Graduate Program

Since its foundation in 1901 the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at UIUC has achieved an outstanding record of eminence in both education and research. This tradition of excellence is reflected in our department consistently being ranked among the best departments in the nation. A source of strength for the department is the high quality of its faculty and the graduate student body. In the fall of 2006, there were 102 full-time graduate students enrolled in chemical engineering. These students represent a wide spectrum of backgrounds; they come to Illinois from some of the best undergraduate institutions in the US and from around the world.

The graduate program of the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois is renowned for outstanding education and training in the forefront of chemical and biomolecular engineering science. Numerous legendary engineering scholars and leaders in both academia and industry are among our graduate alumni. Jack Welch (former CEO of General Electric and member of the NAE), Arnold Beckman (founder of Beckman Instruments, and the Arnold & Mabel Beckman Foundation, member of the NAE), Bill Schowalter (former Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, member of the NAE), Sheldon Friedlander (Faculty at UCLA, member of NAE), John Anderson (former Department Head and current Dean at Carnegie Melon, member of the NAE), Bill Banholzer (Corporate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the Dow Chemical Complany, member of NAE) Jack Thomas (former Vice President at Kodak), and Steve Miller (President and CEO of Shell Oil Company) are just a few examples.

The graduate education and research program at Illinois focuses on defining the future. Research efforts in the frontiers of materials synthesis and processing, biomolecular and pharmaceutical engineering, systems optimization and control, semiconductor processing, nanotechnology, drug delivery, tissue engineering and microsystem fabrication provide vitality and excitement. These programs are often interdisciplinary. The extensive collaboration between faculty members in research and education fosters the emergence of new ideas, stimulates innovation and provides the context for solving society's most pressing problems and creating the technologies of tomorrow. We invite you to acquaint yourself with our dynamic research enterprises as listed by research area, or by faculty. The Department has an impressive infrastructure of well-staffed service and research facilities at their disposal to facilitate research endeavors.

Research in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering:

Education and training towards the PhD degree at Illinois provides rigor by specific and in-depth study of a certain research topic and it endows our graduates with a broad and global perspective of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering profession within our society. The wide range of high-impact research projects in our world-renowned department provides students with a unique experience, preparing them for exciting careers.

Additional information regarding graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign can be found at http://www.grad.illinois.edu/prospective/.