Best PhDs In Chemical Engineering

Overview

With its tradition of putting students first, Northern Arizona University is a public research institution located in the city of Flagstaff. Flagstaff is ranked the No. 3 Best College Town in the country, known for several outdoor and arts activities. NAU was founded in 1899 as a normal college and gained university status after extreme growth in the ’50s. Today the NAU community is known as the Lumberjacks, and students can be found exhibiting school pride throughout their many athletic events.

Program Features

NAU offers a Ph.D. program in Bioengineering which allows students to emphasize in over ten areas. Upon completion of this program, graduates will be ready for a successful career in academia or directly in the field. Check out some of the available research emphases:

• Wound healing
• Tissue engineering
• Biophysics
• Muscle-like actuation and wearable robotics

Notables

This program offers several unique interdisciplinary partners, allowing students access to faculty and staff from other departments.

Overview

Ohio State University is a public land-grant research institution that is located in Columbus, Ohio. Its main campus is the largest in the country. In the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of America’s Best Colleges in 2019, OSU was No. 17 in the nation and No. 1 in the state’s public colleges. Not only that, but it is among the 10 best settings for STEM jobs, ensuring that those who hold an advanced degree in Chemical Engineering will be able to find meaningful positions in academia or the workforce.

Program Features

Those who are ready for a challenging program should apply to OSU’s Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Throughout the program, students will experience a variety of things. Below is the typical pathway for the program:

• Completion of core and advanced coursework
• Minimum 53 credit hours of research
• Teaching requirement
• Qualifying and candidacy exam

Notables

Students can transfer up to 30 credit hours from their Master’s program if they graduated from another university, successfully lowering the required credits needed to take during the Ph.D. program.

Overview

Known as the Bulls, the University of Buffalo is an active college campus located in the state of New York. As a flagship institution in the state university system, Buffalo offers premier research facilities, meaningful on-campus organizations, and global partnerships. Several of Buffalo’s engineering programs are notable for award-winning faculty and initiatives. About 160 graduate students are currently enrolled throughout its Chemical and Biological Engineering degrees. Buffalo is the No. 1 public university within the state, and among the No. 40 within the nation.

Program Features

Become one of the next leaders of the field upon completion of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Ph.D. program. Students will complete the required coursework, two examinations, and a thesis. This program is ideal for those who have already completed an MS degree.

• Minimum 72 credit-hours
• Specializations available
• Two teaching semesters

Notables

Current employers of graduates include but are not limited to Honeywell UOP, Intel Corporation, 3M, The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, and PepsiCo Global R&D.

Overview

The University of Arizona had humble roots, beginning in 1895 with only two men and one male student. Today, they are a major higher educator within the state and are recognized nationally as a top 50 public university by the U.S. News & World Report. In total, there are over 44,000 students enrolled, with about 8,000 of those consisting of graduates. In 2016, UA received over $500 million worth of gifts and grants for research.

Program Features

UA’s Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering is an interdisciplinary program with several opportunities for graduates to research their passion. This program is operated under the Chemical & Environmental Engineering department in the College of Engineering. Students have access to amazing facilities such as the Institute for Energy Solutions and the Water & Energy Sustainable Technology Center. Common areas of research include:

• Nanotechnology
• Life cycle assessment
• Applied quantum chemistry

Notables

This program is offered either in fall or spring, with application deadlines the same for international and domestic applicants. Fellowships, as well as assistantships, are available.

Overview

Did you know that the state of Georgia was the first in the nation to charter a state-supported university? That school was none other than the University of Georgia that was founded in 1801. Today UGA consists of seventeen colleges, with its Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering being offered through the College of Engineering. UGA has many points of pride – other than being the state’s premier institution of higher learning, it continues to be ranked as one of the best value schools in the nation. In 2018, Kiplinger Magazine ranked UGA the No. 12 in the nation for the lowest debt and best value.

Program Features

Earn your Ph.D. in Engineering with a Biomedical Engineering emphasis that is offered through the School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering. This is an interdisciplinary program that requires general advanced engineering courses, as well as emphasis electives. Students must complete a minimum of 72 credit hours with a bulk of those credits going towards doctoral research. Below are a sample of common courses:

• Advanced Mass Transport
• Computational Engineering
• Fermentation Engineering Laboratory

Notables

Exceptionally advanced students may be accepted into this program after completing the BS degree. In this case, four additional credit-hours must be completed.

