.330[J] or permission of instructor U (Fall; first half of term) 1-0-5 units

Practices the use of modern numerical analysis tools (e.g., COMSOL) for biological systems with multi-physics behavior. Covers modeling of diffusion, reaction, convection and other transport mechanisms. Analysis of microfluidic devices as examples. Discusses practical issues and challenges in numerical modeling. No prior knowledge of modeling software required. Includes weekly modeling homework and one final modeling project.

20.345 Bioinstrumentation Project Lab

Prereq: 20.309[J] , ( Biology (GIR) and ( 2.004 or 6.3000 )), or permission of instructor U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 2-7-3 units

In-depth examination of instrumentation design, principles and techniques for studying biological systems, from single molecules to entire organisms. Lectures cover optics, advanced microscopy techniques, electronics for biological measurement, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, MEMs, microfluidic devices, and limits of detection. Students select two lab exercises during the first half of the semester and complete a final design project in the second half. Lab emphasizes design process and skillful realization of a robust system. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 20 majors and minors.

E. Boyden, M. Jonas, P. So, S. Wasserman

20.352 Principles of Neuroengineering

Subject meets with 9.422[J] , 20.452[J] , MAS.881[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Covers how to innovate technologies for brain analysis and engineering, for accelerating the basic understanding of the brain, and leading to new therapeutic insight and inventions. Focuses on using physical, chemical and biological principles to understand technology design criteria governing ability to observe and alter brain structure and function. Topics include optogenetics, noninvasive brain imaging and stimulation, nanotechnologies, stem cells and tissue engineering, and advanced molecular and structural imaging technologies. Includes design projects. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Designed for students with engineering maturity who are ready for design.

E. S. Boyden, III

20.361[J] Molecular and Engineering Aspects of Biotechnology

Same subject as 7.37[J] , 10.441[J] Prereq: ( 7.06 and ( 2.005 , 3.012, 5.60 , or 20.110[J] )) or permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 4-0-8 units Credit cannot also be received for 7.371

See description under subject 7.37[J] .

20.363[J] Biomaterials Science and Engineering

Same subject as 3.055[J] Subject meets with 3.963[J] , 20.463[J] Prereq: 20.110[J] or permission of instructor U (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Covers, at a molecular scale, the analysis and design of materials used in contact with biological systems, and biomimetic strategies aimed at creating new materials based on principles found in biology. Topics include molecular interaction between bio- and synthetic molecules and surfaces; design, synthesis, and processing approaches for materials that control cell functions; and application of materials science to problems in tissue engineering, drug delivery, vaccines, and cell-guiding surfaces. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

D. Irvine, K. Ribbeck

20.365 Engineering the Immune System in Cancer and Beyond

Subject meets with 20.465 Prereq: ( 5.60 or 20.110[J] ) and permission of instructor U (Spring) 3-0-6 units

Examines strategies in clinical and preclinical development for manipulating the immune system to treat and protect against disease. Begins with brief review of immune system. Discusses interaction of tumors with the immune system, followed by approaches by which the immune system can be modulated to attack cancer. Also covers strategies based in biotechnology, chemistry, materials science, and molecular biology to induce immune responses to treat infection, transplantation, and autoimmunity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

20.370[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing

Same subject as 2.791[J] , 6.4810[J] , 9.21[J] Subject meets with 2.794[J] , 6.4812[J] , 9.021[J] , 20.470[J] , HST.541[J] Prereq: ( Physics II (GIR) , 18.03 , and ( 2.005 , 6.2000 , 6.3000 , 10.301 , or 20.110[J] )) or permission of instructor U (Spring) 5-2-5 units

See description under subject 6.4810[J] . Preference to juniors and seniors.

J. Han, T. Heldt

20.373 Foundations of Cell Therapy Manufacturing

Subject meets with 20.473 Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-6 units

Seminar examines cell therapy manufacturing, the ex vivo production of human cells to be delivered to humans as a product for medical benefit. Includes a review of cell biology and immunology. Addresses topics such as governmental regulations applying to cell therapy production; the manufacture of cell-based therapeutics, including cell culture unit operations, genetic engineering or editing of cells; process engineering of cell therapy products; and the analytics of cell therapy manufacturing processes. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

K. Van Vliet

20.375 Applied Developmental Biology and Tissue Engineering

Subject meets with 20.475 Prereq: ( 7.06 , 20.320 , and ( 7.003[J] or 20.109 )) or permission of instructor U (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Addresses the integration of engineering and biology design principles to create human tissues and organs for regenerative medicine to drug development. Provides an overview of embryogenesis, how morphogenic phenomena are governed by biochemical and biophysical cues. Analyzes <em>in vitro</em> generation of human brain, gut, and other organoids from stem cells. Studies the roles of biomaterials and microreactors in improving organoid formation and function; organoid use in modeling disease and physiology <em>in vitro</em>; and engineering and biological principles of reconstructing tissues and organs from postnatal donor cells using biomaterials scaffolds and bioreactors. Includes select applications, such as liver disease, brain disorders, and others. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

20.380 Biological Engineering Design

Prereq: 7.06 , 20.320 , and 20.330[J] U (Fall, Spring) 5-0-7 units

Illustrates how knowledge and principles of biology, biochemistry, and engineering are integrated to create new products for societal benefit. Uses case study format to examine recently developed products of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries: how a product evolves from initial idea, through patents, testing, evaluation, production, and marketing. Emphasizes scientific and engineering principles, as well as the responsibility scientists, engineers, and business executives have for the consequences of their technology. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided. Enrollment limited; preference to Course 20 undergraduates.

