Program Overview

Chemical Engineering PhD Program

The Chemical Engineering PhD program at CU Boulder offers a research-intensive education that prepares students to address complex challenges across various fields. Key research areas include catalysis, surface science, complex fluids, computational science, energy and environmental applications, membranes and separations, and tissue engineering.

This degree aims to leverage the measurement, theory, and manipulation of chemical processes and materials to address the next challenges in our world. Recent advancements in reaction engineering, materials synthesis, and data analysis have enabled breakthroughs in chemical and process design. Thus, modern chemical engineering principles form the foundation of this program, driving the development of new models, processes, and technologies to meet evolving human needs.

The department emphasizes the PhD degree and does not accept applications from students seeking a terminal master’s degree. Students generally obtain master’s degrees in the course of fulfilling the requirements for the PhD degree.

Career Opportunities

Students with a MS or PhD in Chemical Engineering are prepared for careers in industry or academia in fields such as:

• Renewable and sustainable energy
• Nanomaterials and nanotechnology
• Upcycling Microelectronics, data storage and semiconductors
• Sustainable biofuels
• Pharmaceuticals
• Vaccine development
• Tissue engineering and regeneration
• Medical devices

Research Areas

Our faculty offers expertise and specialization in a number of exciting chemical engineering fields.

Computational Engineering

• Cellular processes for biomedical applications
• Materials for catalysis, microelectronics, data storage and biomaterials
• Quantum simulation of energy conversion and storage materials

Associated Faculty:

• Christopher P. Calderon
• Robert H. Davis
• Hendrik Heinz
• Christine M. Hrenya
• J. Will Medlin
• Michael R. Shirts
• Wilson Smith
• Kayla G. Sprenger

Energy

• Design of solar cells
• New materials for the conversion and storage of energy
• High purity hydrogen production using solar-thermal reactors

Associated Faculty:

• Jennifer N. Cha
• Robert H. Davis
• Jerome M. Fox
• Ankur Gupta
• Ryan Hayward
• Hendrik Heinz
• Adam Holewinski
• Christine M. Hrenya
• Seth Marder
• Michael D. McGehee
• J. Will Medlin
• Daniel K. Schwartz
• Wilson Smith
• Michael F. Toney
• Alan W. Weimer

Interfaces & Catalysis

• Electrocatalysis for renewable and sustainable energy
• Directed self-assembly of polymeric films into useful, device-oriented structures
• Smart colloids that sense and react to their surroundings

Associated Faculty:

• Christopher N. Bowman
• Jennifer N. Cha
• Andrew P. Goodwin
• Ankur Gupta
• Ryan Hayward
• Hendrik Heinz
• Adam Holewinski
• Joel Kaar
• Seth Marder
• J. Will Medlin
• Theodore W. Randolph
• Daniel K. Schwartz
• C. Wyatt Shields IV
• Wilson Smith
• Kayla G. Sprenger
• Alan W. Weimer
• Timothy J. White

Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology

• Nanoparticle device fabrication and modeling
• Improved microfluidic devices
• Emerging nanotechnology applications

Associated Faculty:

• Christopher N. Bowman
• Christopher P. Calderon
• Jennifer N. Cha
• Andrew P. Goodwin
• Ryan Hayward
• Hendrik Heinz
• Adam Holewinski
• Seth Marder
• J. Will Medlin
• Daniel K. Schwartz
• C. Wyatt Shields IV
• Wilson Smith
• Alan W. Weimer
• Timothy J. White

Polymers & Soft Materials

• Polymers for drug delivery, in vivo imaging, tissue engineering, dental restoratives, labs-on-a-chip, adhesives, coatings, lithography, microelectronics and LCDs
• Novel monomers and photopolymerization mechanisms

Associated Faculty:

• Kristi S. Anseth
• R. Kōnane Bay
• Christopher N. Bowman
• Stephanie J. Bryant
• Andrew P. Goodwin
• Ankur Gupta
• Ryan Hayward
• Hendrik Heinz
• Seth Marder
• Theodore W. Randolph
• C. Wyatt Shields IV
• Michael R. Shirts
• Kayla G. Sprenger
• Jeffrey W. Stansbury
• Michael F. Toney
• Timothy J. White

Transport & Separations

• Particulate matter flows including granular, gas-particle fluidization and aerosol
• Suspensions, sedimentation, filtration, aggregation, coalescence, flotation and phase separation
• Polymer membranes & molecular layer deposition (MLD)

Associated Faculty:

• Robert H. Davis
• Ankur Gupta
• Christine M. Hrenya
• J. Will Medlin
• Daniel K. Schwartz
• C. Wyatt Shields IV
• Michael R. Shirts
• Michael F. Toney
• Alan W. Weimer

Core Courses

The following courses are required for the chemical engineering PhD degree:

• GRAD 5000: Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit)
• CHEN 5210: Transport Phenomena (4 credits)
• CHEN 5370: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (3 credits)
• CHEN 5390: Chemical Reaction Engineering (3 credits)

Admission Criteria

We encourage applicants from all engineering disciplines, as well as from physics, mathematics, computer science, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, and chemistry majors. Unlike many bio-related engineering programs, there is no entrance interview required.

FAQs

• Am I restricted to working with just the faculty listed?
  • No, as this list simply shows the opportunities available for students in this program. Our department is quite collaborative and many students are jointly advised, both officially and unofficially.
• This program sounds interesting but I already applied to the biological engineering degree. May I switch?
  • Yes. If your application is in process we can redirect it to chemical engineering. If you have already started as a graduate student in biological engineering you may also switch over, noting that you will still have to take the core courses for chemical engineering. However, the courses you have already taken may be used as engineering electives.
• If I join but then decide I would like to switch to biological engineering, may I do this without penalty?
  • Yes. You will still have to take the biological engineering core courses, but the chemical engineering courses may apply as elective credits within the department.
• To what extent will I be able to interact with fellow students and faculty in biological engineering?
  • While this program is set up as a separate intellectual track, as a department we are mixed socially. Groups will contain students from both chemical engineering and biological engineering and social events will include everyone. Furthermore, almost everyone works in the same research building so there are ample opportunities for interaction.
• If I enroll in the chemical engineering degree, do I have to take biological engineering classes?
  • While engineering electives are required to increase your technical experience, they can be inside or outside the department. The biological engineering department also offers a number of electives that are chemical in nature.