585.708.81 - Biomaterials

Expanded Course Description

Prerequisites 

585.209 Organic Chemistry 

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules. Clicking Modules on the menu can access the modules. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. Students are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted on the Course Outline document. Students should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates. 

Course Topics

TBD

Course Goals

TBD

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Identify materials best suited for certain implants.
• Identify the risks and benefits of biological materials and biomaterials.
• Complete a technical proposal for biomaterials funding.
• Identify novel technologies in the area of biomaterials.
• Identify the steps required to bring a medical device to market.
• Understand the cost of doing research and development in the area of biomaterials.

Textbooks

Park, J. B. & Lakes, R. S. (2007). Biomaterials: An introduction. (3rd ed.). New York: Springer.

ISBN 978-0-387-37880-0 

Ratner, B., Hoffman, A. S., Schoen, F. J., & Lemons, J. E. (2012).  Biomaterials science: An introduction to materials in medicine. (3rd ). Amsterdam: Academic Press. 

ISBN-13: 978-0123746269 

ISBN-10: 0123746264 

Textbook information for this course is available online through the appropriate bookstore website: For online courses, search the MBS website at this online bookstore link. 

Students will be required to read articles available through the JHU Library online periodical system. Full citations will be provided with all assignments and students will be responsible for obtaining each article. 

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 4–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 2–4 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 1–2 hours per week), and writing assignments (approximately 2–4 hours per week). 

This course will consist of four basic student requirements: 

Syllabus quiz (4% of Final Grade Calculation) 

Students will read and take a quiz on the elements of the Syllabus.  This ensures that students understand what is required of them from this course. 

Technical Paper Evaluations (10% of Final Grade Calculation) 

Students will read a scientific paper in a subject matter related to the current module topic and then complete an evaluative assessment of the paper.  A guide on how to complete these assessments is provided in Module 1. 

Preparation and Participation (Module Discussions) (5% of Final Grade Calculation) 

Each student is responsible for carefully reading all assigned material and being prepared for discussion.  Dr. Potember will select 2-4 evaluations submitted by students (without attribution) and students will then read the analysis and have a discussion as to points that may have not been addressed by the original evaluator or offer differing opinions. This encourages respectful discourse on scientific matters.  Post your initial response to the discussion by the evening of day 3 for that module week. Posting a response to the discussion is part one of your grade for module discussions (i.e., Timeliness). 

Part two of your grade for module discussion is your interaction. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings. Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive (Critical Thinking). 

Dr. Potember will monitor module discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as discussions are posted. In some instances, Dr. Potember will summarize the overall discussions and post the summary for the module. 

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on contribution to discussions. Preparation and participation is evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Timeliness (50%) 
2. Critical Thinking (50%) 

Assigned problem sets/lecture exam (20% of Final Grade Calculation) 

Question sets will be provided by the instructor that will assess student’s understanding of the reading assignments, videos, and presentation material. There will be two timed exams (Modules 5 and 11) that will assess students’ progress and understanding of the material. 

Lecture quizzes (11% of Final Grade Calculation) 

There will be a short 5 question quiz in each module that will ask questions that can be answered by watching/listening to the lectures.   A PDF copy of the questions will be available for students to use when watching the lectures and the quiz will be an auto-graded test on Canvas. 

Final Project (50% of Final Grade Calculation) 

Final project – 50% -- Students will respond to a government solicitation for a new biomaterial.  They will formulate a response to a Broad Agency Announcement which will include a cost statement, invention disclosure for a theoretical new material, the technical proposal and will have to formulate a presentation as if they were speaking to a potential sponsor. This presentation will be recorded and posted to the class site and students will watch each other’s presentations and comment/ask questions.

Grading Policy

Student assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar and Assignments items in the corresponding modules. Dr. Potember will post grades approximately two weeks after assignment due dates. 

We generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade. 

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week. 

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course. 

The following is the grading scale used in this course: 

Late submissions

Dr. Potember does not accept late submissions. Canvas assignments will close at 11:59 PM on the date due and will not be accepted.   Students should not wait until the last minute to submit assignments because large files (which many submissions will be) can take many minutes to upload to Canvas and students may not be able to submit if the files are not completely loaded by 11:59PM.   If students run into technical difficulties, they may (as a matter of last resort and not to be used for every assignment) e-mail their assignment to the instructor as long as it is received in Dr. Potember’s inbox before 11:59PM on the due date.  Assignments received after this time will not be accepted or graded and will result in a 0 for that assignment. 

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.