BME 3240

Professor: Prof. Highly knows the material well and is very friendly. I like him a lot but some student find him frustrating because he sometimes confuses terminology or makes mistakes designing hw and quizes in class some already find difficult.
Content: It's all math and fluid mechanics with very little calculus and no ODE except in proofs which you don't really need to know. There is some computational homework which requires MATLAB but that takes up a lesser part of the class.
#tCFF23

#tCFF23

The semester I took this course, Chris Highley and Jack Whitewolf were co-instructors. Overall, I would say the course was disorganized, but was supplemented with good, extensive notes from Prof Helmke (who, as of '23, teaches the course in the spring) and office hours. Prof Highley's strength is definitely his 1-on-1 interactions with his students. In front of the whole class, however, he can be more difficult to follow. The course is organized with several quizzes (instead of midterms) and one cumulative final exam. For the first time, there were two computing assignments this semester, which used MATLAB.

Pros:
- Highley is adaptable - ask him for an extension, for extra help on an assignment, etc, and he will most likely hand it to you
- Highley is knowledgeable about the topic
- Highley accepts late work

Cons:
- Highley is very disorganized and unfortunately there is no textbook to use as a crutch, only suggested readings which are somewhat relevant and change authors between classes
- You will probably not get as great of a grasp on biotransport at the end of this class compared to Helmke's section

Tips for success:
- Remember your derivatives, integrals, and gradients
- ODEs do make a comeback in this course, so be familiar with them (not necessarily solving them, though!)
- Try to get 1-on-1 time with the instructor(s)
- Write down the equations as you learn them, because Highley will let you use your notes on his quizzes!

This class was truly one of the highlights of my academic experience! Professor Highley is not only an outstanding educator but also one of the most approachable and supportive professors I’ve had. He consistently welcomes student feedback and goes above and beyond to ensure everyone is keeping up with the material, even offering additional office hours when needed.

The homework assignments were definitely challenging, but with his guidance during office hours, they became valuable learning opportunities. His ability to break down complex topics and explain them clearly made a huge difference. On top of that, he’s incredibly kind and genuinely cares about his students’ success.

I highly recommend this course to all BME students. It’s rigorous, but if you're willing to put in the effort, it’s incredibly rewarding. Professor Highley makes it worth it!