91368 Bioreactors and Bioprocessing
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 91314 General Microbiology
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Recommended studies:
This subject builds on stage 1–4 subjects. It is recommended that students complete this subject in their final year.
Description
This subject covers the practical aspects of modern biotechnology, including bioreactor operation, microbial kinetics, algal kinetics, extraction techniques, downstream processing and development of biomass based high value products. It provides an insight into the cellular, physiological and biochemical basis of industrially relevant organisms such as algae and yeast. The subject also considers economic and other factors impinging on the feasibility of bioreactors for industrial application.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Discuss the operation of a range of bioreactors and be able to operate a simple bioreactor. |
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| 2. | Calculate important parameters related to bioreactor operation and have introductory knowledge of other useful tools for bioprocess optimization. |
| 3. | Use the knowledge and experiences that you have obtained in this subject to discuss bioprocesses and contribute as part of a team to the development of new bioprocesses. |
| 4. | Independently research a scientific topic using a variety of library tools (textbooks, databases, journal articles, inter-library borrowing facilities etc) and communication tools (letters, emails, visits etc) and write a technical document. |
| 5. | identify various downstream processing techniques of biomass for extraction, isolation and characterization of products/molecules of interest. |
| 6. | Effectively communicate research findings appropriate to the discipline, purpose and audience. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Explain how current and emerging molecular biotechnologies can be used to pioneer better health care or help solve or otherwise address environmental issues, and to evaluate and integrate economic and scientific strategies that influence the translation of new biotechnology products to the marketplace. (1.1)
- Critically evaluate information from sources such as databases and published literature to identify novel research ideas and apply strategic and creative reasoning to find solutions or articulate issues related to biotechnology. (2.1)
- Articulate the role and place of bio-business in the economy, with due consideration of global risk perceptions and the legal and regulatory requirements in biotechnology. (3.1)
- Demonstrate a confident independence to identify problems or unmet needs and act to find innovative and creative solutions with an understanding of the social, disciplinary, economic, and contextual barriers. (4.1)
- Display effective and appropriate professional communication skills (oral, written, visual) in order to pitch ideas, generate defensible, convincing arguments or transmit research findings within a multi-disciplinary setting. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Bioreactors and Bioprocessing is a Stage 6 subject in the Biotechnology degree program and an elective in other Science degrees.
1. Disciplinary knowledge
An understanding of the nature, practice & application of bioreactors and bioprocessing. Specifically the different types of bioreactors, how they are used and how products are made, modified, purified and packaged.
2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking
This subject includes practical sessions, based on production of industrially relevant products identified in research. You will be guided through the designing of experiments to address a research question, introduction to scientific methods and execution in laboratory in a safe and policy binded manner. You will learn how to apply bioreactor operation, down stream processing to the production of these candidtates. You will learn how to solve problems, analyse data and interpret your findings.
3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility
In this subject you will have the opportunity to practice your teamwork skills by collaborating with peers in the aquisition and sharing of data. You will also practice professional calculations, time-management, research skills, and professional document writing skills. You will also learn the fundamentals of safety, ethics and risk management in research laboratories and industrial workplaces. Consideration of safety, ethics and risk management are also incorporated into the field trips and are required components in the main industry report. Biotechnology is a global industry and many aspects have significance to global problems and technologies of interest to the general public. An awareness of the role of science within a global culture and willingness to contribute actively to the shaping of community views on complex issues with relevance to Biotechnology is encouraged. In this regard the industry report also addresses how biotechnology companies can serve societal's practical needs.
4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity
You will reflect on data collected in the practicals sessions, inorder to construct an industry style report. These skills are a strong component of this subject and this builds a capacity for life-long learning. The professional context of the biotechnology industry is used in several aspects of the subject to enhance the student’s application of knowledge to discipline specific problems and tasks. Within the Biotechnology context, students have the opportunity to develop an ability to think and work creatively, including the capacity for self-starting, and the ability to apply science skills to situations that are not covered in class and also future applications.
5. Communication
You are given an opportunity to experience different forms of communication - writing, reading and listening. Graphical communication of data within a Biotechnology professional context will be encouarged and industry style writing will be used in the industry report
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is concerned with bioreactors, bioprocessing and associated topics, but other skills relevant to a modern bioscientist will be developed alongside the required learning. During the session you will be exposed to ideas, practical experiences on bioreactor operation and various analytical techniques and field trips designed to expand your understanding of bioreactors and down stream processing. Students will work in groups to accomplish their practical tasks and share the collective data used for practical calculations. Lab data will be collated, analysed, presented for discussion in an industry style report and presentation. The report and presentation based on the laboratory session is intended to develop your disciplinary knowledge, researching skills, communication skills, team work, initiative and creativity. There will be three self-directed online practice quizzes to facilitate revision, expand your understanding and to allow contemplation of these ideas. Each quiz is supported with detailed feedback.
Content (topics)
You will have the opportunity to learn the science and general theory associated with the practical production of biotechnological products. This includes, operation of a simple bioreactor, microbial/algal kinetics (growth), down stream processing, identification, purification and characterisation of molecules of interest and scientific research.
This subject specifically facilitates your development of researching skills, scientific creativity and communications skills (including online communication tools), technical oral presentations (including Powerpoint) and technical documents (written reports).
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Quiz
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 2.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | Quizzes will be assessed on: Disciplinary knowledge, Accuracy of calculations. Accuracy and relevance of factual answers. |
Assessment task 2: Industry Report
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical and social responsibility 4. Reflection, Innovation, Creativity 5. Communication
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2, 3, 4 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on: - Completion of laboratory data sheets. - Knowledge of practical laboratory skills - Ability to graphical present data - Ability to interpret findings and make industry relevant proposals - Research, inquiry and critical thinking |
Assessment task 3: Presentation
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on
Completion of laboratory data sheets (Individually assessed- 25% weightage). Knowledge of practical laboratory skills (Individually assessed- 25% weightage) Ability to visually present data and interpretation of findings ( Group assessed-15 % weightage) Ability to do professional presentations before a group ( Group assessed-15% weightage) Team work and contribution to group activites (Individually assessed- 20% weightage) |
Minimum requirements
You are strongly encouraged to attend all lectures and practical sessions as they are an important part of the learning experience of this subject. Failure to attend one of these sessions may affect your ability to complete the related assessment task.
You are also required to obtain a minimum overall grade of 50%. NB Not all assignments have the same weight. The overall weighting of this subject has been very carefully balanced.
Recommended texts
There is no recommended text. References are provided as part of the lectures.
References
Additional references are provided in the Canvas website for this subject.