J. Collins, A. Koehler, J. Essigmann, K. Ribbeck

20.381 Biological Engineering Design II

Prereq: 20.380 or permission of instructor U (Spring) 0-12-0 units

Continuation of 20.380 that focuses on practical implementation of design proposals. Student teams choose a feasible scope of work related to their 20.380 design proposals and execute it in the lab.

M. Jonas, J. Sutton, S. Wasserman

20.385 Design in Synthetic Biology

Prereq: ( 20.020 , 20.109 , and 20.320 ) or permission of instructor U (Spring) 3-3-3 units

Provides an understanding of the state of research in synthetic biology and development of project management skills. Critical evaluation of primary research literature covering a range of approaches to the design, modeling and programming of cellular behaviors. Focuses on developing the skills needed to read, present and discuss primary research literature, and to manage and lead small teams. Students mentor a small undergraduate team of 20.020 students. Open to advanced students with appropriate background in biology. Students may have the option to continue projects for participation in the iGEM competition.

20.390[J] Computational Systems Biology: Deep Learning in the Life Sciences

Same subject as 6.8711[J] Subject meets with 6.8710[J] , 20.490 , HST.506[J] Prereq: ( 7.05 and ( 6.100B or 6.9080 )) or permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 6.8711[J] .

D. K. Gifford

20.405[J] Principles of Synthetic Biology

Same subject as 6.8720[J] Subject meets with 6.8721[J] , 20.305[J] Prereq: None G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

20.409 Biological Engineering II: Instrumentation and Measurement

Subject meets with 2.673[J] , 20.309[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) 2-7-3 units

Sensing and measurement aimed at quantitative molecular/cell/tissue analysis in terms of genetic, biochemical, and biophysical properties. Methods include light and fluorescence microscopies, electronic circuits, and electro-mechanical probes (atomic force microscopy, optical traps, MEMS devices). Application of statistics, probability, signal and noise analysis, and Fourier techniques to experimental data. Limited to 5 graduate students.

P. Blainey, S. Manalis, S. Wasserman, J. Bagnall, E. Frank, E. Boyden, P. So

20.410[J] Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics

Same subject as 2.798[J] , 3.971[J] , 6.4842[J] , 10.537[J] Subject meets with 2.797[J] , 3.053[J] , 6.4840[J] , 20.310[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) and 18.03 G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

20.415 Physical Biology

Subject meets with 20.315 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units Credit cannot also be received for 8.241

Focuses on current major research topics in quantitative, physical biology. Topics include synthetic structural biology, synthetic cell biology, microbial systems biology and evolution, cellular decision making, neuronal circuits, and development and morphogenesis. Emphasizes current motivation and historical background, state-of-the-art measurement methodologies and techniques, and quantitative physical modeling frameworks. Experimental techniques include structural biology, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy, and quantitative biochemistry. Modeling approaches include stochastic rate equations, statistical thermodynamics, and statistical inference. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. 20.315 and 20.415 meet with 8.241 when offered concurrently.

20.416[J] Topics in Biophysics and Physical Biology

Same subject as 7.74[J] , 8.590[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 2-0-4 units

See description under subject 8.590[J] .

J. Gore, N. Fakhri

20.420[J] Principles of Molecular Bioengineering

Same subject as 10.538[J] Prereq: 7.06 and 18.03 G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Provides an introduction to the mechanistic analysis and engineering of biomolecules and biomolecular systems. Covers methods for measuring, modeling, and manipulating systems, including biophysical experimental tools, computational modeling approaches, and molecular design. Equips students to take systematic and quantitative approaches to the investigation of a wide variety of biological phenomena.

A. Jasanoff, E. Fraenkel

20.430[J] Fields, Forces, and Flows in Biological Systems

Same subject as 2.795[J] , 6.4832[J] , 10.539[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Molecular diffusion, diffusion-reaction, conduction, convection in biological systems; fields in heterogeneous media; electrical double layers; Maxwell stress tensor, electrical forces in physiological systems. Fluid and solid continua: equations of motion useful for porous, hydrated biological tissues. Case studies of membrane transport, electrode interfaces, electrical, mechanical, and chemical transduction in tissues, convective-diffusion/reaction, electrophoretic, electroosmotic flows in tissues/MEMs, and ECG. Electromechanical and physicochemical interactions in cells and biomaterials; musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and other biological and clinical examples. Prior undergraduate coursework in transport recommended.

