Student Resources - MIT Society for Biomaterials

Student Resources

Here at MIT

Biomaterials Education
Degree Programs
Relevant Courses

Biomaterials Related Research

Post Your Resume on the Web

Outside MIT

Links to Other Universities Offering Biomaterials Programs

Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities

Here at MIT:

Biomaterials Education:

Ph.D./Graduate Options in Biomaterials:

Materials Science (Course 3)	1. Biomaterials panel— 4 core subjects in materials science (thermodynamics, kinetics, mechanics, electronic materials) plus advanced courses chosen from several biomaterials offerings. Research may be done in any lab at MIT. This option may be in development and not currently available. 2. Non-biomaterials panel— 4 core subjects in materials science plus advanced courses chosen from a non-biomaterials discipline (e.g., ceramics, electronic materials, etc.); electives in biomaterials may be taken, and research may be done in any lab at MIT. This option may be suitable for those students wishing a broader foundation in materials science. 3. PPST (Program in Polymer Science and Technology)— an interdisciplinary program bridging the interests in polymer research of the departments of chemical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, and chemistry, etc. Core subjects in polymer science (synthesis, physics, processing, and mechanics) plus 2 required courses in the student’s home department (e.g., materials science). At least one biomaterials class is required, but more may be taken. This option may be suitable for those students wishing to do polymeric biomaterials research and have a solid foundation in polymers.
Mechanical Engineering (Course 2)	1. Biomaterials emphasis—subjects taken in mechanical engineering (thermodynamics, mechanics, control systems, etc.) with the option to take classes from a variety of biomaterials and other bioengineering-related offerings. 2. PPST option— same as listed in the materials science section, but core classes are in mechanical engineering.
Chemical Engineering (Course 10)	1. Normal Ph.D. option— several core subjects chemical engineering (thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, transport phenomenon, etc.) with the option to choose from a variety of biotechology and biomaterials classes (e.g., biochemical engineering, cell/tissue engineering, etc.). 2. PPST option— same as listed in the materials science section, but core classes are in chemical engineering.
Bioengineering and Environmental Health (BEH)	1. Ph.D. option—a newly developed program with a required core in bioengineering disciplines (e.g., biomechanics, cell biology, biochemistry, engineering physiology, etc.) plus electives in biomaterials, pathology, cell/tissue engineering. Provides a good biological and engineering foundation for biomaterials or other biotechnology research. Faculty are drawn from the more traditional engineering disciplines. 2. S.M. option—undergraduate students enrolled in the BEH minor may elect to receive a 5th years Master’s degree after 4 years of undergraduate and 1 year of graduate study. Coursework allows several opportunities for biomaterials classes and research.
Health Sciences Technology (HST)	Joint Harvard-MIT program in biomedical engineering and biosciences. Core first-year medical school classes (pathology, physiology, biochemistry, etc.) plus required classes in a home engineering department at MIT; it is possible to choose classes from many bioengineering and biomaterials electives. Provides some clinical exposure. Options exist for receiving an M.D., a Ph.D., or a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree from this program.

Undergraduate Options in Biomaterials:

Materials Science (Course 3)	1. Concentration in biomaterials—students may emphasize/specialize in biomaterials-related coursework, in addtion to a set core in all facets of materials science. 2. BEH minor—in conjunction with the BEH Division, students may pursue a bioengineering minor with the option to take biomaterials classes.
Non-materials Science Courses	BEH minor—in conjunction with the BEH division, students from all courses may pursue coursework in bioengineering with the option to take biomaterials classes.

