Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new tutorial that explores the intersection between engineering and biology with a focus on microbial physiology.
Led by Dr. Christian Euler and Dr. Matthew Scott, professors in the departments of Chemical Engineering and Mathematics, respectively, the tutorial is designed to help researchers move into new fields, bridge knowledge gaps for greater collaboration and support PhD studies.
Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the tutorial uses a mathematical method based on engineering principles to predict how microorganisms—such as bacteria, fungi and algae—function at the cellular level.
“You can have very interesting technical, almost like engineering-driven understandings of living systems, and those living systems can teach you something about engineering as well,” Euler said.
By framing cellular processes in terms of material and energy flows—akin to electrical currents in circuits—the tutorial provides a structured methodology for analyzing complex biological behaviors.
“The tutorial is useful for introducing biological concepts to engineering students. It also serves to introduce engineering concepts to biology students, and hopefully, we can find some synergy in the middle,” Euler added.
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