Introduction

The Chemical Engineering program at Kansas State University provides all students the opportunity to become great engineers. Graduates from the program have a solid education in fundamental sciences (chemistry and physics), advanced mathematics, and engineering practices for a successful career in industry, academia, or government.

The Chemical Engineering Discipline

Chemical engineers are employed by industries involved in energy, agriculture, advanced materials, manufacturing, consumer products, biotechnology, and microelectronics. They are at the forefront of addressing society’s challenges in sustainable energy and chemicals, safeguarding the environment, improving homeland security, and producing better medicines, to name just a few examples. Chemical engineers employ their technical background and creative thinking to solve problems every day. They are lifelong learners, who work with the latest technologies. Throughout their careers, chemical engineers have tremendous opportunities for professional development, to work with diverse constituents around the world, and to have an impact on society.

Career paths for our graduates vary widely. Many begin their careers as a process or production engineer, rotating between plants and locations, and learning about their industry in breadth and depth. With experience, they are given more responsibilities, and move into management, supervising other engineers, continuing to advance to higher leadership positions within their companies. Others may follow a technical path, becoming the company’s expert on specific technologies or processes. Engineering process design, technical sales, safety, meeting environmental regulation, or working in federal agencies are other possible career paths. A significant fraction of our graduates continue their education, earning advanced degrees to become professors in academia, medical doctors, or lawyers.

Student Life

Chemical engineering has long had a reputation as a difficult program of study.  And while there are elements of truth in that perception, it is just as incomplete as most stereotypes are.  Chemical engineering offers the diligent and motivated student a sense of accomplishment, technical competence, and a versatility that employers around the world recognize and seek out.

But by no means does a chemical engineering student have “to go it alone.”  Student success is important to us and a support network is in place to assist every student with their integration into the university community and their academic progress.  Through shared experiences, chemical engineering students develop a strong sense of purpose and a camaraderie that can last a lifetime.  Opportunities for teamwork, leadership, and collaboration include the student chapter of AIChE, Engineering Open House, Omega Chi Epsilon (the academic honorary for chemical engineering students), the Society of Women Engineers, the CHUMs program, the Study Abroad program, and SASS (Student Scholars Assisting Students).  In addition, many undergraduate students have elective research opportunities that allow them to team up with faculty and graduate students on projects of mutual interest.

Faculty

The faculty in the department are dedicated to providing students with the best education possible. They are readily available to assist with homework, offer career and academic advice, and write letters of recommendation. Many have won College and University awards in recognizing the high quality of their teaching. They continually strive to improve their teaching, by revising their course for better student comprehension, getting student feedback, and taking workshops and short courses on teaching pedagogy.

Creating new knowledge through research is an important activity of the faculty. Faculty research keeps them aware of the most important trends in chemical engineering. They bring this knowledge into the classroom, thereby ensuring that students are kept up to date. Particular research strengths of the K-State Chemical Engineering department include sustainable energy and chemical production, advanced materials, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and process design.

Industrial Connections

The Chemical Engineering Department at Kansas State University has strong connections with many industrial companies including Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Cargill, Burns and McDonnell, Koch, and 3M.

The Department at a Glance

11 Faculty (9 men, 2 women)
204 Undergraduate Students (26% women)
28 BS degrees grants (2011)
25 Graduate Students
2 Postdocs
$3.2M Extramural Research Expenditures