The Berkeley Academic Guide is changing to the Berkeley Catalog at catalog.berkeley.edu on July 1, 2025. The 2024-2025 Academic Guide will be available for reference through July 31, 2025.
Overview
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) provides the opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to obtain a thorough fundamental knowledge of all fields in chemical and biomolecular engineering.
In broad terms, research conducted in the department can be divided into the following areas: catalysis and reaction engineering; electrochemical engineering; polymers and complex fluids; microsystems technology and microelectrics; molecular simulations and theory; interfacial engineering; biochemical and bioprocess engineering; biomedical engineering; and synthetic biology. The department also collaborates with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Undergraduate Programs
Chemical Engineering: BS, Minor
Chemical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering: BS (Joint Major offered in cooperation with the College of Engineering)
Chemical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering: BS (Joint Major offered in cooperation with the College of Engineering)
Graduate Programs
Bioprocess Engineering: MS
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: MS Professional Masters (Product Development Program), MS and PhD
Courses
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2020, Spring 2019
The Berkeley Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Berkeley Seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester.
Freshman Seminars: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020
Design and analysis of processes involving chemical change. Strategies for design, such as creative thinking and (re)definition of the design goal. Methods for analyzing designs, such as mathematical modeling, empirical analysis by graphics, and dynamic scaling by dimensional analysis. Design choices in light of process efficiency, product quality, economics, safety, and environmental issues.
Introduction to Chemical Engineering Design: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Math 1B OR Chem 4A
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture and 1.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2013, Spring 2012, Spring 2010
Sophomore seminars are small interactive courses offered by faculty members in departments all across the campus. Sophomore seminars offer opportunity for close, regular intellectual contact between faculty members and students in the crucial second year. The topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 sophomores.
Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: At discretion of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring:
5 weeks - 3-6 hours of seminar per week
10 weeks - 1.5-3 hours of seminar per week
15 weeks - 1-2 hours of seminar per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 2.5-5 hours of seminar per week
8 weeks - 2-4 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021
An introduction is given to the science and technologies of producing electricity and transportation fuels from renewable energy resources (biomass, geothermal, solar, wind, and wave). Students will be introduced to quantitative calculations and comparisions of energy technologies together with the economic and political factors affecting the transition from nonrenewable to sustainable energy resources. Mass and energy balances are used to analyze the conversion of energy resources.
Science and Engineering of Sustainable Energy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemistry 1A or 4A
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Instructors: Bell, Segalman
Science and Engineering of Sustainable Energy: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2023
Supervised research on a specific topic.
Directed Group Studies for Lower Division Undergraduates: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of directed group study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Directed Group Studies for Lower Division Undergraduates: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2015
Directed group study consisting of supplementary problem sets, review sessions, and discussions related to chemical engineering. Topics vary with instructor.
Directed Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: This Chemical Engineering 98W is planned for students who are concurrently enrolled in Chemical Engineering 140
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This upper division course for science and engineering students is the first of a two-course series that covers the business fundamentals for technology professionals. This course is only offered as part of a four-course summer minor program in Responsible Process Implementation within the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. Through the use of applicable cases and examples from the chemical and process industries, students will learn the basic concept of business and the role that technology professionals are expected to play in a business environment.
Chemical Business Fundamentals I: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 3 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This upper division course for science and engineering students is the continuation of a two-course series that covers the business fundamentals for technology professionals. This course is only offered as part of a four-course summer minor program in Responsible Process Implementation within the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. It is intended to introduce the marketing, product development, and operational aspects of a business enterprise, to help technology professionals optimize their effectiveness when performing their duties within a multifunctional organization, and to illuminate the effects of their actions and decisions on the performance of a business entity.
Chemical Business Fundamentals II: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHMENG S101
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 3 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This upper division course for science and engineering students is to be taken in the second 6-week summer session of the summer minor program in Responsible Process Implementation within the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering. Students will use all of the materials presented in this program to address process design and control challenges. Specifically, they will learn how to make process design and control decisions that satisfy all of the technical requirements and optimize the economic benefits while addressing the ethical, environmental, and social impact.
New Process Implementation: Concept to Commercialization: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHM ENG 101 & CHM 101
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture and 3 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).
New Process Implementation: Concept to Commercialization: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This upper division course for science and engineering students covers the concept of environmental ethics and responsibility in the chemical industry. This course is only offered as part of a summer minor program in Responsible Process Implementation by the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. It is intended to impress upon the importance of professional social responsibilities of engineering decision making. Topics of discussion include corporate citizenship, business and stakeholder relationship, environmental responsibilities, engineering and technology ethics and other key aspects of engineering professional social responsibilities such as social justice, health, safety and welfare of stakeholders.
