Research-informed teaching

Microengineering and Microtechnology (MTech) has been constructed to incorporate research into the teaching practices of the School of Engineering and Technology

The Microfluidic and Microengineering Research Group has recently developed a final year undergraduate teaching module centred on internationally-recognised outputs from the research team.

The module, Microengineering and Microtechnology (MTech), has been constructed as a result of an institutional drive to further incorporate researchers and their research into the teaching practices of the School of Engineering and Technology at the University of Hertfordshire.

Practical group projects

The course is centred around a group project case study, focusing on the development of a Micro Throttle Pump (MTP).

Students are arranged in multidisciplinary groups for the duration of the course and are tasked with the development of a programme of work which enables them to progress from zero knowledge of micropumps, through a significant literature review and analysis, concept development and the use of computer aided engineering techniques to analyse and develop their group designs.

The process incorporates the study of both historical developments within microengineering and microfluidics alongside the use of tools such as 3D Computer Aided Design, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element Analysis and 2D Photomask design.

Course structure

In conjunction with a series of lectures and tutorials given by the research team, the students see their conceptual MTP designs realised using the microfabrication techniques afforded by the MMRGs Class 1000 Cleanroom.

The completed microfabricated components are tested by the student teams and a technical report is submitted, all of which is completed within a single twelve-week semester.

If you have any questions regarding technical or pedagogic aspects of the MTech module please contact Dr Daniel McCluskey.

Studentships

Read about opportunities to study within the Microfluidics & Microengineering research group.

View information on Studentships