Chemical Engineering

Preparing Future Engineers to Tackle Critical Issues

The Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin has evolved through the decades from a center of education focused primarily on chemical and petroleum industries to one that spans microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, environmental sciences and consumer product industries.

Points of Distinction

There are 27 faculty members, including seven who are members of the National Academy of Engineering, three who are Packard Fellows, four AIChE Colburn Award winners and two National Medal of Technology and Innovation Laureates.

More than 50 Ph.D. graduates from the department are active faculty nationally and internationally.

More than 102 patents have been awarded to department faculty.

Research Areas

• Advanced Materials
• Bioengineering
• Energy
• Environmental Engineering and Sciences
• Microelectronics
• Modeling, Simulation and Theory
• Polymers
• Process Systems and Engineering
• Separations
• Surface and Interface Science

Gary Rochelle Talks Carbon Capture to EnergyNow

Chemical Engineering Professor Gary Rochelle demonstrates his carbon capturing technology to EnergyNow's Dan Goldstein. Now that coal makes up nearly half of the electricity generated in the U.S. – and its use is rapidly growing in India and China – Rochelle's technology could make this carbon-heavy energy source more environmentally friendly. Watch the segment on EnergyNow's Web site.

Grad Students Win Top Poster Prizes at NAMS Meeting

Three chemical engineering graduate students recently won top poster prizes at the North American Membrane Society's (NAMS) 21st annual meeting in Las Vegas.

Norman Horn won first place for his poster in the Gas Separations category, and Dan Miller and Wei Xie earned second place prizes for posters in Liquid Separations and Membrane Materials and Formation.

"We really distinguished ourselves," said Professor Benny Freeman. "No other university had such a strong showing. We took top spots in three of the four categories, and we didn't have any projects in the fourth category of Membrane Processes."

NAMS is the primary technical society for membrane research in the U.S. and more than 100 students presented posters in the competition. "I am proud of each one of them and delighted to see that their hard work is being recognized by our colleagues in the profession," Freeman said.

Professor Gary Rochelle Receives Donald L. Katz Award

Gary T. Rochelle, a professor at The University of Texas at Austin's Department of Chemical Engineering, was recognized recently with the Donald L. Katz Award from the Gas Processors Association (GPA).

The award was given to Rochelle during the organization’s annual convention in San Antonio and recognizes accomplishments in gas processing research and excellence in engineering education. Read more about Rochelle's award.

Professor Receives Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program Award

Hal Alper, assistant professor of chemical engineering, has received an Office of Naval Research (ONR) Young Investigator Program award for his proposal titled "Establishing a Fungal Platform for Alkane Biosynthesis." Halper was selected from more than 270 applicants for "compelling research that has potential to deliver innovative naval science and technology."

Alper will receive more than $510,000 in total to continue his study on alkane biosynthesis, which will be awarded over three years as $170,000 annual research grants. Read more about Alper's award.

Student named finalist for UT's Student Employee of the Year

Aniekeme Mbride has been selected as a finalist for the university's first ever Student Employee of the Year award. Mbride, a chemical engineering senior, works as an engineering peer leader in the Equal Opportunity in Engineering Program (EOE).

"I started working with EOE in 2008 and have continued to because I have seen the dynamic impact of EOE's initiatives and programs ... it is rewarding to play an integral part in increasing and diversifying the Cockrell School," Mbride said.

Mbride was nominated by Sara Sanchez, the recruitment coordinator for EOE. "Annie is an excellent role model and I'm very impressed by the quality of her work and her professionalism," she said.

Mbride and 10 other finalists will be recognized in a ceremony during National Student Employment Week April 10-16.

$250,000 Hertz Fellowship Awarded to ChE Student

Katie Maass, a senior chemical engineering student, has been awarded a five-year $250,000 Hertz Foundation Fellowship to pursue graduate research that will fight cancer and improve drug delivery.

Maass is one of 15 students in the nation to receive the award out of 558 U.S. applicants. Read more about Maass' research plans.