Implementing Advanced Biophysical Measurement Techniques in an Undergraduate Lab: Ruminations from the MIT Department of Biological Engineering

Breakthrough biological research increasingly relies on cutting-edge measurement techniques. The next generation of researchers must be capable of utilizing sophisticated measurement methods to their fullest potential. Achieving superior results requires a deep understanding of the physical principles and limiting factors underlying a measurement. Students must understand why a particular method is used, how the measurement is made, the factors that affect the quality of the outcome, sources of error and noise, and the ultimate limit of detection. Laboratory Fundamentals in Biological Engineering II: Biological Instrumentation and Measurement is an advanced undergraduate lab course at MIT that combines a rigorous theoretical foundation with an intense, hands-on experience to give students an unparalleled look under the covers of modern instruments. Students construct instruments from optical and electronic components and work with a variety of techniques, including epifluorescence microscopy, laser tweezers, atomic force microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR, and super-resolution microscopy. This talk will discuss course content; implementation of lab exercises; lessons learned; and the context of the course within the Biological Engineering curriculum at MIT.