Ethics and Professional Social Responsibility: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHM ENG 101
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Ethics and Professional Social Responsibility: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
The purpose of this course is to teach students the analytical, numerical, and statistical methods required for setting up and solving mathematical problems, with emphasis on CBE applications. Methods for solving algebraic equations, initial value problems, boundary value problems, and partial differential equations, as well as probability theory, will be covered. Programming tools such as Python and Matlab will be used in this course. This is not a programming course. The majority of the learning will be through the active use of these programs by the students in solving assigned problems.
Mathematics and Statistics in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Mathematics and Statistics in Chemical Engineering: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Material and energy balances applied to chemical process systems. Determination of thermodynamic properties needed for such calculations. Sources of data. Calculation procedures.
Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemistry 4B (may be taken concurrently) or Chemistry 1B; and Physics 7B (may be taken concurrently)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Thermodynamic behavior of pure substances and mixtures. Properties of solutions, phase equilibria. Thermodynamic cycles. Chemical equilibria for homogeneous and heterogeneous systems.
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 140 with a grade of C- or higher; Engineering 7, which may be taken concurrently
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Analysis and prediction of rates of chemical conversion in flow and nonflow processes involving homogeneous and heterogeneous systems.
Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 141 with a grade of C- or higher; 150B, which may be taken concurrently
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
The purpose of Chemical Engineering Modeling and Computations in Chemical Engineering is to teach students the methodologies used in setting up mathematical models of simple chemical processes and operations, and the numerical techniques used to simulate them. Included are techniques to obtain physical properties of mixtures/solutions using equations of state. This is followed by simple processes such as vapor liquid equilibrium, separation operations such as distillation, heat transfer, and chemical reactions in ideal reactors such as stirred tank and plug flow. Later on, real chemical process equipment and processes are modeled and simulated, using many of the techniques learned earlier. Programming languages such as Matlab and...
Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: The focus of this course is on developing insights into chemical processes and operations through the use of modeling and computations. This is not a programming course. The instructors will provide introduction to the use of Aspen and the other codes, but the majority of the learning will be through the active use of these programs by the students in solving assigned problems.
Student Learning Outcomes: The course will be consistent with the overall objectives of the Chemical Engineering curriculum as outlined in the ABET guidelines.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: E7 and CHM ENG 140
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Computational Methods in Chemical Engineering: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Spring 2025
Interfacial and colloid science deals with the behavior & properties of particles, films, and other systems with large surface to volume ratios. The large interfacial area gives rise to the properties associated with nanotechnology. It is a field that draws from physical chemistry, materials science, and thermodynamics. An objective of the course is to develop your fundamental understanding that will guide your intuition and to help you develop quantitative descriptions applicable to a wide range of problems. Covered are how properties of surfaces, interfaces, and nanoscale features differ from bulk materials. We will discuss fundamental interfacial physics and chemistry, as well as touching on state-of-the-art technologies.
Principles and applications of colloids and interfaces: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: Derive relationships and the formalism to describe the physical manifestations observed in colloidal systems, nanostructured materials, micro/nanoscale devices.
Develop quantitative relationships between the molecular world and macroscopic observations.
Gain a basic understanding of how molecular interactions lead to interfacial phenomena and colloidal behavior.
Student Learning Outcomes: An awareness of contemporary issues which have an impact on the discipline of CBE (xi)
The lectures and problems are based on recent high impact published work or significant technological issues in colloids and interfacial science. The reading material is also based on ongoing important fundamental challenges in interfacial science. The formalism developed in class is put in context of a bigger picture and students are asked to discuss the impact of the work presented within the discipline. For each topic covered the state of the art, the limit of current knowledge, as well as ongoing challenges in the field are discussed in class.
Knowledge of emerging applied science within CBE, attained through electives and/or research (vii)
As an advanced undergraduate course, material is introduced at the textbook level but is quickly translated to emerging applications and innovations through discussion and presentations of the recent research literature.
The ability to apply the fundamentals of chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics to CBE practice (i)
An emphasis is placed on problem solving (homework, and exams) that requires students to apply the principles of chemistry and physics, especially in developing physically meaningful constitutive relationships to describe colloids and interfacial phenomena. Mathematical analysis, derivations, and problem solving strategies are used extensively throughout the course.
The ability to design, conduct, and evaluate experiments, including the analysis and interpretation of data (iv)
A component of the problem sets and questions in exams include giving raw experimental data (with noise and errors) that needs to be analyzed using the formalism developed in the course. The students also discuss experimental results and data presented in recent scientific literature.
The ability to use the techniques, skills, and engineering tools for modern engineering practice (v).
Students routinely need to use numerical methods (python, excel, or matlab) to solve equations, organize data, and plot their results.