Relevant Courses: (Link to MIT Subject Listing)

Number	Title	Units	Prof.	U/G/H	Spring/Fall	Description
2.761J, 22.56J, HST.561J	Principles of Medical Imaging	12	D. Cory D. Rowell	H	Spring
2.782J 3.961J BEH.451J HST.524J	Design of Medical Devices and Implants	12	I.V. Yannas M. Spector	H	Spring	Solution of clinical problems by use of implants and other medical devices. Systematic use of cell-matrix control volumes. The role of stress analysis in the design process. Anatomic fit: shape and size of implants. Selection of biomaterials. Instrumentation for surgical implantation procedures. Preclinical testing for safety and efficacy: risk/benefit ratio assessment. Evaluation of clinical performance: design of clinical trials. Project materials drawn from orthopedic devices, soft tissue implants, artificial organs, and dental implants.
2.785J 3.97J BEH.411J HST.523J	Cell-Matrix Mechanics	12	I.V. Yannas M. Spector	H	Spring	Mechanical forces play a decisive role during development of tissues and organs, during remodeling following injury as well as in normal function. A stress field influences cell function primarily through deformation of the extracellular matrix to which cells are attached. Deformed cells express different biosynthetic activity relative to undeformed cells. The unit cell process paradigm together with topics in connective tissue mechanics form the basis for discussions of several topics from cell biology, physiology, and medicine.
2.79J 3.96J BEH.441J HST.522J	Biomaterials-Tissue Interactions	12	I.V. Yannas M. Spector	H	Fall	Principles of materials science and cell biology underlying the design of medical implants, artificial organs, and matrices for tissue engineering. Methods for biomaterials surface characterization and analysis of protein adsorption on biomaterials. Molecular and cellular interactions with biomaterials are analyzed in terms of unit cell processes, such as matrix synthesis, degradation, and contraction. Mechanisms underlying wound healing and tissue remodeling following implantation in various organs. Design of implants and prostheses based on control of biomaterials-tissue interactions. Comparative analysis of intact, biodegradable, and bioreplaceable implants by reference to case studies. Criteria for restoration of physiological function for tissues and organs.
2.797J 6.024J BEH.310J BEH.410	Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics	12	A.J. Grodzinsky R.D. Kamm L. Mahadevan	U	Fall	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. Satisfies one of the core Biomedical Engineering requirements for the interdepartmental minor in Biomedical Engineering.
3.051J BEH.340J	Materials for Biomedical Applications	9	A.M. Mayes	U	Fall	Introduction to the interactions between cells and surfaces of biomaterials. Surface chemistry and physics of selected metals, polymers, and ceramics. Surface characterization methodology. Modification of biomaterials surfaces. Quantitative assays of cell behavior in culture. Biosensors and microarrays. Bulk properties of implants. Acute and chronic response to implanted biomaterials. Topics in biomimetics, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Laboratory demonstrations.
3.052	Nanomechanics of Materials and Biomaterials (New)	12	C. Ortiz	U	Spring	Subject focuses on the latest scientific developments and discoveries in the field of nanomechanics, i.e. the deformation of extremely tiny (10-9 meters) areas of synthetic and biological materials. Lectures include a description of normal and lateral forces at the atomic scale, atomistic aspects of adhesion, nanoindentation, molecular details of fracture, chemical force microscopy, elasticity of individual macromolecular chains, intermolecular interactions in polymers, dynamic force spectroscopy, biomolecular bond strength measurements, and molecular motors.
3.072	Nanomechanics of Materials and Biomaterials	12	C. Ortiz	U	Spring	Focuses on the latest scientific developments and discoveries in the field of nanomechanics, i.e. the deformation of extremely tiny areas of synthetic and biological materials. Lectures include a description of normal and lateral forces at the atomic scale, atomistic aspects of adhesion, nanoindentation, molecular details of fracture, chemical force microscopy, elasticity of individual macromolecular chains, intermolecular interactions in polymers, dynamic force spectroscopy, biomolecular bond strength measurements, and molecular motors.
10.02J 5.22J BEH.105J	Biotechnology and Engineering	9	J.M. Essigmann R.S. Langer	U	Spring	Illustrates how the principles of chemistry, biology, and engineering are integrated to create new products for human health and consumption. 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.
