ME497
Microfluidics

Course Contract

---

Instructors:

Thomas Adams thomas.m.adams@rose-hulman.edu Dept: ME Phone: 812-872-6089 Office: Moench C-110

Dan Morris daniel.morris@rose-hulman.edu Dept: CHEM Phone: 812-877-8314 Office: Moench FL-102

Back to Top

Texts:

Adams and Layton, Chapters from Introductory MEMS: Fabrication and Applications. Springer (2009) Course notes to be distributed Nguyen and Wereley, Fundamentals and Applications of Microfluidics, 2nd Ed., Artech House (2006) (Suggested reference on reserve in the library) In addition to the notes, you should also expect to refer to your undergraduate texts on chemistry and physics as required.

Back to Top

Course activities & philosophy:

Mastering any new subject requires continuous effort by the learner to make sense of new ideas and concepts and to relate them to what you already know. Learning to identify, formulate, and solve problems requires diligent practice in applying a logical problem-solving methodology. Learning to solve real life engineering problems also requires a willingness to deal with ambiguity and uncertainty.

This course is organized around development activities, evaluation activities and a project. Development activities will take place all quarter long and provide you an opportunity to actively master the course material. These include homework and active learning exercises. Evaluation activities will consist of two exams during the quarter (weeks 4 and 8) and a final exam. The project will allow you to explore a current topic in the area of microfluidics more deeply and to become the class "expert" on that topic. Project presentations will be given during the last week of the quarter.

The project will consist of a written research paper and associated presentation. The topic may be any current topic in the field of microfluidics. This may be a specific device, a class of devices, a particular research area, a modeling strategy, etc. A topic must be selected by the end of the second week of classes. The last day of the fourth week of classes has been reserved for discussing your topic with the instructors and to report on the progress to date.

Back to Top

Course expectations:

Reading: When reading assignments are made, they should be completed before coming to class. You are strongly encouraged to use the Reading Logs provided to you to do the reading, as this makes reading a more active exercise and thereby increases its effectiveness greatly. Furthermore, you are encouraged to review your undergraduate texts on related topics to gain a more thorough understanding of the fundamentals of fluid mechanics, chemistry and physics. The instructors review undergradaute and graduate texts on almost a daily basis.

Homework Guidelines: Homework problem assignments will typically be made daily. Adherence to the homework format [page 1] [page 2] is required. Homework is due at the beginning of the period on the assigned due date. Worked-out solutions for the problems will be available in the hoemwork section of this site within about a day after they are due. Late homework will not be accepted except for medical reasons or prior arrangements with the instructor. Should you have trouble working a problem, you should at least submit an acceptable partial solution.

Active Learning Exercises: In-class active learning exercises will be used to facilitate your understanding of the material. During these exercises you will work in small groups on a problem solution. Occasionally, you may be askedyou to turn in your solution to be graded. Some ALEs will emphasize discovery of new ideas; others will be review.

Attendance: Excused absences should be arranged in advance. If you are absent, you are responsible for obtaining notes and assignments from other students in the class. Be aware that Institute policy allows for course grades to be reduced if you have a large number of unexcused absences. Enforcing this policy, however, is not often needed, as it is a rare student who can master a new subject with poor class attendance.

Final Exam: The final exam will be comprehensive and somewhat harder than the mid-term exams; however, additional time will be provided. Every student is expected to be available during the Final Exam Period scheduled by the Registrar. If a conflict arrises, please see me as quickly as possible.

Back to Top

Course grade components:

This course is not graded on a curve. Everyone in the class has an equal opportunity to earn an A or an F. Typically, 90% and above is an A, 80% and above is a B, 70% and above is a C. Performance levels below 60% are usually unacceptable and will result in a failing grade. Final grade components are as follows:

Development Activities
Homework, and Active Learning Exercises (ALEs)	15%
Evaluation Activities
Midterm Exams (2 @ 17%each)	34%
Final Exam	34%
Project
Project and presentation	17%
Total	100%

Academic honesty

Any act of academic misconduct is grounds for discipline in accordance with the most recent edition of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Academic Rules and Procedures. If in doubt, ASK! The most recent information can be found on the web at http://www.rose-hulman.edu/Users/groups/Registrar/arap/rules00.htm. Specific guidance about collaboration and the use of files is found below under Homework Guidelines.

Back to Top