The ability to utilize CBE principles to identify, formulate, and solve problems at the interface of engineering, chemistry, and biology (ii)
Colloids and interfacial science is interdisciplinary by nature and as such problems in the area allow the students to combine their knowledge of multiple disciplines to solve problems. In the course, a systematic approach based on thermodynamic, transport, and chemistry is employed to analyze problems in colloids and interfacial science. While the problems are quite different from those given in introductory courses, similarities in problem solving and analysis are highlighted.
The ability to work effectively independently and in multidisciplinary teams (x)
Problem sets are done in teams of two. Students are also encouraged to discuss and work on problems in a larger group.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: While this course is intended to the engineer or scientist without prior formal training in colloid and interface science, I expect that you have taken an undergraduate course in thermodynamics (chmeng 141), physical chemistry (chem 120A), and transport phenomena (chmeng 150A). Experience with linear algebra and differential equations is recommended. If you are uncertain about your background, please see the instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).
Principles and applications of colloids and interfaces: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Principles of fluid mechanics and heat transfer with application to chemical processes. Laminar and turbulent flow in pipes and around submerged objects. Flow measurement. Heat conduction and convection; heat transfer coefficients.
Transport Processes: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 140 with a grade of C- or higher; Math 54, which may be taken concurrently
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Principles of mass transfer with application to chemical processes. Diffusion and convection. Simultaneous heat and mass transfer; mass transfer coefficients. Design of staged and continuous separations processes.
Transport and Separation Processes: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 141 with a grade of C- or higher; Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 150A with a grade of C- or higher; Engineering 7
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Experiments in physical measurements, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, kinetics, and separation processes. Emphasis on investigation of basic relationships important in engineering. Experimental design, analysis of results, and preparation of engineering reports are stressed.
Chemical Engineering Laboratory: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 141, 142, and 150B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of lecture and 8 hours of laboratory per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 16 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Design principles of chemical process equipment. Design of integrated chemical processes with emphasis upon economic considerations.
Chemical Process Design: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 142, 150B, and 154. 154 can be taken concurrently
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 6 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Design of chemical processes and equipment, with an emphasis on industry-sponsored and/or industry-tailored processes
Industrial Chemical Process Design: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: Teach students the strategies used in the design of chemical processes through an authentic industrial project.
Student Learning Outcomes: • Develop an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
• Develop the ability to design an integrated chemical engineering-based process to meet stated objectives within realistic constraints.
• Establish proficiency in the design process and project management fundamentals.
• Gain an understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 142, 150B, and 154
Hours & Format
Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 6 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Instructors: Bryan, Sciamanna
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Analysis of the dynamic behavior of chemical processes and methods and theory of their control. Implementation of computer control systems on process simulations.
Dynamics and Control of Chemical Processes: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 142 and 150B; Mathematics 53 and 54
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
This course intends to introduce chemical engineers to the essential concepts of bioprocessing for applications in the biopharmaceutical, industrial biotech, and food tech industries. The course focuses on the use of chemical engineering skills and principles, including but not limited to kinetics and reactor design, thermodynamics and transport phenomena in the analysis and design of biologically-based processes, as well as the economical analysis and ethics. The main emphasis of 170A, the first of a two-semester sequence will be on the upstream bioprocess of how to make products by designing unit operations and processes around living systems of cells.
Biochemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: BIO ENG 11 or MCB 102 (or equivalent) highly recommended. Chem Eng 150B and Chem Eng 142 or concurrent, or consent of instructor(s)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Instructors: Zhang, Ryder
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
This course intends to introduce chemical engineers to the essential concepts of bioprocessing for applications in the biopharmaceutical, industrial biotech, and food tech industries. The course focuses on the use of chemical engineering skills and principles, including but not limited to kinetics and reactor design, thermodynamics and transport phenomena in the analysis and design of biologically-based processes, as well as the economical analysis and ethics. The main emphasis of 170B, the second of a two-semester sequence will be on the downstream bioprocess of recovery, separations and purification of bio-based products.
Biochemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: BIO ENG 11 or MCB 102 (or equivalent) highly recommended. Chem Eng 150B and Chem Eng 142 or concurrent, or consent of instructor(s)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Instructors: Zhang, Ryder
Formerly known as: 170
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2018, Spring 2014, Spring 2013
Laboratory techniques for the cultivation of microorganisms in batch and continuous reactions. Enzymatic conversion processes. Recovery of biological products.
Biochemical Engineering Laboratory: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical Engineering 170A (may be taken concurrently) or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 7 hours of laboratory and 1 hour of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Also listed as: CHEM C170L
Terms offered: Spring 2021, Fall 2018, Spring 2011
Study of momentum, energy, and mass transfer in laminar and turbulent flow.
