Chemical and Biological Engineering
Photo: Julie Sefa
Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChemE) applies fundamental principles in physics, math, chemistry, and biology to chemical and biochemical processes. It offers areas of concentration in bioengineering and biotechnology, environmental technology, materials and product engineering, optimization, dynamics and information technology, entrepreneurship and management and engineering science for new technologies. ChemE graduates have become leaders in the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals, microelectronics processing, polymer science, composites manufacturing, consumer products, technical management, environmental science, and the petrochemical industry. Each year several ChemE students publish their senior thesis findings in research journals. Approximately half of ChemE graduates go into industry, working for companies such as Air Products, Bristol Myers Squibb, DuPont, ExxonMobil, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Merck. About a quarter of the students go to top graduate schools, and a quarter go on to medical, law, or business school.
What Students Say
• What is chemical and biological engineering?
• What is it like being a chemical and biological engineering major?
• What are common misconceptions about chemical and biological engineering majors?
• What kind of internships and international experiences have majors had?
Note: This profile was written before the scope of the major was changed to Chemical and Biological Engineering. It will be updated once students become more familiar with the contours of the revised major.
What is chemical and biological engineering?
Chemical and biological engineering is an interdisciplinary field of study that involves the physical and chemical understanding of dynamic systems. Research areas include applied and computation mathematics, bioengineering, environmental and energy science, material science, transport phenomena, process engineering, and thermodynamics. Traditionally, chemical engineering has many applications in industries including pharmaceutical and oil companies. Chemical engineers not only deal with the nature of the process (i.e. kinetics, physics) but also ensure the most economically optimal set up. Therefore, this field of study combines a scientific understanding with a practical and engineering approach to problems.
• What is it like being a chemical and biological engineering major?
• What are common misconceptions about chemical and biological engineering majors?
• What kind of internships and international experiences have majors had?
Note: This profile was written before the scope of the major was changed to Chemical and Biological Engineering. It will be updated once students become more familiar with the contours of the revised major.
What is chemical and biological engineering?
Chemical and biological engineering is an interdisciplinary field of study that involves the physical and chemical understanding of dynamic systems. Research areas include applied and computation mathematics, bioengineering, environmental and energy science, material science, transport phenomena, process engineering, and thermodynamics. Traditionally, chemical engineering has many applications in industries including pharmaceutical and oil companies. Chemical engineers not only deal with the nature of the process (i.e. kinetics, physics) but also ensure the most economically optimal set up. Therefore, this field of study combines a scientific understanding with a practical and engineering approach to problems.
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What is it like being a CBE major?
It's awesome! Chemical engineering can be both conceptually and mathematically challenging -- but as will become quickly evident, the challenges posed in problem sets and lectures foster a strong and friendly 'chemical engineering community' of collaborative thinking and support that is unmatched by other departments.
It's awesome! Chemical engineering can be both conceptually and mathematically challenging -- but as will become quickly evident, the challenges posed in problem sets and lectures foster a strong and friendly 'chemical engineering community' of collaborative thinking and support that is unmatched by other departments.
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What are common misconceptions about CBE majors?
A common misconception about chemical engineering is that it deals primarily/exclusively with chemistry. Chemical engineering, on the other hand, is much more diverse in its curriculum, and in some cases, the specifics of chemical reactions or kinetics are not even covered. Certainly, these classes can be taken in conjunction with chemical engineering classes to gain a more detailed understanding of the science. The curriculum for chemical engineering majors is most telling of the major. Seven core classes are required: Intro to ChemE, Thermodynamics, Bioseparations, Transport Phenomenon (aka "Pipes"), Core Lab, Reaction Engineering, and Design.
A common misconception about chemical engineering is that it deals primarily/exclusively with chemistry. Chemical engineering, on the other hand, is much more diverse in its curriculum, and in some cases, the specifics of chemical reactions or kinetics are not even covered. Certainly, these classes can be taken in conjunction with chemical engineering classes to gain a more detailed understanding of the science. The curriculum for chemical engineering majors is most telling of the major. Seven core classes are required: Intro to ChemE, Thermodynamics, Bioseparations, Transport Phenomenon (aka "Pipes"), Core Lab, Reaction Engineering, and Design.
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What kind of internships and international experiences have majors had?
Being a Chemical Engineering major at Princeton gives students very strong analytical, writing and presentational (just wait 'till Core Lab!) skills. These skills translate very well to a variety of different industries. Students in the past have done internships in research, engineering industry, non-profit, consulting, finance and a whole bunch of other fields.
Being a Chemical Engineering major at Princeton gives students very strong analytical, writing and presentational (just wait 'till Core Lab!) skills. These skills translate very well to a variety of different industries. Students in the past have done internships in research, engineering industry, non-profit, consulting, finance and a whole bunch of other fields.
In terms of international experiences, Chemical Engineers have to plan more carefully than BAs since there are a fair amount of required courses and a lot of those requirements need to be taken as a sequence. There are students in the Chemical Engineering department that have studied abroad, so it is definitely possible. It is recommended for Chemical Engineering students to start planning early if they wish to study abroad. In the past, students have traveled to countries like Sweden and Argentina.