Students working on their Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree benefit from the active research program in the Department. Ongoing cutting-edge research ensures that the content of the undergraduate program is constantly renewed and maintained at a challenging technical level and integrates discovery learning into the program. Our educational objectives are as follows:
- To provide students with the breadth of educational opportunities in the chemical sciences and engineering that will enable them to pursue productive careers.
- To maintain an environment that enables students to identify and pursue their personal and professional goals within an innovative educational program that is rigorous and challenging as well as flexible and supportive.
- To produce graduates who will be able to apply their knowledge of chemical engineering, including their problem solving, analytical, design, and communication skills, in the private or public sectors and/or in the pursuit of more advanced degrees.
- To develop graduates who will provide technical, educational, and/or political leadership in a rapidly changing, increasingly technological, global society.
Opportunities abound for undergraduates to work with faculty and graduate students as research assistants, for pay or credit during the academic year or the summer months. More than 75% of our graduating seniors have participated in some type of research experience. In addition to awarding a degree in chemical engineering, the Department also offers a minor in Biochemical Engineering. This minor is composed of six courses drawn from the fields of engineering, chemistry, and biology.
Research in the department covers all the key areas of modern chemical engineering, from very fundamental studies to applied engineering technology. They include sophisticated experimental efforts using state-of-the-art laboratory facilities as well as advanced computational modeling of physical processes. Particular strengths in the department include biochemical and biomedical engineering; catalysis and reactions; colloids and interfaces; environmental chemical engineering; expert systems and process control; materials, polymers, and composites; thermodynamics; and transport separations. More detailed information about our research program is available on our website.