Transport Phenomena: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 150B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2022
Principles and application of electrochemical equilibria, kinetics, and transport processes. Technical electrolysis and electrochemical energy conversion.
Principles of Electrochemical Processes: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 141, 142, and 150B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
An interdisciplinary course on the synthesis, characterization, and properties of polymer materials. Emphasis on the molecular origin of properties of polymeric materials and technological applications. Topics include single molecule properties, polymer mixtures and solutions, melts, glasses, elastomers, and crystals. Experiments in polymer synthesis, characterization, and physical properties.
Polymer Science and Technology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Junior standing
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Also listed as: CHEM C178
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Chemical processing and properties of solid-state materials. Crystal growth and purification. Thin film technology. Application of chemical processing to the manufacture of semiconductors and solid-state devices.
Process Technology of Solid-State Materials Devices: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Engineering 45; one course in electronic circuits recommended; senior standing
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Process Technology of Solid-State Materials Devices: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2020
Optimal design of chemical processes and unit operations, emphasizing the interactions between technical and economic considerations. Analysis of process risks. Chemical and biomolecular process design in the presence of uncertainties. Interest rate determinants and their effects on chemical process feasibility and choices. Relationships between structure and behavior of firms in the chemical processing industries. Multivariable input-output analyses.
Chemical Engineering Economics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 142 and 150B. Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2020
This nanoscale science and biomolecular engineering course will cover emerging topics in applied biotechnology and nanotechnology. Topics include enzyme kinetics, enzyme inhibition, recombinant protein generation, cell culture, genome editing, drug design, nanoparticle-based gene and drug delivery, fluorescence imaging, and sensors. The course will also probe the interface of biology with nanomaterials, and standard microscopic techniques to image biological structures and nanoscale materials.
Nanoscience and Engineering Biotechnology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Bio 1A or BioE 11 and Physics 7A
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternate method of final assessment during regularly scheduled final exam group (e.g., presentation, final project, etc.).
Instructor: Landry
Terms offered: Fall 2020
This course for upper division students in science and engineering disciplines covers energy and climate and specific technologies that can be implemented to reduce global warming. Topics include renewable energy (wind and solar), carbon management technologies including Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, and Negative Emissions Technologies. The technologies will be described and compared from an upper level chemical engineering perspective that includes fundamental concepts in thermodynamics and separations. We will also cover carbon economics and policies and life-cycle analysis. The course will be framed from a systems-thinking perspective. Throughout the course we will focus on key aspects of communicating climate science.
Climate Solutions Technologies: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Course Objectives: After taking this course, students should be able to discuss and explain to peers the role of CO2 in the earth’s climate, the greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle and how it relates to the fate of greenhouse gases on many time scales, and the role of fossil fuel combustion in the energy landscape and in CO2 emissions.
Students in this class will gain experience in applying principles of systems thinking, engineering design and analysis to specific technologies that are relevant for mitigating climate change in the immediate future.
Students will appreciate the critical role that communication plays in the path to implementation of solutions and will be comfortable engaging in a discussion about climate solutions with technical and non-technical peers.
Students will gain a basic understanding of economics relative to climate policies, and of climate solutions currently being discussed by policymakers; they will gain an understanding of how these individual solutions fit into a global scheme.
Students will gain knowledge about the most current technologies available for producing energy renewably, managing carbon, and reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chem 1A,B or 4A,B, Phys 7A,B, Math 1A,B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Instructor: Went
Terms offered: Summer 2025 First 6 Week Session
Electrochemistry is a field of science that describes the interrelation of chemical and electrical effects. Much of the field deals with describing how chemical changes are caused by the passage of electrical current or how the production of electrical current can be caused by chemical reactions. Electrochemists rely on a foundational understanding of chemical thermodynamics and electrostatics, chemical and electron-transfer kinetics, and mass-transport phenomena – each of which are treated and developed in this course in the context of electrochemical phenomena. Additional topics include electrochemical instrumentation, practical electrochemistry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Fundamental Electrochemistry: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Undergraduates in CHMENG 186 are generally expected to have completed junior-level courses in their major. CBE majors must have taken CHMENG 142, CHMENG 150B, or CHEM 120A
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2025 Second 6 Week Session
Electrochemical engineering combines the study of charge transfer at electrode/electrolyte interfaces with the development of practical materials and processes. Electrochemical devices/reactors, their voltage and current distribution, mass-transport, hydrodynamics, geometry, and overall performance in terms of reaction yield, conversion efficiency, and energy efficiency are examined. Electrochemical energy storage (batteries and capacitors), energy conversion (low- and high-temperature fuel cells and electrolyzers), and metal plating and electrosynthesis devices are covered. Fundamental chemistry, physics, and engineering principles that govern device response are emphasized.
