Biomanufacturing and Precision Fermentation

3.0 credits · Graduate

In this course, we will examine how engineered microbial cell factories are deployed in large-scale fermentation processes to produce food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and commodity chemicals. With the aim of providing a holistic understanding of designing a new biomanufacturing process, we will cover the variety of microbes used throughout precision fermentation, their genetic tractability, and suitability for various classes of products. Existing and emerging fermentation feedstocks will be discussed alongside their composition, availability, and processing requirements. Students will gain an understanding of the quantitative metrics describing fermentation processes, including enzyme reaction and microbial growth kinetics. We will also introduce the cutting-edge computational tools driving modern research in this field such as flux balance analysis, genome-scale metabolic modeling, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tools for protein structure prediction.