What is it?

Mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to understand and optimize complex biological systems—including their interactions with their environments—such as plants, insects, animals, humans, and the production of foods and pharmaceuticals. Such models can be mechanistic (based on physics, chemistry, and mathematics), data-driven (such as using machine learning), or their combinations. They can also be at different scales, such as at the cellular level, organism level, or ecosystems level. Thus, computing is everywhere in biological systems. Systems biology focuses on complex interactions within biological systems and this is helped by computational models.

How do we use it?

At a smaller scale, systems and computational approach can help us understand and control phenomena within a cell with broad implications to plant and human systems.  At an organism level, computing can help understand living system’s complex interaction with the environment, to improve an existing process or develop novel bio-inspired processes. At a larger scale, it can help us understand how climate change will affect food production and ecosystems and help design systems to remedy such effects. One can build models of evolutionary systems to predict changes that could occur in the future in areas such as disease susceptibility. Transmission of bacterial and viral outbreak can be better predicted and thus more effective preventive measures taken. Industrial food and bioprocesses can increase efficiency and sustainability through computer-aided manufacturing.

Career possibilities

Industrial career in bioprocess, food and medical industry can be in systems analysis, software development, and design and development of products, processes and devices. Many of these careers can also be appropriate for regulatory and research agencies such as FDA and NIH.  Systems biology is a very active area of research where one can pursue higher studies.  Likewise, computational biology higher studies can be in, for example, computational genomics, computational neuroscience, and cancer computational biology.

Core courses to help you prepare

• BEE 3310 – Bio-Fluid Mechanics
• BEE 3500 – Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Engineering

Focus Area courses to help you prepare (Fall 2025 or later)