Electrochemical Device Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHMENG 186/286 Advanced Electrochemistry Fundamentals
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2025 Second 6 Week Session
Students work in teams to solve open-ended research and development projects in electrochemical science, engineering, and technology. The projects for the course come from industry partners, national laboratory partners, and academic research laboratories. This allows the students to develop skills solving unstructured problems representative of what they will face in their career. Example projects span electrolysis and fuel cells, interfacial electrochemistry, batteries, and electrosynthesis.
Electrochemical Projects Laboratory: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHEMENG 186/286 Electrochemistry Fundamentals
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 16 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
A senior honors thesis is written in consultation with the student's faculty research advisor. This is a required course for students wishing to graduate with honors in Chemical Engineering.
Senior Honors Thesis: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Senior standing, approval of faculty research advisor, overall GPA of 3.4 or higher
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 9 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2024, Fall 2023
Original research under direction of one of the members of the staff.
Research for Advanced Undergraduates: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Minimum GPA of 3.4 overall at Berkeley and consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 1-5 hours of independent study per week
8 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Fall 2019
Lectures and/or tutorial instruction on special topics. Please refer to the Notes section in the Academic Guide for the current course description.
Special Topics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013
After an introduction to the different aspects of our global energy consumption, the course will focus on the role of biomass. The course will illustrate how the global scale of energy guides the biomass research. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of the biological aspects (crop selection, harvesting, storage and distribution, and chemical composition of biomass) with the chemical aspects to convert biomass to energy. The course aims to engage students in state-of-the-art research.
The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemistry 1B or Chemistry 4B, Mathematics 1B, Biology 1A
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: Repeatable when topic changes with consent of instructor.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Instructors: Bell, Blanch, Clark, Smit, C. Somerville
Also listed as: BIO ENG C181/CHEM C138/PLANTBI C124
The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Summer 2023 8 Week Session, Summer 2022 8 Week Session
Special laboratory or computational work under direction of one of the members of the staff.
Special Laboratory Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-3 hours of independent study per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 5-8 hours of independent study per week
8 weeks - 3.5-6 hours of independent study per week
10 weeks - 3-4.5 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021
Supervised experience in off-campus organizations relevant to specific aspects and applications of chemical engineering. Written report required at the end of the term. Course does not satisfy unit or residence requirements for the bachelor's degree.
Field Study in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division standing and consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of fieldwork per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of fieldwork per week
8 weeks - 1.5-7.5 hours of fieldwork per week
10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of fieldwork per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Instructor: Strauss
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2022
Supervised research on a specific topic. Enrollment is restricted; see Introduction to Courses and Curricula section in the General Catalog.
Directed Group Study for Undergraduates: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Completion of 60 units of undergraduate study and in good academic standing
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 2.5-7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Supervised Independent Study and Research: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 2.5-10 hours of independent study per week
8 weeks - 1.5-7.5 hours of independent study per week
10 weeks - 1.5-6 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
The course aims to introduce a variety of mathematical and computational methods useful in solving research problems pertaining to chemical and biomolecular systems. The course covers a wide range of topics from linear algebra and matrices, differential equations, and stochastic methods. Even though the focus is primarily on analytical methods, most of the concepts will be demonstrated with computations and applications. The goal of the course is to ensure that the students are aware of a wide range of computational methods that can be useful in their research and to provide the students with sufficient background in applied mathematics that can be useful in reading the science and engineering literature.
Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Math 53 and 54 or equivalent; open to seniors with consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024
Machine learning in the context of scientific problems is an exciting emerging area of research, and often requires the development of new methods that can incorporate and exploit the inductive biases and structure needed for such problems. There are also now numerous examples of concepts in physics historically influencing machine learning methods development more broadly. This course will give an overview of different physics-inspired machine learning methods, and the connections between concepts in physics (numerical methods, dynamical systems, symmetries, conservation laws) and machine learning.
Physics-Inspired Machine Learning: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Topics covered include molecular thermodynamics of pure substances and mixtures, interfacial thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and computer simulations.
Thermodynamics for Chemical Product and Process Design: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Math 53 and 54 or equivalent; 141 or equivalent; open to seniors with consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Thermodynamics for Chemical Product and Process Design: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Molecular processes in chemical systems, kinetics and catalysis. Interaction of mass and heat transfer in chemical processes. Performance of systems with chemical reactors.
Kinetics and Reaction Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 142 or equivalent; open to seniors with consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2020, Spring 2019
Adsorption and kinetics of surface reactions; catalyst preparation and characterization; poisoning, selectivity, and empirical activity patterns in catalysis; surface chemistry, catalytic mechanisms and modern experimental techniques in catalytic research; descriptive examples of industrial catalytic systems.
