CSC3431 : Engineering Biology and AI
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Professor Jaume Bacardit
- Lecturer: Dr Gizem Buldum, Dr Jichun Li, Dr Harold Fellermann
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
By the end of this module students will have gained, at an introductory level, experience in, and a knowledge of:
· The basic concepts underpinning the modelling and simulation of biological systems.
· The application of computing in the design and engineering of biological systems.
· The role of artificial intelligence in supporting the whole life cycle of engineering biology.
The module will prepare interested students for a dissertation project in the research area, and potential further study or early career in the field of engineering biology. This module aims to provide a basic and
wide-ranging overview of this field, while also being adequately rigorous in its treatment and grounded in
real-world applications. The material covered is complementary to the stage 3 module (CSC3432 Biomedical Data Analytics).
Outline Of Syllabus
Students will be introduced to:
1) Fundamental cell biology.
2) Modelling and simulation of biological systems.
3) Computing based on molecules and cells.
4) Foundations of Engineering Biology.
5) Bio-design and Applied Biocomputing.
6) The role of standards in Engineering Biology.
7) AI to support decision making in Engineering Biology.
8) Generative AI for Engineering Biology.
9) Deep learning and laboratory automation for biotechnology.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 30 | 1:00 | 30:00 | Lecture follow up. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | Lectures non-synchronous online. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | Practicals (in person). |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | Practical/Lab Report 2 (2000 words). |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | Practical/Lab Report 1 (2000 words). |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Synchronous (in person) sessions, if available. Otherwise additional synchronous online sessions - Questions re lectures. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 35 | 1:00 | 35:00 | Background reading. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will be used to introduce the learning material and for demonstrating the key concepts by example. Students are expected to follow-up lectures within a few days by re-reading and annotating lecture notes to aid deep learning.
This is a very practical subject, and it is important that the learning materials are supported by hands-on opportunities provided by practical classes. Students are expected to spend time on coursework outside timetabled practical classes.
Students aiming for 1st class marks are expected to widen their knowledge beyond the content of lecture notes through background reading.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | 100 | Practical Report (maximum 3000 words) on computing and AI application to engineering biology design problems. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 1 | M | Based on practical worksheets |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
This module focuses on a very practical subject and hence an assessment based on coursework is the best option to evaluate the student’s knowledge.
The coursework will assess the student's ability to apply the module's concepts in a practical setting and will be assessed as practical reports, which is a suitable methods for assessing the creation and application of computational bio-design tools.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC3431's Timetable