M. Bathe, A. J. Grodzinsky

20.440 Analysis of Biological Networks

Prereq: 20.420[J] and permission of instructor G (Spring) 6-0-9 units

Explores computational and experimental approaches to analyzing complex biological networks and systems. Includes genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microscopy. Stresses the practical considerations required when designing and performing experiments. Also focuses on selection and implementation of appropriate computational tools for processing, visualizing, and integrating different types of experimental data, including supervised and unsupervised machine learning methods, and multi-omics modelling. Students use statistical methods to test hypotheses and assess the validity of conclusions. In problem sets, students read current literature, develop their skills in Python and R, and interpret quantitative results in a biological manner. In the second half of term, students work in groups to complete a project in which they apply the computational approaches covered.

B. Bryson, P. Blainey

20.445[J] Methods and Problems in Microbiology

Same subject as 1.86[J] , 7.492[J] Prereq: None G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 7.492[J] . Preference to first-year Microbiology and Biology students.

20.446[J] Microbial Genetics and Evolution

Same subject as 1.87[J] , 7.493[J] , 12.493[J] Prereq: 7.03 , 7.05 , or permission of instructor G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

See description under subject 7.493[J] .

A. D. Grossman, Staff

20.450 Applied Microbiology

Prereq: ( 20.420[J] and 20.440 ) or permission of instructor G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units

Compares the complex molecular and cellular interactions in health and disease between commensal microbial communities, pathogens and the human or animal host. Special focus is given to current research on microbe/host interactions, infection of significant importance to public health, and chronic infectious disease. Classwork will include lecture, but emphasize critical evaluation and class discussion of recent scientific papers, and the development of new research agendas in the fields presented.

20.452[J] Principles of Neuroengineering

Same subject as 9.422[J] , MAS.881[J] Subject meets with 20.352 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

See description under subject MAS.881[J] .

20.454[J] Revolutionary Ventures: How to Invent and Deploy Transformative Technologies

Same subject as 9.455[J] , 15.128[J] , MAS.883[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) 2-0-7 units

See description under subject MAS.883[J] .

E. Boyden, J. Bonsen, J. Jacobson

20.460 Computational Analysis of Biological Data

Subject meets with 20.260 Prereq: None G (Spring) 3-0-6 units

20.463[J] Biomaterials Science and Engineering

Same subject as 3.963[J] Subject meets with 3.055[J] , 20.363[J] Prereq: 20.110[J] or permission of instructor G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

20.465 Engineering the Immune System in Cancer and Beyond

Subject meets with 20.365 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-0-6 units

20.470[J] Cellular Neurophysiology and Computing

Same subject as 2.794[J] , 6.4812[J] , 9.021[J] , HST.541[J] Subject meets with 2.791[J] , 6.4810[J] , 9.21[J] , 20.370[J] Prereq: ( Physics II (GIR) , 18.03 , and ( 2.005 , 6.2000 , 6.3000 , 10.301 , or 20.110[J] )) or permission of instructor G (Spring) 5-2-5 units

See description under subject 6.4812[J] .

20.473 Foundations of Cell Therapy Manufacturing

Subject meets with 20.373 Prereq: None G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-6 units

20.475 Applied Developmental Biology and Tissue Engineering

Subject meets with 20.375 Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

This subject addresses the integration of engineering and biology design principles to create human tissues and organs for regenerative medicine to drug development. Overview of embryogenesis; how morphogenic phenomena are governed by biochemical and biophysical cues. Analysis of in vitro generation of human brain, gut, and other organoids from stem cells. Roles of biomaterials and microreactors in improving organoid formation and function. Organoid use in modeling disease and physiology in vitro. Engineering and biological principles of reconstructing tissues and organs from postnatal donor cells using biomaterials scaffolds and bioreactors. Select applications such as liver disease, brain disorders, and others. Graduate students will have additional assignments.

20.486[J] Case Studies and Strategies in Drug Discovery and Development

Same subject as 7.549[J] , 15.137[J] , HST.916[J] Prereq: None G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 2-0-4 units

Aims to develop appreciation for the stages of drug discovery and development, from target identification, to the submission of preclinical and clinical data to regulatory authorities for marketing approval. Following introductory lectures on the process of drug development, students working in small teams analyze how one of four new drugs or drug candidates traversed the discovery/development landscape. For each case, an outside expert from the sponsoring drug company or pivotal clinical trial principal investigator provides guidance and critiques the teams' presentations to the class.

20.487[J] Optical Microscopy and Spectroscopy for Biology and Medicine

Same subject as 2.715[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 2.715[J] .

P. T. So, C. Sheppard

20.490 Computational Systems Biology: Deep Learning in the Life Sciences

Subject meets with 6.8710[J] , 6.8711[J] , 20.390[J] , HST.506[J] Prereq: Biology (GIR) and (6.041 or 18.600 ) G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Presents innovative approaches to computational problems in the life sciences, focusing on deep learning-based approaches with comparisons to conventional methods. Topics include protein-DNA interaction, chromatin accessibility, regulatory variant interpretation, medical image understanding, medical record understanding, therapeutic design, and experiment design (the choice and interpretation of interventions). Focuses on machine learning model selection, robustness, and interpretation. Teams complete a multidisciplinary final research project using TensorFlow or other framework. Provides a comprehensive introduction to each life sciences problem, but relies upon students understanding probabilistic problem formulations. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

20.507[J] Introduction to Biological Chemistry

Same subject as 5.07[J] Prereq: 5.12 U (Fall) 5-0-7 units. REST Credit cannot also be received for 7.05

See description under subject 5.07[J] .

