The programme is conducted in English and combines lectures, laboratory exercises and group work. You will complete two biannual research and development projects and a thesis, allowing you to tailor large parts of the programme to suit your specific academic interests. You will take a problem-based approach to cases in areas such as fermentation technology, bioprocess modelling and product development ¨C often in collaboration with local companies. You will get access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and close interaction with lecturers and researchers along the way.

With a Master's in Bioengineering, you will have the skills to design and optimise bioengineering systems such as biogas, fermentation and protein production. You will be able to implement and complete laboratory experiments and development projects in collaboration with companies, and you will have experience with modelling and simulating biological processes at a molecular and an industrial scale. With this degree, you will be able to take on this type of tasks immediately upon graduating.

You can choose a professional profile focused on molecular biotechnology where you work with microorganisms for the production of pharmaceutical products, food ingredients and electrolytes for use in batteries, for instance. You can also choose a profile that focuses on idea development ¨C taking great ideas from the lab and turning them into products that are useful to society. Specifically, you might work with: 

• Production and development in the biogas, food and pharma industries 
• Technical consulting and process optimisation at biotech and cleantech companies 
• Research and development in both the public and private sector and in the consulting industry 
• Specialised roles in molecular production, process design and sustainable technology 

The need of societies in balance in terms of use of resources, production of waste and impact on the environment is more urgent than ever. With the sustainability goals formulated by UN, a movement is finally taken up pace and will in the future increase the importance of creative and skilled engineers with expertise in biological processes.

Studying Bioengineering at AAU Esbjerg, you will obtain skills and competences in Bioenergy, Biotechnology and Bioprocesses. You can choose to profile yourself towards molecular biotechnology and learn to manipulate the genes in microorganisms to produce natural compounds of interest such as pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, electrolytes in batteries or many other applications of need in society. You can also profile yourself towards fermentation processes and the engineering of the complex biorefinery operations that transfer the compounds from a ¡°good idea in the lab¡± into use in society ¨C where it makes an actual difference.

Study topics include:

• Biogas and bioenergy
• Extraction of compounds from natural sources
• Molecular biotechnology ¨C recombinant DNA technology
• Fermentation technology
• Process analytical technology and multivariate data analysis
• Modelling and simulation of biological processes
• Life Science company development

Through extensive project work, you will have plenty of opportunities to test your own ideas and theories and possibly in cooperation with Danish or international companies. This provides you with insight into the world outside of the university and with a professional network that you can use for future job opportunities.

The Master¡¯s programme entitles you to the designation Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering (Bioengineering).

On the 1st semester of the master programme you can choose to focus on either macro or molecular biotechnological systems. During the semester you follow courses related to experimental methods within molecular biotechnology, fermentation technology and extraction and purification of chemical and biological products. In the project the content of the courses will be integrated and you can choose to focus on projects related to biorefineries and biogas production or molecular gene technology projects.

Project

• Analysis of Macro or Molecular Biotechnology Systems (15 ECTS)

Course

• Molecular Biotechnology ¨C Recombinant DNA Technology (5 ECTS)
• Fermentation Technology (5 ECTS)
• Recovery and Purification of Chemical and Biological Products (5 ECTS)

On this semester you will focus on design and modelling og biotechnological processes ¨C how to get from a raw biomass to a valuable product. The courses on this semester provide you knowledge on modelling and simulation of biotechnological processes, multivariate data analysis and monitering, and understand innovative business in Life Science companies. In the project you will use this knowledge for design of complete processes that produce valuable end products from relevant biomass, or focus on optimizing selected unit operations or re-thinking ways of production.

Project

• Applied Bioprocess Design and Engineering (15 ECTS)

Courses

• Life Science Companies ¨C from Innovation to Industry (5 ECTS)
• Modelling and Simulation of Biological Processes (5 ECTS)
• Chemometrics and Process Monitoring (5 ECTS)

Students in this study programme will often use both 3rd and 4th semester to write their Master¡¯s thesis. You also have the opportunity to:

• Study a semester at another university in Denmark or another country
• Do an internship in a company or organisation, where you participate in solving a problem

Aalborg University has?contacts at other universities as well as within the business industry, which may be of help to you, if you wish to study a semester at another university or do an internship.

Many students in this programme work with other universities or companies in relation to their master¡¯s thesis.

You specialise in a subject of your own interest, as you individually carry out your Master's thesis research project.

When conducting your Master's thesis, you will be associated to one or more of the research groups at the Section of Chemical Engineering and Esbjerg Energy Section, and the areas of specialisation are typically within:

• Molecular Biotechnology
• Fungal biotechnology
• Bioprocess Technology
• Biorefineries
• Biogas and bioenergy production

Master¡¯s thesis

• Topic of your own choice (30 ECTS)

See curriculum here.?

Job opportunities are many and your future workplace could be a consultancy, the public sector or the private industrial sector. You could work with biological production in companies like Glycom A/S or Novo Nordisk, with purification of valuable products from milk powder in Arla, with production of natural gas in biogas plants, with refining of proteins from plant-based biomass etc.?

With the newest theoretical knowledge and practical experimental experience, you will be able to design, dimension, operate, monitor and control the production of valuable biomass-based products and make its biological production possible. With a course in ¡°Life Science Companies ¨C from Innovation to Industry¡± you will also learn what is needed for a creative idea to become a good business. You learn to work, collaborate and navigate in an international academic environment often in close collaboration with industry. The programme gives you the skill set for working in a globalised world and exposes you to different cultures and ways of collaboration that will prepare you for life after graduation.

AAU Career helps you on your way from student life to job life in Denmark by giving you the tools to examine your options and find out what to do.

While studying at AAU, you can participate in career and job-related events, find help on our website, and book a personal career counselling session to talk about e.g.:

• Finding your way in your career
• Danish working culture
• Application and CV the Danish way
• What you can offer an employer
• How to go about job search in Denmark ¨C both student job, internship and full-time job

Read more about AAU Career here