Catalysis: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 244 or Chemistry 223, or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2012, Fall 2010, Fall 2009
Electrode processes in electrolysis and in galvanic cells. Charge and mass transfer in ionic media. Criteria of scale-up.
Principles of Electrochemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2020
Principles of surface and colloid chemistry with current applications; surface thermodynamics, wetting, adsorption from solution, disperse systems, association colloids, interacting electrical double layers and colloid stability, kinetics of coagulation, and electrokinetics.
Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Basic differential relations of mass, momentum, and energy including creeping, laminar, and turbulent flow, boundary layers, convective-diffusion in heat and mass transfer, and simultaneous multicomponent mass and energy transport. Analytic mathematical solution of the equations of change using classical techniques including: separation of variables, similarity solutions, and Laplace and Fourier transforms.
Transport Processes: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering 150A, 150B; Mathematics 53 and 54, or equivalent; open to seniors with consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Fall 2020, Fall 2018
Formulation and rigorous analysis of the laws governing the transport of momentum, heat, and mass, with special emphasis on chemical engineering applications. Detailed investigation of laminar flows complemented by treatments of turbulent flow systems and hydrodynamic stability.
Advanced Transport Phenomena: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 230
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Fall 2013, Fall 2011, Spring 2011
An introduction to the hydrodynamics of capillarity and wetting. Balance laws and short-range forces. Dimensionless numbers, scaling and lubrication approximation. Rayleigh instability. Marangoni effect. The moving contact line. Wetting and short-range forces. The dynamic contact angle. Dewetting. Coating flows. Effect of surfactants and electric fields. Wetting of rough or porous surfaces. Contact angles for evaporating systems.
Physicochemical Hydrodynamics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: A first graduate course in fluid mechanics sucs as 260A-260B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Morris
Also listed as: MEC ENG C268
Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2010
An in-depth study of the current methods used to design and engineer proteins. Emphasis on how strategies can be applied in the laboratory. Relevant case studies presented to illustrate method variations and applications. Intended for graduate students.
Protein Engineering: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Tullman-Ercek
Also listed as: BIO ENG C219
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Fundamentals in biomolecular engineering. Structures, dynamics, and functions of biomolecules. Molecular tools in biotechnology. Metabolic and signaling networks in cellular engineering. Synthetic biology and biomedical engineering applications.
Biomolecular Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
This course is designed for students interested in obtaining advanced training in bioprocess engineering for applications in the biopharmaceutical, industrial biotech, and food tech industries. Emphasis will be placed on integrated application of quality by design (QbD) framework, good manufacturing practice (GMP), statistical experimental design, and other advanced concepts addressing current industry needs.
Advanced Bioprocess Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHMENG 170A, CHMENG 170B concurrent (or consent of instructor)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
This pilot-scale laboratory course is designed for students interested in obtaining advanced training in bioprocess engineering for applications in the biopharmaceutical, industrial biotech, and food tech industries. Featured equipment (and experiments) include: Sartorius ambr250 (design of experiments), ABEC 300L bioreactor (fermentation), Alfa Laval disc stack centrifuge (liquid-solid separation), Alfa Laval M20 filtration skid (tangential flow filtration), and GE ÄKTA Avant chromatography unit (protein purification).
Advanced Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHMENG 170A, CHMENG C170L, CHMENG 170B concurrent (or consent of instructor)
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 8 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Summer 2025 First 6 Week Session
Electrochemistry is a field of science that describes the interrelation of chemical and electrical effects. Much of the field deals with describing how chemical changes are caused by the passage of electrical current or how the production of electrical current can be caused by chemical reactions. Electrochemists rely on a foundational understanding of chemical thermodynamics and electrostatics, chemical and electron-transfer kinetics, and mass-transport phenomena – each of which are treated and developed in this course in the context of electrochemical phenomena. Additional topics include electrochemical instrumentation, practical electrochemistry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Fundamental Electrochemistry: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate students in Chemistry, Engineering or Physics disciplines should be suitably prepared to enroll in CHMENG 286 but are recommended to review preparatory materials posted on the Center for Electrochemical Science, Engineering, and Technology website: https://electrochemistry.berkeley.edu/education
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Summer 2025 Second 6 Week Session
Electrochemical engineering combines the study of charge transfer at electrode/electrolyte interfaces with the development of practical materials and processes. Electrochemical devices/reactors, their voltage and current distribution, mass-transport, hydrodynamics, geometry, and overall performance in terms of reaction yield, conversion efficiency, and energy efficiency are examined. Electrochemical energy storage (batteries and capacitors), energy conversion (low- and high-temperature fuel cells and electrolyzers), and metal plating and electrosynthesis devices are covered. Fundamental chemistry, physics, and engineering principles that govern device response are emphasized.
