A Simplified Model of Human Alcohol Metabolism That Integrates Biotechnology and Human Health Into a Mass Balance Team Project

Authors

  • Allen H.J. Yang School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
  • Kathryn Dimiduk Teaching Excellence Institute, Cornell University
  • Susan Daniel School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University

Abstract

We present a simplified human alcohol metabolism model for a mass balance team project. Students explore aspects of engineering in biotechnology: designing/modeling biological systems, testing the design/model, evaluating new conditions, and exploring cutting-edge “lab-on-a-chip” research. This project highlights chemical engineering’s impact on biotechnology and human health and promotes advanced analysis of results, develops engineering judgment, spotlights current biotechnology research, and illustrates scaling down. Pedagogical aspects, including teaching points, career interest, and student feedback, are discussed.

Author Biographies

Allen H.J. Yang, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University

Allen H.J. Yang is a Ph.D. candidate in chemical and biomolecular engineering at Cornell University. He received his B.S. in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. His research interests lie in biophotonics, microfluidic systems, and interfacial science.

Kathryn Dimiduk, Teaching Excellence Institute, Cornell University

Kathryn Dimiduk is the director of the Teaching Excellence Institute in the College of Engineering at Cornell University. She received her B.A. in physics from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University. Her current research interests are in engineering education and collaborating with engineering faculty in developing teaching innovation in the classroom and building networks to leverage those advances.

Susan Daniel, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University

Susan Daniel is an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Cornell University. She received her B.S. and Ph.D. from Lehigh University, both in chemical engineering. Her research interests are biological interfaces, membrane biophysics, and interfacial science.

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Published

2011-01-01

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 1 (2011): Winter 2011

Section

Manuscripts