B. Pentelute, E. Nolan

20.535[J] Protein Engineering

Same subject as 10.535[J] Prereq: 18.03 and ( 5.07[J] or 7.05 ) G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 10.535[J] .

K. D. Wittrup

20.554[J] Advances in Chemical Biology

Same subject as 5.54[J] , 7.540[J] Prereq: 5.07[J] , 5.13 , 7.06 , and permission of instructor G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 5.54[J] .

L. Kiessling, M. Shoulders

20.560 Statistics for Biological Engineering

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring; second half of term) Not offered regularly; consult department 2-0-2 units

Provides basic tools for analyzing experimental data, interpreting statistical reports in the literature, and reasoning under uncertain situations. Topics include probability theory, statistical tests, data exploration, Bayesian statistics, and machine learning. Emphasizes discussion and hands-on learning. Experience with MATLAB, Python, or R recommended.

20.561[J] Eukaryotic Cell Biology: Principles and Practice

Same subject as 7.61[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

See description under subject 7.61[J] . Enrollment limited.

M. Krieger, M. Yaffe

20.586[J] Science and Business of Biotechnology

Same subject as 7.546[J] , 15.480[J] Prereq: None. Coreq: 15.401 ; permission of instructor G (Spring) 3-0-6 units

Covers the new types of drugs and other therapeutics in current practice and under development, the financing and business structures of early-stage biotechnology companies, and the evaluation of their risk/reward profiles. Includes a series of live case studies with industry leaders of both established and emerging biotechnology companies as guest speakers, focusing on the underlying science and engineering as well as core financing and business issues. Students must possess a basic background in cellular and molecular biology.

J. Chen, A. Koehler, A. Lo, H. Lodish

20.630[J] Immunology

Same subject as 7.63[J] Subject meets with 7.23[J] , 20.230[J] Prereq: 7.06 and permission of instructor G (Spring) 5-0-7 units

See description under subject 7.63[J] .

20.902 Independent Study in Biological Engineering

Prereq: Permission of instructor U (Fall, Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a faculty member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a substantive paper. Minimum 12 units required.

20.903 Independent Study in Biological Engineering

Prereq: Permission of instructor U (Fall, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Opportunity for independent study under regular supervision by a faculty member. Projects require prior approval, as well as a substantive paper. Minimum 6-12 units required.

20.920 Practical Work Experience

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) 0-1-0 units

For Course 20 students participating in off-campus professional experiences in biological engineering. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer from a company or organization and must identify a BE supervisor. Upon completion, student must submit a letter from the company or organization describing the experience, along with a substantive final report from the student approved by the MIT supervisor. Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental undergraduate office.

20.930[J] Research Experience in Biopharma

Same subject as 7.930[J] Prereq: None G (Fall) 2-10-0 units

Provides exposure to industrial science and develops skills necessary for success in such an environment. Under the guidance of an industrial mentor, students participate in on-site research at a local biopharmaceutical company where they observe and participate in industrial science. Serves as a real-time case study to internalize the factors that shape R&D in industry, including the purpose and scope of a project, key decision points in the past and future, and strategies for execution. Students utilize company resources and work with a scientific team to contribute to the goals of their assigned project; they then present project results to the company and class, emphasizing the logic that dictated their work and their ideas for future directions. Lecture component focuses on professional development.

20.945 Practical Experience in Biological Engineering

Prereq: None G (IAP, Spring, Summer) Not offered regularly; consult department 0-1-0 units

For Course 20 doctoral students participating in off-campus research, academic experiences, or internships in biological engineering. For internship experiences, an offer of employment from a company or organization is required prior to enrollment; employers must document work accomplished. A written report is required upon completion of a minimum of four weeks of off-campus experience. Proposals must be approved by department.

K. Ribbeck, P. Blainey 

20.950 Research Problems in Biological Engineering

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Directed research in the fields of bioengineering and environmental health. Limited to BE students.

20.951 Thesis Proposal

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring, Summer) 0-24-0 units

Thesis proposal research and presentation to the thesis committee.

20.960 Teaching Experience in Biological Engineering

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

For qualified graduate students interested in teaching. Tutorial, laboratory, or classroom teaching under the supervision of a faculty member. Enrollment limited by availability of suitable teaching assignments.

20.BME Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering

Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Individual research project with biomedical or clinical focus, arranged with appropriate faculty member or approved supervisor. Forms and instructions for the proposal and final report are available in the BE Undergraduate Office.

20.C01[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering

Same subject as 3.C01[J] , 10.C01[J] Subject meets with 3.C51[J] , 10.C51[J] , 20.C51[J] Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 6.100A ; Coreq: 6.C01 U (Spring) 2-0-4 units Credit cannot also be received for 1.C01 , 1.C51 , 2.C01 , 2.C51 , 3.C51[J] , 10.C51[J] , 20.C51[J] , 22.C01 , 22.C51 , SCM.C51

See description under subject 3.C01[J] .