Electrochemical Device Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHMENG 186/286 Advanced Electrochemistry Fundamentals
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Summer 2025 Second 6 Week Session
Students work in teams to solve open-ended research and development projects in electrochemical science, engineering, and technology. The projects for the course come from industry partners, national laboratory partners, and academic research laboratories. This allows the students to develop skills solving unstructured problems representative of what they will face in their career. Example projects span electrolysis and fuel cells, interfacial electrochemistry, batteries, and electrosynthesis.
Electrochemical Projects Laboratory: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CHEMENG 186/286 Electrochemistry Fundamentals
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 16 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This is an independent study course for international students doing internships under the Curricular Practical Training program.
Curricular Practical Training Internship: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Summer: 8 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Fall 2017
Lipid bilayers constitute the membrane that encloses every animal cell and many of its interior structures, including the nuclear envelope, the organelles and the endoplasmic reticulum. This is a unique course devoted to modern developments in this exceptionally active field of research, ranging from models based on continuum theory to recent developments based on statistical mechanics.
Mechanics and Physics of Lipid Bilayers: Read More [+]
Objectives & Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes: To expose students to advanced current work on the mechanics and physics of lipid bilayers (a very active field of current research relevant to biomechanics and biophysics)
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Mechanical Engineering 185 or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Steigmann
Also listed as: MEC ENG C285E
Terms offered: Fall 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2010
Current and advanced study in chemical engineering, primarily for advanced graduate students.
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering: Electrochemical, Hydrodynamic, and Interfacial Phenomena: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Open to properly qualified graduate students
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2011, Spring 2005, Fall 2004
This course introduces students to the concepts and techniques involved in the design and physical characterization of advanced functional materials consisting of well-defined interfaces. Throughout the course, principles of supramolecular chemistry on solid surfaces are applied to functional systems. Materials with different connectivity and structure at the active site are compared for development of understanding. Specific topics include catalysis, separations, encapsulation, and biomedicine.
Design of Functional Interfaces: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Katz
Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2010, Spring 2008
This course, which is based on Gert Strobl's book addresses the origin of some of the important physical properties of polymer liquids and solids. This includes phase transitions, crystallization, morphology of multiphase polymer systems, mechanical properties, response to mechanical and electric fields, and fracture. When possible, we will develop quantitative molecular models that predict macroscopic behavior. The course will address experimental data obtained by microscopy, light and neutron scattering, rheology, and dielectric relaxation.
Polymer Physics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 230 and 240
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
This course is part of the product development initative sponsored by the department of chemical engineering. It focuses on real-life practices and challenges of translating scientific discovery into commercial products. Its scope is limited in most circumstances to situations where some knowledge of chemical engineering, chemistry, and related disciplines might prove to be particularly useful. The course primarily uses case studies of real-world new product development situations to simulate the managerial and technical challenges that will confront students in the field. We will cover a wide range of topics including basic financial, strategic and intellectual property concepts for products, managing risk and uncertainity, the effective new product development team, the evolving role of corporate R&D, the new venture product company and the ethics of post-launch product management.
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering: Introduction to New Product Development: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Alexander
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering: Introduction to New Product Development: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
This course is a part of the product development initiative sponsored by the department of chemical engineering. The course builds on the coverage in 295P of real-life practices of translating scientific discovery into commercial products. We will cover a wide range of advanced product development concepts including technology road maps, decision analysis, six sigma, product portfolio optimization, and best practices for field project management.
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering: Advanced Topics in New Product Development: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. 295P recommended
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Alexander
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering: Advanced Topics in New Product Development: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2011
This course is intended to introduce chemical engineering students to the concepts and techniques involved in the study of chemical processes at surfaces. Special emphasis will be placed on the chemistry of semiconductor surfaces. Topics to be covered include thermodynamics and kinetics of surfaces; crystal and electronic structures of clean surfaces (metals and semiconductors); adsorption and desorption; surface kinetics and dynamics including diffusion; dynamics of growth and etching; surface reaction models; a survey of modern surface analytical techniques including electron diffraction, auger electron spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and mass spectrometry.
Special Topics in Chemical Engineering: Introduction to Experimental Surface Chemistry: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 240 or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course is part of the Product Development Program initiative sponsored by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The course builds on the coverage in Chemical Engineering 295P of real-life practices of translating scientific discovery into commercial products. In this course, we will cover a new risk-reduction methodology for bringing to market complex technical inventions that initially have a high risk profile that discourages investment for commercialization. The central learning objective in this course is: How might we utilize a new approach that would enable university-affiliated hard-tech innovators to sufficiently de-risk their venture propositions so that they become “fundable” by investors?
