Bioreactor Design & Analysis Course | IIT Madras NPTEL | Bioprocess Engineering
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 302 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Bioprocesses |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Engineering Behind Life Sciences: Bioreactor Design & Analysis
The bridge between a groundbreaking biological discovery in the lab and a life-saving product on the shelf is bioprocess engineering. At the heart of this transformation lies the bioreactor—the sophisticated vessel where cells, enzymes, or microorganisms perform their magic at scale. Understanding how to design, analyze, and optimize these bioreactors is a critical skill for any aspiring biotechnologist or chemical engineer.
If you're looking to build a robust foundation in this essential field, the Bioreactor Design and Analysis course offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is your definitive guide. This comprehensive 8-week program is meticulously structured to take you from fundamental concepts to advanced applications.
Learn from an Industry-Academia Leader: Prof. Smita Srivastava
The course is expertly led by Prof. Smita Srivastava, a distinguished professor in the Department of Biotechnology at IIT Madras. With over 13 years of dedicated teaching experience and a prolific research career, Prof. Srivastava brings unparalleled expertise to the virtual classroom.
Her credentials speak volumes:
- Extensive Teaching: She has taught core courses like Bioreactor Design, Bioprocess Modeling, and specialized labs for B.Tech, M.Tech, and PhD students.
- Proven Research Excellence: Author of 37+ peer-reviewed international journal publications, 5 book chapters, and 8 patent applications in bioprocess development.
- Curriculum Pioneer: She formulated and launched IIT Madras's specialized course on Plant Cell Bioprocessing, now also available on NPTEL.
- Commitment to Education: A core faculty member of the IIT Madras Teaching and Learning Center, actively involved in faculty development.
Learning from an instructor with such deep academic and practical insight ensures you gain knowledge that is both theoretically sound and industry-relevant.
Who Should Enroll in This Course?
This course is designed as a core curriculum for students and professionals aiming to excel in biomanufacturing.
- Intended Audience: Undergraduate and Postgraduate students in Biotechnology, Bioprocess Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering.
- Prerequisites: A basic knowledge of mathematics and foundational courses like Material & Energy Balances, Biological Rate Processes, or Enzyme Science is recommended.
- Industry Support: The course content is directly applicable in all biotechnology and fermentation industries, including companies producing pharmaceuticals, enzymes, biofuels, and speciality chemicals via microbial, plant, or animal cell cultures.
Detailed 8-Week Course Curriculum
The course is logically sequenced to build your competency step-by-step:
| Week | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to the Course |
| Week 2 | Design of Batch Bioreactors |
| Week 3 | Design of Fed-Batch Bioreactors |
| Week 4 | Design of Continuous Mode Bioreactors (e.g., Chemostat) |
| Week 5 | Mass Transfer in Bioreactors, Rheology of Fermentation Broths, Heterogeneous Reactions |
| Week 6 | Heterogeneous Reactions (contd.), Heat Transfer in Bioreactors |
| Week 7 | Heat Transfer (contd.), Scale-up of Bioreactors: Criteria & Parameters |
| Week 8 | Scale-up of Bioreactors (contd.), Non-Ideal Reactors: Design & Analysis |
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of this intensive course, you will be able to:
- Apply engineering principles to design batch, fed-batch, and continuous bioreactors.
- Determine the mass and heat transfer requirements for efficient fermentation systems.
- Select the appropriate criteria and parameters for scaling up a bioprocess from lab to pilot to industrial scale.
- Identify and characterize non-ideal flow behavior in bioreactors and understand its impact on performance.
Essential Reference Books
The course content is supported by seminal texts in the field, including:
- Shuler and Kargi, Bioprocess Engineering: Basic Concepts
- James M. Lee, Biochemical Engineering
- Pauline Doran, Bioprocess Engineering Principles
- Bailey and Ollis, Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals
- S. Liu, Bioprocess Engineering: Kinetics, Biosystems, Sustainability, and Reactor Design
- Octave Levenspiel, Chemical Reaction Engineering
Launch Your Career in Bioprocess Engineering
Whether you aim to work in pharmaceutical production, sustainable biofuel development, industrial enzyme manufacturing, or cutting-edge cellular agriculture, mastery of bioreactor operations is non-negotiable. This IIT Madras course on Bioreactor Design and Analysis provides the rigorous, application-oriented training you need to stand out.
Don't just learn biology—learn to engineer it at scale. Enroll today and take the first step towards becoming a leader in the dynamic field of bioprocess engineering.
Enroll Now →