R. Gomez-Bombarelli, C. Coley, E. Fraenkel

20.C51[J] Machine Learning for Molecular Engineering

Same subject as 3.C51[J] , 10.C51[J] Subject meets with 3.C01[J] , 10.C01[J] , 20.C01[J] Prereq: Calculus II (GIR) and 6.100A ; Coreq: 6.C51 G (Spring) 2-0-4 units Credit cannot also be received for 1.C01 , 1.C51 , 2.C01 , 2.C51 , 3.C01[J] , 10.C01[J] , 20.C01[J] , 22.C01 , 22.C51 , SCM.C51

See description under subject 3.C51[J] .

20.EPE UPOP Engineering Practice Experience

Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject. Offered under: 1.EPE , 2.EPE , 3.EPE , 6.EPE , 8.EPE , 10.EPE , 15.EPE , 16.EPE , 20.EPE , 22.EPE Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) 0-0-1 units Can be repeated for credit.

See description under subject 2.EPE . Application required; consult UPOP website for more information.

K. Tan-Tiongco, D. Fordell

20.EPW UPOP Engineering Practice Workshop

Engineering School-Wide Elective Subject. Offered under: 1.EPW , 2.EPW , 3.EPW , 6.EPW , 10.EPW , 16.EPW , 20.EPW , 22.EPW Prereq: 2.EPE U (IAP, Spring) 1-0-0 units

See description under subject 2.EPW . Enrollment limited to those in the UPOP program.

20.S900 Special Subject in Biological Engineering

L. Griffith, G. McKinley

20.S901 Special Subject in Biological Engineering

20.s940 special subject in biological engineering, 20.s947 special subject in biological engineering.

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

20.S948 Special Subject in Biological Engineering

20.s949 special subject in biological engineering, 20.s952 special subject in biological engineering.

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

20.THG Graduate Thesis

Program of research leading to the writing of an SM or PhD thesis; to be arranged by the student and the MIT faculty advisor.

20.THU Undergraduate BE Thesis

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Program of research leading to the writing of an SB thesis; to be arranged by the student under approved supervision.

20.UR Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Laboratory research in the fields of bioengineering or environmental health. May be extended over multiple terms.

20.URG Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Emphasizes direct and active involvement in laboratory research in bioengineering or environmental health. May be extended over multiple terms.

Consult S. Manalis

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Life Sciences | Graduate | Careers | Undergraduate

Aeronautics and astronautics, biological engineering, biophysics graduate certificate program, brain and cognitive sciences, chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering (environmental microbiology), computational and systems biology, earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, hst - health, sciences and technology, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, microbiology program, nuclear science and engineering, sloan mba with a health care focus, sts- science, technology, and society, whoi joint program, writing and humanistic studies, life sciences at mit.

Many areas of research today have a Life Sciences focus. This is primarily due to the powerful tools of molecular biology, which form a common language and allow exciting and important interdisciplinary approaches. Experience in Life Sciences-based research opens multiple career paths.

This site collates the broad array of MIT graduate degree programs with a primary focus on biological questions, or that can include a Life Sciences focus. Applications for graduate study should be made through the appropriate program. Please explore this site, and our program offerings!

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77 Massachusetts Avenue Building E25-518 Cambridge MA, 02139

617-253-3609 [email protected]

Website: Health Sciences and Technology

Application Opens: August 1

Deadline: December 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Fee: $75.00

Terms of Enrollment

Standardized tests.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

• Minimum score required: 7
• Electronic scores may be sent to: MIT Graduate Admissions

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• Minimum score required: 100 (iBT) 600 (PBT)
• Institute code: 3514
• Department code: 99

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• Minimum score required: 185

HST requires demonstrated English Language Proficiency. Details can be found here.

Areas of Research

• Biomaterials
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• Systems Biology

Financial Support

HST MEMP is a fully-funded program. Students in good academic standing receive financial support – consisting of living expenses, tuition, and health insurance – for the duration of their graduate studies. This support comes from a combination of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. More information is available here.

Application Requirements

• Online application
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• Demonstrated English proficiency (see HST FAQ )

Please review the HST website for more information on applying to MEMP through MIT .

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Fee Waivers:

OGE in consultation with HST may be able to offer limited exceptions for applicants who qualify.

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The Science and Business of Biotechnology

Course description.

This course focuses on early-stage biotechnology companies with particular emphasis on understanding the underlying science, technology, and disease targets—together with the application of novel business structures and financing methods—to facilitate drug discovery, clinical development, and greater patient access to …

This course focuses on early-stage biotechnology companies with particular emphasis on understanding the underlying science, technology, and disease targets—together with the application of novel business structures and financing methods—to facilitate drug discovery, clinical development, and greater patient access to new therapies.   

The course was created for MITx as a collaboration between the Whitehead Institute and the Sloan School of Management and is now archived on the Open Learning Library (OLL) , which is free to use. You have the option to sign up and enroll in each module if you want to track your progress, or you can view and use all the materials without enrolling.

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Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

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Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

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All students are granted a financial package that follows the general guidelines below. Please note that figures are for current academic year.

