Using Engineering Technology to Measure Biology

In 20.309, “Instrumentation and measurement for biological systems,” students dive into a hands-on exploration of advanced biological measurement techniques. A core component of the class teaches biological engineers to make quantitative measurements by constructing predictive models that describe both the biology and the instrument itself. With the help of the Alumni Class Funds, we propose to develop a new lab module for 20.309 that borrows tools from electrical engineering to measure and model a biological signaling network: the response of yeast to osmotic shock. The new lab module will provide students with a compelling biological context in which to learn “signals and systems” — a modeling and analysis technique that is widely used and applied across engineering disciplines.