Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
About Karen M. Swindler
Chemical Engineering (ChE) is an optimal combination of the molecular sciences (chemistry and biology), the physical sciences (physical chemistry and physics), the analytical sciences (math and computer programming) and engineering. The Bachelor of Science
in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET and focuses on the description and design of processes that combine engineering
principles of heat and fluid flow with chemical reactions and molecular separations to produce high-value products useful to humankind from multiple raw material sources. Chemical Engineers do this while always insuring that the processes they design,
build and manage are safe, environmentally benign and economical.
Examples of such processes include:
- Artificial organs and biomedicine
- Bioenergy production
- Biological fermentation
- Biopharmaceuticals
- Ceramic manufacturing
- Energetic materials production
- Food processing
- Microprocessor manufacturing
- Mineral and ore refining
- Oil and natural gas refining
- Paper manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical design and manufacturing
- Polymer production
- Polymer composites production
- Nanomaterials manufacturing
Designing and modeling such processes requires a strong fundamental understanding of the chemical and biological phenomena at work. ChE students develop a wide range of problem solving skills grounded in mathematics and computer analysis techniques. ChE
graduates are recruited for their technical engineering knowledge as well as their problem solving, systems analysis, and communication skills.