10.449J 10.549J BEH.360J BEH.460J	Cell and Tissue Engineering	9	L. Griffith H. Lodish D.A. Lauffenburger	U/G	Fall	Analysis of fundamental processes in tissue engineering for human therapeutic applications and for in vitro models of human tissue, using representative examples of metabolic tissue (e.g., liver) and connective tissue (e.g., bone). Design principles and engineering approaches (e.g., use of synthetic materials) for controlling receptor-mediated processes such as cell migration, growth, and differentiation. Mass transfer limitations in design of devices for cell encapsulation and in scaffold-guided regeneration. Guided organization of multicellular structures. Current clinical prospects.
BEH.216	Extracellular Matrix and Signal Transduction	6	R. Sasisekharan	H	Spring	Recent progress in biology has contradicted the historic notion of the extracellular matrix (ECM) being nothing more than an inert scaffold around cells. Subject deals with important concepts and examples of extracellular modulation of cell function. Following an introduction to ECM components and how ECM components modulate signal transduction, subject specifically studies growth factor and cytokine mediated signal transduction, as well as how external agents such as UV radiation or toxins modulate signal transduction. Addresses issues of cell-ECM interactions and signal transduction in cell and tissue engineering. Offered second half of spring term.
BEH.400	Perspectives in Biological Engineering	12	D. Lauffenburger P. Matsudaira	H	Fall	An in-depth presentation and discussion of how engineering and biological approaches can be combined to solve problems in science and technology, emphasizing integration of biological information and methodologies with engineering analysis, synthesis, and design. Emphasis on molecular mechanisms underlying cellular processes, including signal transduction, gene expression networks, and functional responses.
BEH.342 BEH.442	Molecular Structure of Biological Materials	12	S. Zhang	U/G	Fall	Basic molecular structural principles of biological materials. Molecular structures of various materials of biological origin, including collagen, silk, bone, protein adhesives, GFP, self-assembling peptides. Molecular design of new biological materials. Graduate students are expected to complete additional coursework.
10.540J BEH.461J	Engineering Analysis of Cell Receptor Processes	9	D.A. Lauffenburger	G	Spring	Analysis of mammalian cell function from a quantitative, engineering perspective, focusing on receptor-mediated behavior and underlying receptor/ligand interactions. Topics include receptor/ligand binding; receptor/ligand trafficking; physical aspects of receptor ligand interactions (probability, diffusion, multivalency); signal transduction; cell proliferation; cell adhesion; cell migration.
6.021J 2.791J 2.794J 6.521J BEH.370J HST.541J	Quantitative Physiology: Cells and Tissues	12	T.F. Weiss D.M. Freeman	U/G	Fall	Principles of mass transport and electrical signal generation for biological membranes, cells, and tissues. Mass transport through membranes: diffusion, osmosis, chemically mediated, and active transport. Electric properties of cells: ion transport; equilibrium, resting, and action potentials. Kinetic and molecular properties of single voltage-gated ion channels. Laboratory and computer exercises illustrate the concepts. For juniors and seniors. Meets with graduate subject 6.521J, but assignments differ. Students interested in enhancing their written and oral presentation skills, see subject 6.080J. 4 Engineering Design Points.
6.022J 2.792J 2.796J 6.522J BEH.371J BEH.471J HST.542J	Quantitative Physiology: Organ Transport Systems	12	R.G. Mark R. Kamm	U/G	Spring	Application of the principles of energy and mass flow to major human organ systems. Mechanisms of regulation and homeostasis. Anatomical, physiological, and pathophysiological features of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal systems. Emphasis on those systems, features, and devices that are most illuminated by the methods of physical sciences. Laboratory work includes some animal studies. Waiver of 6.021J by permission of instructor. 2 Engineering Design Points.

Biomaterials Related Research:

Graduate Students: Most departments at MIT allow students to work on a thesis project under an advisor in any department.

Below is a list of professors whose research focus includes biomaterials. Email address, @mit.edu unless noted, and the appropriate URL are provided.

Chemical Engineering (Course 10)

Robert Langer (rlanger) (also BEH)

Doug Lauffenburger (lauffen) (also BEH)

Linda Griffith (griff) (also BEH)

Paul Laibinis (pel)

Karen Gleason (kkgleasn)

William Deen (wmdeen) (also BEH)

Clark Colton (ckcolton)

Daniel Blankschtein (dblank)

Gregory Stephanopoulos (gregstep)

Jackie Ying (jyying)

K. Dane Wittrup (wittrup) (also BEH)