Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off

One plan covers every Professional Certificate on Coursera.

Fermentation plays a key role in turning biological ideas into scalable products—but moving from lab concepts to pilot scale and beyond introduces new systems, decisions, and constraints. This course provides an accessible introduction to pilot scale fermentation, helping learners understand how fermentation processes work and what changes as they scale. You’ll explore major fermentation types, microbes, and the high level fermentation process from start to finish. The course also introduces core pilot scale equipment and downstream processing steps, focusing on their purpose and the tradeoffs they introduce across scale up. Designed for scientists, founders, and cross functional professionals working in or around the fermentation industry, this beginner level course requires no prior fermentation experience and emphasizes conceptual understanding and scale up considerations. This course is part of the College of ACES suite of online programs and is supported by the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL), a pilot plant facility focused on bioprocessing technologies located at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. The IBRL was built with the needs of industry projects and customers in mind, supporting over 1,000 scale-up projects for our clients since opening in 2018. Learn more about online programs from the College of ACES: https://acesonline.illinois.edu Learn more about IBRL: https://ibrl.aces.illinois.edu

Syllabus

Orientation & Module 1 | Fermentation - Picturing the Process

In the course orientation, we’ll get to know the course, our learning environment, and the tools we’ll use. Then, we’ll build a clear picture of what fermentation looks like at the pilot scale by exploring major fermentation types, key microbes, and core equipment. With this system‑level view in place, we’ll be ready to shift next to how fermentation actually unfolds over time.

Module 2 | Fermentation - Diving into the Process

In this module, we’ll build on our understanding of fermentation systems by examining how the fermentation process operates in practice. We’ll explore strain selection, growth stages, and how objectives shift as processes move from the lab to the pilot scale, setting up what happens once fermentation is complete.

Module 3 | Downstream Processing - Preparing the Product

Now that we understand how fermentation unfolds, we’ll turn our attention to what happens next. In this module, we’ll introduce downstream processing and focus on early steps like harvesting and cell disruption that prepare products for recovery and purification.

Module 4 | Downstream Processing - Moving Toward Purification & Conclusion

In the final module, we’ll follow the product through purification and formulation while comparing key downstream tools and tradeoffs. We’ll bring everything together with an end‑to‑end view of pilot scale fermentation systems and scale‑up considerations. After completing this module, we’ll be ready to take the final assessment and earn our Coursera certificate!