Hard-Technology Innovation: Proof-of-Commercial Value Method: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Instructor approval needed
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Alexander, Joshi, Sciamanna
Hard-Technology Innovation: Proof-of-Commercial Value Method: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013
After an introduction to the different aspects of our global energy consumption, the course will focus on the role of biomass. The course will illustrate how the global scale of energy guides the biomass research. Emphasis will be places on the integration of the biological aspects (crop selection, harvesting, storage, and distribution, and chemical composition of biomass) with the chemical aspects to convert biomass to energy. The course aims to engage students in state-of-art research.
The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Biology 1A; Chemistry 1B or 4B, Mathematics 1B
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit under special circumstances: Repeatable when topic changes with consent of instructor.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Bell, Blanch, Clark, Smit, C. Somerville
Also listed as: BIO ENG C281/CHEM C238/PLANTBI C224
The Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Energy from Biomass: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Spring 2007
Explore strategies for maximizing the economic and societal benefits of synthetic biology and minimizing the risks; create "seedlings" for future research projects in synthetic biology at UC Berkeley; increase multidisciplinary collaborations at UC Berkeley on synthetic biology; and introduce students to a wide perspective of SB projects and innovators as well as policy, legal, and ethical experts.
Implications and Applications of Synthetic Biology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Arkin, Keasling
Also listed as: BIO ENG C230
Implications and Applications of Synthetic Biology: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2009, Spring 2007, Spring 2002
After a brief review of quantum mechanics and semi-classical theories for the interaction of radiation with matter, this course will survey the various spectroscopies associated with the electromagnetic spectrum, from gamma rays to radio waves. Special emphasis is placed on application to research problems in applied and engineering sciences. Graduate researchers interested in systematic in situ process characterization, analysis, or discovery are best served by this course.
Applied Spectroscopy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in engineering, physics, chemistry, or chemical engineering; courses: quantum mechanics, linear vector space theory
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Reimer
Also listed as: AST C295R
Terms offered: Fall 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013
After a brief overview of the chemistry of carbon dioxide in the land, ocean, and atmosphere, the course will survey the capture and sequestration of CO2 from anthropogenic sources. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of materials synthesis and unit operation design, including the chemistry and engineering aspects of sequestration. The course primarily addresses scientific and engineering challenges and aims to engage students in state-of-the-art research in global energy challenges.
Energy Solutions: Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Chemistry 4B or 1B, Mathematics 1B, and Physics 7B, or equivalents
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Bourg, DePaolo, Long, Reimer, Smit
Also listed as: CHEM C236/EPS C295Z
Energy Solutions: Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Special laboratory and theoretical studies.
Special Study for Graduate Students in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.
Special Study for Graduate Students in Chemical Engineering: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Fall 2024, Fall 2023
Lectures, reports, and discussions on current research in chemical engineering. Sections are operated independently and directed toward different topics.
Seminar in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Open to properly qualified graduate students with consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Weekly seminar with industry partners invited to give presentations on bio-based research, technologies, equipment, processes, and/or products. Provides an interactive interface for students and the bioprocess industry. Offered Fall and Spring semesters.
Seminar in Bioprocess Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: CBE 170A and CBE 170B (can be taken concurrently)
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Lectures, reports, and discussions on current research in chemical engineering.
Colloquium in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Open to properly qualified graduate students with consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-3 hours of colloquium per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2024
Research.
Research in Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 2.5-30 hours of independent study per week
8 weeks - 1.5-22.5 hours of independent study per week
10 weeks - 1.5-18 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2016
Discussion, problem review and development, guidance of large scale laboratory experiments, course development, supervised practice teaching.
Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching of Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, appointment as a Graduate Student Instructor, or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching of Chemical Engineering: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
Discussion, problem review and development, guidance of large scale laboratory experiments, course development, supervised practice teaching.
Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching of Chemical Engineering: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, appointment as a Graduate Student Instructor, or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Professional Preparation: Supervised Teaching of Chemical Engineering: Read Less [-]
Terms offered: Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018
Individual study in consultation with the major field adviser for qualified students to prepare themselves for the various examinations required of candidates for the Ph.D.
Individual Studies for Graduate Students: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Ph.D. program
Credit Restrictions: Course does not satisfy unit or residence requirements for doctoral degree.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week
Summer:
6 weeks - 1-5 hours of independent study per week
8 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering/Graduate examination preparation
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Contact Information
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
201 Gilman Hall
Phone: 510-642-2291
Director of Undergraduate Student Services
Maura Daly
121 Gilman Hall
Phone: 510-643-0550