Overview

With the goal of becoming a nationally recognized 21st-century institution, the University of Houston is a bustling campus with over 46,000 students. UH is known for putting on its fun and festive traditions, such as Cougar Red Friday and the annual student-led Frontier Fiesta event. Currently, there are 29 research centers on campus and 46 doctoral degrees offered. According to the U.S. News & World Report, in 2019 UH was ranked as having one of the Best Engineering Schools in the Country.

Program Features

UH offers a Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering for those wishing to research within a specific field. Upon completion of 30 credit hours of coursework, students will begin their research project. The dissertation will be orally presented to the faculty. Sample courses include:

• Advanced Process Control
• Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics
• Plasma Processing: Principles and Applications

Notables

Upon acceptance into the program, students will almost always receive some form of financial support. There are also merit-based tuition fellowships for outstanding students.

Overview

Get to know the state’s premier public research university at the University of Iowa. It is not only the oldest institute of higher education within the state but also one that holds many nationally-ranked graduate programs. To this day over 32,000 students are enrolled, with almost 9,000 graduate and professional students. The U.S. News & World Report ranks Iowa No. 38 among its Best Public Universities ranking. Students enrolled in programs within the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering department can expect a personalized learning experience with dedicated faculty.

Program Features

The Ph.D. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering is a competitive program seeking dedicated students who hold a related BS degree. Only about six to eight applicants are accepted every year. Currently, about 30 Ph.D. students are enrolled in the program. Check out these other program notables:

• Completion Time: 5 years
• Majority of graduates placed in industry-related jobs
• Sample Courses: Transport Phenomena, Intermediate Thermodynamics, Polymer Chemistry

Notables

Current employers of graduates include, but are not limited to, the Carnegie Institute at Stanford, Abbott Laboratories, Honda, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Overview

The University of New Mexico is the state’s flagship university located in the heart of Albuquerque. Due to its location, students have access to a city with a rich history. In fact, many of the school’s architecture and other initiatives aim to support and educate people on the local Native American tribes and issues. UNM is a primarily Hispanic-serving institution. Many of UNM’s graduate schools are ranked among the best in the country.

Program Features

UNM offers a Ph.D. in Engineering with a Chemical Engineering concentration. The Chemical & Biological Engineering department began as a small chemistry school. Today, students have access to several research facilities and advanced technologies. Some systems that may be available for use include:

• Autosorb-1 sorption analyzer
• Process control laboratory
• Semiconductor fabrication

Notables

UNM’s engineering program is ranked among the top 100 in the nation.

Overview

Known for its athletic teams nicknamed the Utes, named after the Native American tribe, the University of Utah is a prominent research institution located in Salt Lake City. The U was established in 1850 and has a total enrollment of over 31,000. Students attending this school get all the benefits of living in a city with a rich history. In fact, the university boasts local partnerships particularly in the issues of sustainability. In 2019, the U.S. News & World Report ranks The U’s Engineering School among the nation’s top 100.

Program Features

The Ph.D. program at The U in Chemical Engineering is a highly research-centered and rigorous degree. Students are required to publish at least two first-author research articles in peer-reviewed journals. Although the typical completion time is five years, students have a maximum of seven years. Other activities that can be expected are:

• Student teaching for two courses
• Participation in conferences
• Qualifying exam

Notables

When students pass the examination, an MS degree will be added to the student’s program, with both degrees being conferred upon graduation.

Overview

The University of Wisconsin – Madison is a public land-grant university with over 150 years of history. With research expenditures reaching over $1.2 billion annually, UW is ranked No. 6 on the list of Best Research in 2017. The university is most commonly known for the fact that it discovered vitamins in the 1910s. Currently, there are about 2,800 professional students enrolled, with over 1,400 doctorate degrees being awarded in the 2017-2018 school year.

Program Features

Focusing on problem-solving and research, UW offers a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering for motivated and experienced professionals. Applicants generally apply for fall admission and must possess a Bachelor’s degree and strong knowledge of Chemical Engineering. Many opportunities for financial support are available. Some common courses students will be exposed to include:

• Process Synthesis
• Momentum and Heat Transfer Operations
• Kinetics and Catalysis

Notables

Research assistantships are common and will support students throughout the duration of the program. Students will be required to participate in undergraduate teaching to be considered for this support.