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Molecular Biosciences and Biosystems Engineering 

Agricultural Science 218
1955 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8384
Fax: (808) 956-3542
E-mail: kinoshi@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu, jkurosaw@hawaii.edu
Web: www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mbbe

Faculty

• C. M. Kinoshita, PhD (Chair)--thermo-engineering, energy systems
• H. Ako, PhD--analytical biochemistry/aquaculture
• D. Borthakur, PhD--molecular genetics of rhizobia, plant-microbe interaction, biotechnology
• D. A. Christopher, PhD--plant biochemistry, chloroplast molecular biology, regulation of gene expression
• L. D. Gautz, PhD--bioproduction control, mechanical systems
• H. M. Harrington, PhD--biochemistry molecular biology of heat shock, signal transduction in plants
• P-S. Leung, PhD--production and quantitive methods
• Q. Li, PhD--environmental biochemistry
• J. Moy, PhD--food engineering, food irradiation, processing technology
• W-K. Nip, PhD--food technology
• W. W. Su, PhD--cell culture, biochemical engineering
• C-S. Tang, biochemistry of natural products
• J-K. Wang, PhD--bioproduction systems engineering, aquacultural engineering
• H. Y. Yamamoto, PhD--plant biochemistry, photosynthesis
• P-Y. Yang, PhD--waste/wastewater engineering, bioprocess technology/engineering

Graduate Faculty in Biosystems Engineering

• P-Y. Yang, PhD (Chair)--waste/wastewater engineering, bioprocess technology/engineering
• C. M. Kinoshita, PhD--thermo-engineering, energy systems
• L. D. Gautz, PhD--bioproduction control, mechanical systems
• P-S. Leung, PhD--production and quantitative methods
• J. H. Moy, PhD--food engineering, food irradiation, processing technology
• W. W. Su, PhD--cell culture, biochemical engineering
• T. Liang, PhD--resource systems engineering, mechanization
• S. Q. Turn, PhD--biomass energy systems, environmental engineering
• J-K. Wang, PhD-bioproduction systems engineering, aquacultural engineering
• I-P. Wu, PhD--irrigation engineering

Cooperating Graduate Faculty in Biosystems Engineering

• M. J. Antal, PhD--alternate energy, combustion
• E. D. H. Cheng, PhD--hydrology, hydraulics
• Y-S. Fok, PhD--water resource systems, hydrology
• C. C. K. Liu, PhD--hydrology, environmental systems engineering
• S. M. Masutani, PhD--thermochemical conversion of biomass, sequestration of carbon dioxide, biological fuel cell development
• C. Ray, PhD--groundwater hydrology
• M. C. M. Tsang, PhD--materials handling, processing engineering

Affiliate Graduate Faculty in Biosystems Engineering

• G. D. Pruder, PhD--aquacultural engineering

Graduate Faculty in Plant Molecular Physiology

• D. Borthakur, PhD (Chair)--molecular genetics of rhizobia, plant-microbe interaction, biotechnology 
• D. A. Christopher, PhD--plant biochemistry, chloroplast molecular biology, regulation of gene expression
• H. M. Harrington, PhD--biochemistry molecular biology of heat shock, signal transduction in plants
• J. Hu, PhD--plant virology
• Q. Li, PhD--environmental biochemistry
• R. E. Paull, PhD--postharvest physiology and handling of tropical fruits, flowers, and vegetables
• W. W. Su, PhD--plant cell culture, bioprocess engineering
• C-S. Tang, PhD--natural products chemistry and biochemistry
• H. Y. Yamamoto, PhD--plant biochemistry, photosynthesis

Cooperating Graduate Faculty in Plant Molecular Physiology

• G. H. Goldstein, PhD--water relations, crops-vegetation environment interactions

Affiliate Graduate Faculty in Plant Molecular Physiology

• H. Albert, PhD--plant molecular biology
• M. M. Fitch, PhD--micropropagation and genetic transformation of papaya
• F. Meinzer, PhD--plant physiology, water relations
• P. H. Moore, PhD--sugar cane physiology

Degrees Offered: BS in biosystems engineering, MS in biosystems engineering, MS in botanical sciences (plant physiology), PhD in botanical sciences (plant physiology)

Proposed Degrees: BS in biosystems engineering, MS in biosystems engineering, MS in molecular biosciences and bioengineering, PhD in molecular biosciences and bioengineering. Currently enrolled students may continue in their existing degree program or they may switch to a new degree program once the program has been approved. 