• Our funding package covers a period of five years, guaranteed to doctoral students in good academic standing.
• Students receive full academic year tuition plus a monthly fellowship stipend (current rate $4,497 per month) and/or TA/RA salary for each of 12 months per year.
• Students receive 12 terms of fellowship stipend during their 15 terms (summer, fall, spring) in the program; TA/RA provides salary for the balance of 3 terms. 
• Student medical insurance is provided, currently valued at $3,237 per year. 
• A new laptop computer is supplied at the beginning of the first and fourth years (estimated value of $2,000 each).
• A $4,500 conference travel and research budget is allocated over 5 years in the program.

Should you require additional funding, information on loans may be obtained from Student Financial Services .

• Ph.D. in Biotechnology

The Department of Biosciences and Technology offers research-intensive PhD programmes designed to help postgraduate students develop research skills and prepare for careers in academia or research.

The scholars, researchers and guides at the Department are engaged in research in diverse research areas of fundamental & applied biology like molecular microbiology, genomics, Bioinformatics, Cell biology, Plant biotechnology, Proteomics, Nanobiotechnology, Biosensors, Biomimetics, Complexity Biology, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Metabolomics, Biofertilizers, Biocontrol and Integrated Nutrient Management.

The Department also focuses on advanced interdisciplinary translational research in the areas of Point-of-Care biosensors, diagnostic tools, multiplexed detection methodology, Lab-on-Chip devices, nutraceuticals and bio-actives production.

• Microbial Culture laboratory
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The Department of Biosciences and Technology, MIT-WPU welcomes dedicated and motivated students passionate about science and technology to pursue promising research prospects.

Ph.D. Entrance Test (PET) Syllabus

Guidelines for Research Scholars

Ph.D Programme Fees

The following candidates are eligible to seek admission to the Ph.D. programme

Candidates who have completed:

i) A 1-year/2-semester master’s degree programme after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme or a 2-year/4-semester master’s degree programme after a 3-year bachelor’s degree programme or qualifications declared equivalent to the master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed or equivalent qualification from a foreign educational institutions accredited by an assessment and accreditation agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country to assess, accredit or assure quality and standards of the educational institutions.

A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the commission from time to time.

Provided that a candidate seeking admission after a 4-year/8-semester bachelor’s degree programme should have a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade on a point scale wherever the grading system is followed. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.

ii) Candidates who have completed the M. Phil programme with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade in a point scale. A relaxation of 5% marks or its equivalent grade may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently abled, Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and other categories of candidates as per the decision of commission from time to time.

Reservation is applicable only to Maharashtra domicile candidates provided they submit the necessary documents for reservation before interview. Outside Maharashtra candidates will be considered in open category.

1. Candidates satisfying eligibility criterion shall be called to appear for the Ph.D. entrance test conducted by MITWPU. The exemption will be given from Ph.D. entrance test for those students who qualify UGC-NET /UGC-CSIR NET /GATE (valid score)/CEED/GPAT (valid score)and similar national tests.

2. PhD entrance test shall be qualifying with qualifying marks as 50% provided that relaxation from 50% to 45% shall be allowed for the candidates belongs to SC/ST/OBC (Non creamy layer)/Differently abled category, Economically Weaker section (EWS) and other category of candidates. The syllabus of entrance test shall consist of 50% of research methodology and 50% shall be subject specific.

3. The interview/viva-voce will be conducted by the university for test qualifying candidates. For selection of candidates a weightage of 70% to the entrance test and 30% to the performance in the interview/Viva-voce shall be given. For GATE/NET/JRF /SET/GPAT/CEED qualified students, the selection will be based on Interview/Viva Voce

4. The recommended candidates will be intimated through email about their selection and the candidates will be offered Ph.D. provisional admission.

5. The eligibility of a candidate is provisional as per information provided by the candidate in his/her application form and is subject to verification of minimum eligibility conditions for admission to the program, educational documents and reservation documents (if any).

6. University keep rights to cancel admission of the Ph.D. scholars in the case of misconduct by the scholar, unsatisfactory progress/absent for consecutive two progress seminars, failure in any examination related to Ph.D., fabrication found in educational and reservation documents, candidate is found ineligible, involved in plagiarism in paper publications and thesis.

7. Provisional eligibility to appear in the selection process is no guarantee for admission to the program.

8. Candidates who will join PhD program full time, they will be provided with the stipend as per MITWPU norms.

9. PhD admission will be confirmed after successful completion of the course work with 55% or more as per UGC norms. Ph.D. programme should be minimum of three years including course work and maximum of six years from the date of admission to the Ph.D. programme.

10. A maximum of an additional two years (2) years can be given through the process of re-registration provided, however, that the total period for completion of a Ph.D. programme should not exceed eight (8) years from the date of admission in the Ph.D. programme.

11. Provided further that, female Ph.D. scholars and persons with Disabilities (having more than 40% disability) may be allowed an additional relaxation of two years(2) ; however the total period for completion of a Ph.D. program in such cases should not exceed ten (10) years from the date of admission of the programme.

12. Female candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave for up to 240 days in the entire duration of Ph.D. programme.

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Hi I’m Rachael, I’m here as I love biology. Bioengineering is a very innovative field. We can apply technology to explore the world of biology and that’s the reason why I find it very interesting. I’m blessed to be in such a beautiful and peaceful campus and to be in the company of wonderful faculty, who are always there to help us whenever we need them. I’m really enjoying the journey of bioengineering!!!

