Biopharmaceutical Process Development, EngD

During the first year, you undertake taught modules and an industry-focused research project that forms the basis for your main industrial research study.
Some of your taught module choices are informed by your subject background. You will have to take either implementation of mathematical techniques and bioprocess integration or essential mathematics and systems analysis. You will also need to take fundamentals of cell and molecular biology or biological and medicinal chemistry.
Your other module choices are informed by those available to EngD students: bioprocessing engineering principles; introduction to bioprocessing; biomeasurement technologies; computer processing of data; and research methodology and experimental design.
In years two and three you take professional skills modules and choose from a range of technical skills modules.
Professional skills modules include: business, regulatory and commercial impacts upon research and development; management of industrial projects; scientists of the future - public engagement; innovation, IPR and patents.
Technical skills modules include: advanced systems modelling and analysis; biomeasurement technologies; bioinformatics; databases and information extraction; advanced automation; industrial case studies in bioprocess development; and emergent technologies in bioprocessing.
The scope and topic of your main research project will vary depending on your subject background, research interests and the company you are working with. However, your project should consider improvement opportunities for both established biopharmaceutical production routes and horizon products such as stem cells and marine biotechnology. It should also cover three overarching areas of development: measurement, data and knowledge management; systems analysis and building process representations; and enhanced development and operational strategies.
In year four, you complete your research project and participate in the bio-apprentice module. For this module you are divided into competing teams and are tasked with finding solutions to ‘real-life’ business world scenarios. For example, how to market a new product or how to win a contract as a contract manufacturing organisation (CMO).