Overview
The Department of Chemical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to PhD and MS degrees in chemical engineering. Students in our department participate in groundbreaking, multidisciplinary research and education in an innovative environment. Students can join one of our distinguished and well-funded research groups and benefit from close interactions with our faculty, through carefully designed courses and cutting-edge research projects.
Our faculty value interdisciplinary research, giving students the opportunity to collaborate with other departments like chemistry, optics, biomedical engineering, and materials science. The department and the university offer state-of-the-art research equipment and computer facilities to perform high-impact research.
PhD in Chemical Engineering
Our PhD students pursue original, high-quality research projects. The department’s main research areas include: advanced materials, catalysis and electrocatalysis, batteries, biological and medical systems, computational fluid dynamics, functional interfaces, optical materials and theory, simulations and artificial intelligence.
Past graduates of the program have quickly found employment in a wide variety of industries, government positions, and universities including: Global Foundries, Aerospace Corporation, Eastman Kodak, Intel, Imperial College London and Argonne National Laboratory.
Our full-time PhD students receive competitive graduate fellowships or research assistantships comprising an annual stipend of at least $28,000, medical benefits, and full coverage of graduate tuition. Students normally start in the fall and are encouraged to take graduate courses in other science and engineering fields to support the interdisciplinary nature of the program. For more information see the chemical engineering PhD page.
MS in Chemical Engineering
An MS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester can open up opportunities to higher-level professional positions or to continue on to a PhD.
The MS degree can usually be completed in one to two years through a combination of coursework and research or through coursework only. The curriculum offers a modern emphasis on chemical engineering fundamentals with tailored electives. It is designed to develop fundamental knowledge in chemical engineering core areas. Research opportunities are available through faculty-run research groups.
Past students of the program have quickly found employment in a wide variety of industries, government positions, and universities, including: St. Gobain, IBM, Exxon-Mobil, 3M, and Stanford University. For more information see the MS in chemical engineering page.
University Resources for Wellbeing
The University offers many resources to support the wellbeing of its members, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty. Members of the University are encouraged to engage the staff and resources available on campus.
How to Apply
For information about applying for graduate admission and financial aid see the applying page.