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Women in STEM — A celebration of excellence and curiosity

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What better way to commemorate Women's History Month and International Women's Day than to give  three of the world’s most accomplished scientists an opportunity to talk about their careers? On March 7, MindHandHeart invited professors Paula Hammond, Ann Graybiel, and Sangeeta Bhatia to share their career journeys, from the progress they have witnessed to the challenges they have faced as women in STEM. Their conversation was moderated by Mary Fuller, chair of the faculty and professor of literature. 

Hammond, an Institute professor with appointments in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, reflected on the strides made by women faculty at MIT, while acknowledging ongoing challenges. “I think that we have advanced a great deal in the last few decades in terms of the numbers of women who are present, although we still have a long way to go,” Hammond noted in her opening. “We’ve seen a remarkable increase over the past couple of decades in our undergraduate population here at MIT, and now we’re beginning to see it in the graduate population, which is really exciting.” Hammond was recently appointed to the role of vice provost for faculty.

Ann Graybiel, also an Institute professor, who has appointments in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, described growing up in the Deep South. “Girls can’t do science,” she remembers being told in school, and they “can’t do research.” Yet her father, a physician scientist, often took her with him to work and had her assist from a young age, eventually encouraging her directly to pursue a career in science. Graybiel, who first came to MIT in 1973, noted that she continued to face barriers and rejection throughout her career long after leaving the South, but that individual gestures of inspiration, generosity, or simple statements of “You can do it” from her peers helped her power through and continue in her scientific pursuits. 

Sangeeta Bhatia, the John and Dorothy Wilson Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, director of the Marble Center for Cancer Nanomedicine at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, and a member of the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, is also the mother of two teenage girls. She shared her perspective on balancing career and family life: “I wanted to pick up my kids from school and I wanted to know their friends. … I had a vision for the life that I wanted.” Setting boundaries at work, she noted, empowered her to achieve both personal and professional goals. Bhatia also described her collaboration with President Emerita Susan Hockfield and MIT Amgen Professor of Biology Emerita Nancy Hopkins to spearhead the Future Founders Initiative , which aims to boost the representation of female faculty members pursuing biotechnology ventures.

A video of the full panel discussion is available on the MindHandHeart YouTube channel .

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Graduate Certificate in Logistics & Supply Chain Management | MIT SCALE

Professionals interested in deepening their knowledge in scm in emerging market economies, particularly latin america and the caribbean - expanding their graduate education in developing countries.

The MIT Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG) is an elite academic program from the MIT Global Supply Chain And Logistics Excellence (SCALE) network, geared toward exceptional graduate students and professionals from developing countries who are interested in learning state-of-the-art topics in logistics, freight transportation and SCM and tools to solve real problems from emerging regions.

As a certificate program, the GCLOG has a smaller time and tuition footprint to MIT SCALE master's degree programs, and is a perfect educational complement for students currently pursuing a master's degree at their home universities or professionals looking for elevating their education to address current challenges in emerging markets. The GCLOG is taught by instructors from the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) – considered the world's foremost thinkers in the field of Supply Chain Management and related fields. The GCLOG carries with it the prestige of MIT, one of the world's most respected universities, with a proven record in supply chain management and logistics. 

We look for "Amplifying graduate education and prepare the next generation of leaders in Supply Chain for emerging market economies," capitalizing on a hybrid, hands-on experience that combines online content and two residential seminars on the MIT campus at an affordable cost for talented professionals.

Download our program brochure.

Special waiver for SCM MicroMasters credential holders

If you completed the MicroMasters program in Supply Chain Management in the last three years and want to apply for the GCLOG program, we have great news! If after submitting your application, you are admitted to the GCLOG , you won't need to take the asynchronous sessions of the first module and you will receive a discount of 15% in the tuition. See the official announcement here  and the video .

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Application Deadlines Round I:  Nov 17, 2023 Round II:  Jan 26, 2024 Round III: extended to April 12, 2024. Questions? Email us at [email protected] !

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Student Experience

" The GCLOG is a truly unique world-class experience that supports the pathway to success in our professional careers. " –Andrea Barreto, GCLOG 2016 – Mexico (Sr. Product Manager at Amazon.com).

" Best in class instructors, outstanding classmates and valuable debates at MIT is what I found in this program. It definitely was a milestone not only in my career but in my life. " –Roberto Sugiyama, GCLOG 2016 – Brazil (SCM Manager at Bayer).

GCLOG students combine online study with two three-week residencies on the MIT campus, with minimal disruption to their ongoing master's, family, and work commitments, and without breaking the bank. Read more  testimonials from our alumni .

GCLOG Program Outline

  The GCLOG class of 2025 will include four components:

• Online course GCx (May 13 – July 6, 2024): Excellence in Supply Chain, delivered through the edXedge ( http://edge.edx.org/ ) platform, covering fundamentals of Supply Chain Management & Logistics.
• A 3-week seminar on the MIT campus (July 7 - 26, 2024), where students attend workshops/lectures on state-of-the-art knowledge in the field (e.g. Urban Logistics, nanostore supply chains, SCM for food and agri-business, SC Resilience, Humanitarian Logistics, Omni-channel distribution strategies, SC Strategy, Sustainable SC, etc.).
• A research-oriented Capstone project that provides applied solutions. This capstone serves as a culminating academic experience for the GCLOG students.
• A 3-week seminar on MIT campus (early - end of January, 2025), where GCLOG students participate in SCALE Connect , a unique experience where students from all MIT SCALE centers (Zaragoza, Luxembourg, Ningbo, MISI and MIT) gather together to attend lectures and participate in challenges, company tours, and other interesting activities.

