Metabolic Engineering Online Course | IIT Kharagpur | Prof. Pinaki Sar & Prof. Amit Ghosh
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 136 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Bioprocesses |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 29 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlock the Future of Bioproduction: A Comprehensive Guide to Metabolic Engineering
In the quest for sustainable solutions, from life-saving pharmaceuticals to renewable biofuels, Metabolic Engineering stands as a pivotal discipline. It is the art and science of reprogramming the intricate chemical networks within living cells to turn them into efficient, living factories. If you're an aspiring biotechnologist or bioengineer looking to master this transformative field, a remarkable learning opportunity awaits.
This detailed blog introduces an in-depth 8-week online course on Metabolic Engineering, meticulously designed and taught by distinguished faculty from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. Read on to discover how this course can equip you with the skills to engineer biology for a better tomorrow.
Course Overview: What is Metabolic Engineering?
Metabolic engineering is an advanced field at the intersection of biotechnology, systems biology, and chemical engineering. It involves the purposeful modification of cellular metabolic, regulatory, and signaling networks to achieve desirable goals. This includes dramatically enhancing the production of valuable compounds like antibiotics, vitamins, amino acids, and biopolymers, or enabling microbes to degrade environmental pollutants.
This course is structured to provide both fundamental knowledge and advanced methodologies essential for developing robust microbial strains for industrial bioproduction. It moves from core concepts to hands-on analytical techniques like Metabolic Flux Analysis, offering a complete toolkit for the next generation of bio-engineers.
Learn from Renowned IIT Kharagpur Faculty
The course brings together the expertise of two leading professors, ensuring a blend of foundational microbiology and cutting-edge engineering approaches.
Prof. Pinaki Sar brings over 18 years of teaching and research experience. His work in microbial ecology and metagenomics, focused on environmental sustainability, provides a crucial perspective on the natural metabolic capabilities of microbial communities. He has been teaching Environmental Biotechnology and related subjects at IIT Kharagpur for nearly two decades.
Prof. Amit Ghosh adds a strong layer of specialized expertise. With a Ph.D. from IISc Bangalore and extensive postdoctoral research in Metabolic Engineering at top US institutions (LBNL and UIUC), he has 12 years of dedicated research experience in metabolic, systems, and synthetic biology. He has been teaching advanced topics like Metabolic Systems Biology at IIT Kharagpur for the past 4 years.
Who Should Enroll? (Intended Audience & Prerequisites)
This course is perfectly tailored for:
- B.Tech students in Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or Biochemical Engineering.
- B.Sc. students in Microbiology, Biotechnology, or Botany.
- M.Sc. students in Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or related fields.
Prerequisites: A basic understanding of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Genetics is recommended to fully grasp the course content.
Detailed 8-Week Course Curriculum
The course is systematically divided into weekly modules, ensuring a logical progression from basics to complex applications.
| Week | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Metabolic Engineering: Basic concepts, Scopes, Applications, and an overview of Metabolism (Cellular Transport, Fueling Reactions). |
| Week 2 | Cellular Metabolism Overview continues: Biosynthetic reactions, Polymerization, Growth Energetics, and Regulation of Metabolic Pathways. |
| Week 3 | Reconstruction of Genome-scale Metabolic Networks – the computational backbone of modern metabolic engineering. |
| Week 4 | Real-world Examples of Pathway Manipulations: Case studies on Ethanol, Amino Acids, Antibiotics, Vitamins, and Biopolymers. |
| Week 5 | More Applications: Engineering for improved cellular properties and enhancing Biodegradation pathways for environmental cleanup. |
| Week 6 | Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA): Introduction to Flux Balance Analysis (FBA), Flux Variability Analysis, and interpreting Flux Maps. |
| Week 7 | Experimental MFA: Using isotope-labeled substrates, understanding Isotope Mapping Matrices and Isotope Distribution Vectors. |
| Week 8 | Capstone module on the Application of Metabolic Flux Analysis, tying together theoretical and experimental concepts. |
Essential Reference Books
To complement the lectures, the course references authoritative texts in the field, including:
- Metabolic Engineering: Principles and Methodologies by G.N. Stephanopoulos, A.A. Aristidou, and J. Nielsen
- Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology: Metabolic Engineering (Volume Editor: Jens Nielsen)
- Systems Metabolic Engineering: Methods and Protocols by H.S. Alper
- Metabolic Pathway Design: A Practical Guide by P. Carbonell
Why Take This Metabolic Engineering Course?
This course is more than just a series of lectures. It's a gateway to mastering a critical 21st-century skill set. You will gain:
- Industry-Relevant Knowledge: Learn the very techniques used to develop commercial strains in biotech and pharma.
- Hands-On Analytical Skills: Move beyond theory to understand how to model and measure metabolic fluxes.
- Expert Insight: Learn from professors actively engaged in groundbreaking research.
- Strong Foundation: Perfect for students aiming for higher studies or R&D careers in synthetic biology, industrial biotechnology, and sustainable engineering.
Embark on this 8-week journey to decode and redesign the metabolism of living cells. Enroll in the Metabolic Engineering course by IIT Kharagpur and position yourself at the forefront of the biotechnological revolution.
Enroll Now →