What Is A Chemical Engineer?
Chemical & biomolecular engineers design and optimize processes for safely and economically producing materials. While a chemist is focused on reaction mechanisms, structure, and properties, and a biologist focuses on the fundamental characteristics of living systems, a chemical and biomolecular engineer focuses on using that information to create new and better products for consumers. Chemical & biomolecular engineers are employed in an array of industries including chemicals (Dow, Dupont), consumer products (Proctor & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark), pharmaceuticals (Merck, Eli LIlly), bioengineering (Genentech), polymers and plastics, paper, specialty chemicals, and electronics just to name a few. Chemical & biomolecular engineering is also excellent preparation to enter medicine, law, and business.
Different areas of research in our department include:
Polymer Science
Blood-Material Interactions
Molecularly Based Membrane Separations
Fuel-Cell Fuel Processing
Catalysis
Microfluidics
Nanocomposites
Biocompatible Polymers
Colloids and Interfaces
Molecular Self-Assembly
Bioinformatics
Nanobiotechnology
Cell and Tissue Engineering
Neural Prosthetics
Aerosol Science
Nucleation
Image Processing and Analysis
Process Systems Engineering
Industrial Ecology
View a PPT presentation on Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
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High School Preparation
A strong background in Chemistry and Math is important to Chemical Engineers. Students should also have some background in physics and enjoy problem solving, hands on work and puzzles. Students should be prepared to utilize an intensive work ethic and expect a large amount of group work.
While in high school, all students should complete as much Chemistry and Math as their high school offers. If your school offers AP courses in any subject, you should strive to take those courses and complete the tests as they can often count towards your college credit. Any coursework that your high school offers in computer programming will also be helpful. If you are interested in the biomolecular option, be sure to take biology and advanced biology courses as well.
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What To Expect
Each new freshman who declares his/her interest in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering is admitted to the College of Engineering as an engineering-undecided major with an interest area of Chemical Engineering. If you are interested in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and are not directly enrolled in the College of Engineering, be schedule and appointment with the undergraduate advisor (cbe-ugrad@chbmeng.ohio-state.edu) the first week of classes.
Every freshman must take four quarters of Calculus (a variety of sequence options will be given to you at orientation) and a first year engineering program (there are two sequences to choose from if you are an honors student). All freshman in our interest area should compete their General Chemistry sequence as well.
Click to view a video on a nanotechnology design course offered to first year students
Read a recent article about the Nanotechnology projects in the first year program.
Each student will also participate in our University Survey course in which we will explain course policies, university policies, and general procedures as well as bring in a number of faculty, members of local industry and current students to talk about various aspects of the program and its possibilities.
During the spring of your first year, you can apply to begin the Chemical Engineering program. You will most likely be in a select group of 60 to 70 students that begin the major their second year. Your first year of coursework will often entail large lectures and smaller recitations. As you move into and through the Chemical Engineering programs, you will have faculty teaching your courses and you will have class with a smaller number of individuals. You will all form a strong bond and community while in the program.
Ahead will be at least three more years of hard work and hopefully a coop, internship or research experience to boost your marketability. Your on-campus world will become smaller as you interact more and more with your peers and your courses become concentrated in one area of campus. You will have every opportunity available in terms of resources and activities on campus. You will reap great personal and public rewards for your hard work, including integrity in society, financial gain and unmatched problem solving skills.
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The Ohio State University
With more than 58,000 students, 18 colleges, and 170 majors, The Ohio State University offers its students tremendous breadth and depth of opportunity in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the professions. To read all about the great things going on at OSU, please visit: http://www.osu.edu/dosomethinggreat/index.php.
The College of Engineering at Ohio State is ranked in the top 20 nationally among public universities according to US News and World Report. For a LOT of information regarding facts about the College of Engineering, please visit: http://www.eng.ohio-state.edu/overview/quickfacts.php.
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Scheduling a Visit
If you are interested in coming to Ohio State to major in Chemical Engineering, here are a few handy steps to follow. First, schedule a visit with the University. This visit and tour is crucial. You will gain invaluable insight on what OSU has to offer! See: http://campusvisit.osu.edu/svcres/index.asp to schedule a University tour.
The next step in the visitation process is to contact Lisa Barclay in the College of Engineering to set up an Engineering overview. This will provide invaluable insight to the engineering program in general and provide some expectation of what will occur your first year.
Finally, after you have the major tours set up, contact the undergraduate advisor in the Chemical & Biomolecular Department to set up about 2 hours worth of time in the department. She will schedule an appointment with her for questions about general information, some time with a faculty member in the department and arrange a building tour conducted by a current undergraduate. Please keep in mind that scheduling an appointment of this type is very difficult during OSU breaks as well as the first and last week of each quarter.
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Campus Outreach Activities
College of Engineering Programs include:
PREFACE (Pre-freshman and Cooperative Education Program): a summer bridge program designed to provide pre-freshman minority students (male and female) with an orientation to the freshman engineering curriculum at The Ohio State University and to expose them to the actual practice of engineering.
Women in Science Day: Women faculty and staff working in science, medicine, engineering, and related fields will lead workshops and demonstrations for students from Central Ohio schools. Girls in grades 7-10 are invited to attend their choice of two workshops at Ohio State University.
College of Engineering Open Houses (Spring & Fall)
Minority Preview Day
Summer Honors Institute for Gifted Students
Click here for a listing of College of Engineering upcoming events
The Women in Engineering Program conducts a number of preview days, camps, workshops, etc... for female students of all ages interested in pursuing Engineering as a profession. Some include:
Camp Engineer: a one-week day camp that seeks to provide middle school girls with a more in depth exposure, understanding, and appreciation of engineering; participants of the Columbus Public Schools’ Young Women Empowerment Conference are invited to attend. During the week, students work on design projects as well as participate in engineering department tours and workshops that help introduce them to specific engineering disciplines.
Engineers in Motion: The program introduces participants to fundamental skills that improve their chances for success in engineering courses and their future careers through hands-on activities.
WiE Summer Workshop: One-week program funded by WiE’s corporate sponsors. Women attending Ohio State in Autumn 2005 with a major in Engineering are eligible to spend the week at OSU learning all about engineering and the campus. This workshop gives the women an opportunity to meet other women who will be studying engineering at Ohio State in the autumn, live in the dorm, meet engineering faculty, learn about the different engineering programs, work in groups on engineering experiments, get to know the OSU campus, and have fun!
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