2009-2010 Bulletin – PDF - SEAS Bulletin - Columbia University

in consultation with the student’s faculty
adviser to prepare for the doctoral qualifying
examination and to develop expertise
in a clearly identified area of biomedical
engineering. Up to 12 credits of research
(BMEN E9500) may be applied toward
doctoral degree course requirements.
All graduate students admitted to the
doctoral degree program must satisfy the
equivalent of three semesters’ experience
in teaching (one semester for M.D./Ph.D.
students). This may include supervising
and assisting undergraduate students in
laboratory experiments, grading, and
preparing lecture materials to support the
teaching mission of the department. The
Department of Biomedical Engineering is
the only engineering department that offers
Ph.D. training to M.D./Ph.D. students.
These candidates are expected to complete
their Ph.D. program within 3.5 years,
with otherwise the same requirements.
Doctoral Qualifying Examination
Doctoral candidates are required to pass
a qualifying examination. This examination
is given once a year, in January. It should
be taken after the student has completed
30 points of graduate study. The qualifying
examination consists of oral and written
examinations. The oral examination consists
of the analysis of assigned scientific
papers, and the written examination
covers three areas: applied mathematics,
quantitative biology and physiology, and
track-specific material. Students must
declare a track (biomedical imaging,
biomechanics, or cell and tissue engineering)
at the time of registration for
the qualifying examination. A minimum
cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 is
required to register for this examination.
Doctoral Committee and Thesis
Students who pass the qualifying examination
choose a faculty member to serve
as their research adviser. Each student is
expected to submit a research proposal
and present it to a thesis committee that
consists of three to five faculty members.
The committee considers the scope of the
proposed research, its suitability for doctoral
research and the appropriateness of
the research plan. The committee may
approve the proposal without reservation
or may recommend modifications. In general,
the student is expected to submit
his/her research proposal after five semesters
of doctoral studies. In accord with
regulations of The Fu Foundation School
of Engineering and Applied Science, each
student is expected to submit a thesis and
defend it before a committee of five faculty,
two of whom hold primary appointments
in another department. Every doctoral
candidate is required to have had accepted
at least one first-author full-length
paper for publication in a peer-reviewed
journal prior to recommendation for award
of the degree.
COURSES IN BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERING
See also the sections for Applied Physics,
Chemical Engineering, Computer Science,
and Computer Engineering in this bulletin,
and the Columbia College and
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
bulletins for courses in the biological sciences:
biomedical informatics, cell biology,
microbiology, and physiology.
BMEN E1001x Engineering in medicine
Lect: 3. 3 pts. Professor Hung and guest lecturers.
The present and historical role of engineering in
medicine and health care delivery. Engineering
approaches to understanding organismic and
cellular function in living systems. Engineering in
the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Medical
imaging, medical devices: diagnostic and surgical
instruments, drug delivery systems, prostheses,
artificial organs. Medical informatics and organization
of the health care system. Current trends
in biomedical engineering research.
BMEN E2300x or y Biomechanics track
0 pts.
Rising juniors are required to register for this
course in the spring of their sophomore year if
they choose the biomechanics track.
BMEN E2400x or y Biomedical imaging track
0 pts.
Rising juniors are required to register for this
course in the spring of their sophomore year if
they choose the biomedical imaging track.
BMEN E2500x or y Cell and tissue engineering
track
0 pts.
Rising juniors are required to register for this
course in the spring of their sophomore year if
they choose the cell and tissue engineering track.
ECBM E3060x Introduction to genomic information
science and technology
Lect: 3. 3 pts. Professor Anastassiou.
Introduction to the information system paradigm
of molecular biology. Representation, organization,
structure, function, and manipulation of the
biomolecular sequences of nucleic acids and proteins.
The role of enzymes and gene regulatory
elements in natural biological functions as well
as in biotechnology and genetic engineering.
Recombination and other macromolecular
processes viewed as mathematical operations
with simulation and visualization using simple
computer programming. This course shares
lectures with ECBM E4060, but the work requirements
differ somewhat.
BMEN E3150y The cell as a machine
Lect: 3. 3 pts. Not given in 2009–2010.
Prerequisite: MATH V1101 or V1105. Corequistite:
One semester of cell biology or biochemistry, and
one semester of general physics or equivalent. Cells
as complex micron-sized machines, basic physical
aspects of cell components (diffusion, mechanics,
electrostatics, hydrophobicity), energy transduction
(motors, transporters, chaperones, synthesis complexes),
basic cell functions. Biophysical principles,
feedback controls for robust cell function, adaptation
to environmental perturbations.
BMEN E3320y Fluid biomechanics
Lect: 3. 3 pts. Professor Huang.
Prerequisites: MATH E1210. The principles of
continuum mechanics as applied to biological
fluid flows and transport. Course covers continuum
formulations of basic conservation laws, Navier-
Stokes equations, mechanics of arterial and venous
blood flow, blood rheology and non-Newtonian
properties, flow and transport in the microcirculation,
oxygen diffusion, capillary filtration.
BMCH E3500y Biological transport and rate
processes
Lect: 3. 3 pts. Professor Leonard.
Prerequisites: CHEM C3443, MATH E1210.
Corequisite: BIOL C2005. Convective and diffusive
movement and reaction of molecules in biological
systems. Kinetics of homogeneous and heterogeneous
reactions in biological environments.
Mechanisms and models of transport across
membranes. Convective diffusion with and without
chemical reaction. Diffusion in restricted
spaces. Irreversible thermodynamic approaches
to transport and reaction in biological systems.
BMEN E3810y Biomedical engineering
laboratory, I
Lab: 4. 3 pts. Instructor to be announced.
Statistical analysis of experimental measurements:
normal distribution, test of significance,
linear regression, correlation, error analysis and
propagation. MATLAB programming, EKG signal
acquisition and processing, microscopy, cell
counting and scaffold encapsulation, mechanical
testing of linear and nonlinear biomaterials.
BMEN E3820x Biomedical engineering
laboratory, II
Lab: 4. 3 pts. Instructor to be announced.
Statistical analysis of experimental measurements:
analysis of variance, power analysis. Circuit implementation
of nerve conduction, alginate bead forma-
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SEAS 2009–2010