The Academic Program

The Department of Molecular Biosciences and Biosystems Engineering features a multidisciplinary faculty having a broad spectrum of interests in biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biosystems engineering, and food science. The department's strong basic and applied research programs and its active, internationally recognized faculty combine to provide students with exciting learning opportunities.

Undergraduate Study

BS in Biosystems Engineering

Requirements

• General Education Core requirements, including the following:
  • SP 151 or 251
  • AREC 220 or ECON 130
  • BIOL 171/171L
  • CHEM 171/171L (or 161, 162 and lab) and 272/272L
  • MATH 241, 242, 242L, 243, and 244
  • PHYS 170/170L and 272/272L
• College requirements:
  • AREC 310
• Basic engineering requirements:
  • EE 160 and 211
  • CE 270, 271, and 320
  • ME 311
• Biosystems engineering requirements:
  • BIOL 172/172L or MICRO 351/351L
  • BE 351/351L, 360, 401, 413, 437, 460, 481, and 482
  • At least two courses from BE 411, 431, 435, or 436

A student must have a minimum of 128 credit hours. Most students will take 138 credit hours to complete the requirements.

Graduate Study

MS in Biosystems Engineering

The research areas open to MS students are management of wastes and wastewater from agricultural and food industries; engineering for cell culture, fermentation, micropropagation, and bioconversion; engineering-intensive horticultural systems; engineering-intensive aquatic biosystems systems; modeling and optimization of bioresource production and processing systems; water management and irrigation system design; spatial decision support systems for environmental protection and resource development; bioremediation; bioenergy systems and thermochemical conversion; and mechanization and automation of tropical crop production, treatment, and processing. Graduates of the program have entered careers in industry and public agencies or have undertaken further study in a PhD degree program. Intended candidates for the MS must present a bachelor's degree from an accredited engineering program or the equivalent. 

Requirements
Biosystems engineering courses as well as courses from the related fields of engineering, agriculture, and sciences may be utilized to fulfill the minimum requirement of 30 credit hours. Both Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis) are available.

MS in Botanical Sciences (Plant Physiology)

Plan A
The MS Plan A is a research degree including course work and original research to be presented in the form of a written thesis. This plan is designed for students who intend to progress to a PhD degree program or for those who desire a career in research. Minimum course requirements include 12 credit hours in thesis (BTSC 700) and at least 18 additional credit hours approved by the candidate's graduate program committee. These shall include 6 credit hours in courses numbered 400 to 798 but not PMP 699 or BTSC 200 and 12 credit hours in courses numbered 600 to 798 excluding research methods courses, PMP 699 and BTSC 700. Students must enroll in at least 1 credit hour of BTSC 700 during the semester of graduation.

Plan B
The MS Plan B is regarded as a terminal degree and is intended for those who do not wish to pursue research as a career. Plan B includes course work and a limited amount of directed research. Students who intend to pursue a research career or enter a PhD program should choose the MS Plan A program. Plan B requires a minimum of 30 credit hours including 18 credit hours in courses numbered 600 to 798, excluding research methods courses and BTSC 700, and 12 credit hours in courses numbered 400 to 798, excluding research methods courses and BTSC 700. All courses must be approved by the candidate's graduate program committee.

PhD in Botanical Sciences (Plant Physiology)

The PhD program is designed to allow maximum flexibility for research specialization in a particular area of plant physiology, biochemistry, or cell or molecular biology. A major component of the PhD program is the completion of an original research project and dissertation. The dissertation research is expected to be a significant contribution to plant science. Formal course requirements for the PhD include selections from the PMP core and courses necessary to fulfill the minimal requirements for residence--three semesters of full-time work or the equivalent in credit hours. During the final semester, the student must be registered for at least 1 credit hour of BTSC 800. Other course requirements are determined by the student's temporary or permanent graduate program committee and include at least 2 credit hours of directed research (PMP 699) to be used as part of the general examination. An oral comprehensive examination is required of all PhD students to assess general competence in general botany, cytology, anatomy, morphology, biochemistry, physiology, and specific areas as determined by the student's interest and graduate program committee.

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