SBE Society for Biological Engineers

Web-Lab Project

Overview

Web-Lab is an innovative SBE program that web enables laboratory experiments. A collection of bioreactors are located miles away in a central facility, and students, regardless of their physical location, can access and remotely interact with the bioreactor in real time over the internet. Multiple schools can access these web-based experiments and incorporate them into their curriculum, either as a lab or to supplement a lecture course. This is the objective of the SBE Web-Lab Initiative—to advance engineering education by breaking beyond the confines of the classroom and enhancing the typical classroom experience.

The upside of the web-based laboratories is to reduce the cost incurred per student to deliver state-of-the-art laboratory exercises and thereby enable more students to participate in a modern laboratory experience. Web-based laboratories will improve undergraduates’ education by better preparing engineers with the latest skills and tools to compete in the global workforce.

How Web-Lab Works

SBE, in conjunction with the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, designed and organized a Web-Lab pilot module which was rolled out in Fall of 2010. This first Web-Lab was designed around the operation and control of a bioreactor used for the cultivation of a bacterium engineered to produce Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). The bioreactor Web-Lab activity focused on monitoring variables that are critical for the modeling of microbial growth and product production. Additionally, bioreactor control parameters were monitored and controlled to assess their effect on microbial growth and bioreactor performance.

Enrolled Institutions

Institutions from coast to coast and everywhere in between are currently participating in this pilot program, including:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• North Carolina State University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• University of Arizona

The Web-Lab pilot program will provide preliminary assessment on the use of web-based laboratories as an educational tool to enhance undergraduate education.

Read more about Web-Lab in the January 2011 Bio Beat article of CEP Magazine.

Web-Lab Scheduling

A limited number of slots are available each semester. Interested schools will coordinate with SBE to finalize their Web-Lab run date. Registering early will ensure your first choice date.

Registration

Interested schools can email bio@aiche.org for more information.

If you are a Web-Lab participating institution, please log in here. If you forgot your login info, please email bio@aiche.org.

Example of the Web-Lab Interface

Web-Lab is supported by the United Engineering Foundation