Schedule & Readings
Stanford Introduction to Bioengineering
Stanford Introduction to Bioengineering
2026 Spring Quarter
CLASS MEETINGS
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday
Time 1:30-2:20pm, CODA B60
STUDENT HOURS
Come chat with us! This is time set aside by the instructors and TAs to work with you. Use it for help on assignments or to ask any questions about bioengineering or anything at all!
Times (March 30-June 4, excluding holidays):
Mon. 5-6pm
Tue. 5-6pm
Wed. 4-5pm
Thur. 4-5pm
Locations: link (available to enrolled students)
The entire teaching team stands with you, ready and eager to help you learn. Should you need assistance outside of regular student hours, please post a message in Ed Discussion.
SPRING 2026 CLASS SESSION TOPICS SCHEDULE AND PRE-READING ASSIGNMENTS
WEEKS 1 & 2 -- Protein Engineering
30 March - Why engineer biology? Introduction to Syllabus and Course Logistics [lecture slides]
Pre-reading and videos: none
1 April - What are proteins?
Pre-reading and videos:
What makes living matter special (15 min. video)
What is a protein? (7 min. video)
The Shape and Structure of Proteins (top through Figure 3-16, 25 min. read)
3 April - How does a protein primary sequence impact what a protein does?
Pre-reading and videos:
How Enzymes Work (5 min. video)
Protein binding interfaces, Binding sites of antibodies (5 min. read)
CRISPR Technology; sections Cas9: From nature to the lab, Cas9 structure-function (10 min. read)
6 April - How do we define, quantify, and measure what proteins do?
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
8 April - How to change what a protein does?
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
10 April - Project Introduction and Framestorming with Proteins
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 3 -- Molecular Devices to Systems Design
13 April - Living logic
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
15 April - Bioengineering Abstraction
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
17 April - Quantitative Device Modeling
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 4 -- Physical Devices: Measuring Tools
20 April - Tools for Measuring -- Microscopy
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
22 April - Microscopy Field Day
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
24 April - Mighty Microbiome
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 5 -- DNA Writing and Reading
27 April - Writing DNA
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
29 April - Gene and Genome Assembly
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
1 May - Reading DNA
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 6 -- DNA Editing and Gene Drives
4 May - Fighting Chip Shortages with Biology
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
6 May - Editing DNA
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
8 May - Fighting Screwworms w/ Gene Drives
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 7 -- Directed Evolution and Generative Biology
11 May - Directed Evolution
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
13 May - Generative Biology
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
15 May - Evolution and AI for bioengineering, continued
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 8 -- Engineering for Human and Planet Health
18 May - Fighting Fear w/ Glowing Plants
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
20 May - Fighting Cancer w/ CAR-T Cells
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
22 May - Fighting Medicine Shortages w/ Brewing
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 9 -- Bioengineering Beyond the Bench
25 May - no class - Memorial Day
27 May - Biosecurity
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
29 May - Bioculture: Can Hip-hop save Bioengineering?
Pre-reading and videos:
coming soon
WEEK 10 -- Bioengineering Beyond the Bench and Wrapup
5 June - Bio-what-else-now?!
7 June - Reflection & Lookahead