GCLOG Program Details

GCLOG Program Cost 2025

Tuition :  $10,000 Preferential Tuition for academic partners of the MIT SCALE network and top 30 QS ranked universities on every region :  $8,500

Preferential Tuition for SCM Micromasters credential holders :  $8,500

• Students are responsible for  Travel & Living Expenses .
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Application Deadlines

Round I:  Nov 17, 2023 Round II:  Jan 26, 2024 Round III: extended to April 12, 2024.

Dr. Christopher Mejía Argueta ( email ) Director of the MIT GCLOG Program

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Twenty-three MIT faculty, five from Physics, honored as “Committed to Caring” for 2023-25

The honor recognizes professors for their outstanding mentorship of graduate students..

In the halls of MIT, a distinctive thread of compassion weaves through the fabric of education. As students adjust to a postpandemic normal, many professors have played a pivotal role by helping them navigate the realities of hybrid learning and a rapidly changing postgraduation landscape. 

The Committed to Caring (C2C) program at MIT is a student-driven initiative that celebrates faculty members who have served as exceptional mentors to graduate students. Twenty-three MIT professors have been selected as recipients of the C2C award for 2023-25, marking the most extensive cohort of honorees to date. These individuals join the ranks of 75 previous C2C honorees. 

The actions of these MIT faculty members over the past two years underscore their profound commitment to the well-being, growth, and success of their students. These educators go above and beyond their roles, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to mentorship, inclusion, and a holistic approach to student development. They aim to create a nurturing environment where students not only thrive academically, but also flourish personally. 

The following faculty members are the 2023-25 Committed to Caring honorees:

• Hamsa Balakrishnan, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Cynthia Breazeal, Media Lab
• Roberto Fernandez, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Nuh Gedik , Department of Physics
• Mariya Grinberg, Department of Political Science
• Ming Guo, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Myriam Heiman, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
• Rohit Karnik, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Erik Lin-Greenberg, Department of Political Science
• Michael McDonald , Department of Physics
• Emery Neal Brown, Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology
• Wanda Orlikowski, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Kenneth Oye, Department of Political Science
• Kristala Prather, Department of Chemical Engineering
• Zachary Seth Hartwig, Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
• Tracy Slatyer , Department of Physics
• Iain Stewart , Department of Physics
• Andrew Vanderburg , Department of Physics
• Rodrigo Verdi, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Xiao Wang, Department of Chemistry
• Ariel White, Department of Political Science
• Nathan Wilmers, MIT Sloan School of Management
• Maria Yang, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Since the founding of the C2C program in 2014 by the Office of Graduate Education, the nomination process for honorees has centered on student involvement. Graduate students from all departments are invited to submit nomination letters detailing professors’ outstanding mentorship practices. A committee of graduate students and staff members then selects individuals who have shown genuine contributions to MIT’s vibrant academic community through student mentorship.

The selection committee this year included: Maria Carreira (Biology), Rima Das (Mechanical Engineering), Ahmet Gulek (Economics), Bishal Thapa (Biological Engineering), Katie Rotman (Architecture), Dóra Takács (Linguistics), Dan Korsun (Nuclear Science and Engineering), Leslie Langston (Student Mental Health and Counseling), Patricia Nesti (MIT-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), Beth Marois (Office of Graduate Education [OGE]), Sara Lazo (OGE), and Chair Suraiya Baluch (OGE).  

This year’s nomination letters highlighted unique stories of how students felt supported by professors. Students noted their mentors’ commitment to frequent meetings despite their own busy personal lives, as well as their dedication to ensuring equal access to opportunities for underrepresented and underserved students.

Some wrote about their advisors’ careful consideration of students’ needs alongside their own when faced with professional advancement opportunities; others appreciated their active support for students in the LGBTQ+ community. Lastly, students reflected on their advisors’ encouragement for open and constructive discourse around the graduate unionization vote, showing a genuine desire to hear about graduate issues.

Baluch shared, “Working with the amazing selection committee was the highlight of my work year. I was so impressed by the thoughtful consideration each nomination received. Selecting the next round of C2C nominees is always a heartwarming experience.” 

“As someone who aspires to be a faculty member someday,” noted Das, “being on the selection committee … was a phenomenal opportunity in understanding the breadth and depth of possibility in how to be a caring mentor in academia.”

She continued, “It was so heartening to hear the different ways that these faculty members are going above and beyond their explicit research and teaching duties and the amazing impact that has made on so many students’ well-being and ability to be successful in graduate school.” 

The Committed to Caring program continues to reinforce MIT’s culture of mentorship, inclusion, and collaboration by recognizing the contributions of outstanding professors. In the coming months, news articles will feature pairs of honorees, and a reception will be held in May.

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