David Letteer
Greg Broadwell
Kathryn della Porta
Basic Engineering I
Quiz 4
20 October 2010
Chemical Engineering
Within the broad field known as “engineering,” chemical
engineering is one of most diverse sub-fields of the discipline.
With applications in the food industry, the petrochemical
industry, the pharmaceutical and medical industries, the waste
management industry, the construction industry, and many
others, chemical engineering influences nearly every aspect of
modern life [1]. Such diversity makes chemical engineering, as a
discipline, difficult to define. In the most vague of terms,
chemical engineering may be defined as the practice of using
math and chemistry to efficiently and effectively solve problems
[1].
A double effect distillation plant [3].
The ever-growing demand for products and services that rely, at least in part, on
chemical engineering has created a healthy and growing job market for chemical
engineers. The career center on the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’
website lists more than eighty current job postings in Michigan alone [1]. There is
international demand for chemical engineers as well, with job listings from over
two hundred countries [1]. In fact, chemical engineers are the only engineers
whose expected starting salary has increased in the last year, specifically
petroleum engineers with $74,800 and the average chemical engineer starting at
$65,600 [2].
A chemical
engineer at
work [1].
Wayne State University’s Chemical Engineering program boasts nationally recognized, dynamic faculty,
well-equipped laboratories, and strong programs in the sciences and medicine, creating opportunities
for interdisciplinary research. Students also benefit from the close ties and collaborations between the
local industry, the major US. auto companies and their suppliers, and the faculty members in the
department [4]. Wayne State also promotes interdisciplinary studies, saying, “Chemical Engineering and
Materials Science are two disciplines that are naturally adjacent to each other. The expertise of a
chemical engineer is needed in all industries in which matter is treated to change its state, energy or
composition. The expertise of a materials engineer is needed in the synthesis and processing of
materials into useful products by controlling their chemical, mechanical, optical, thermal and electrical
properties” [4]. Research in chemical engineering at Wayne State varies almost as widely as the career
path itself. Wayne’s researchers are working on nanotechnologies, drug delivery and pharmaceuticals,
fuel development, numerous biological applications, and engineering technology development [4].
Professor Gina Shreve, a faculty member in the Chemical Engineering department at Wayne State
University answered several questions about the field of chemical engineering:
How would you define the discipline of chemical engineering?
There are so many sub-disciplines of chemical engineering. It really depends on scale. Chemical
engineering is very diverse, and Materials Science is a sub-discipline of Chemical Engineering. I’m not
sure I would define it.
What kinds of work do engineers in this field do?
Petroleum engineering is one of the biggest, as well as oldest, areas of chemical engineering. Petroleum
engineering involves refining, reforming, catalysis, plastics, and polymers. Most chemical engineers have
one of three job paths: production, research and development, or management. Process engineers run
facilities, manage plants, monitor safety, and supervise output. Chemical engineers in research and
development do process design, pilot scale work, scale-up, plant design, and original research. Chemical
engineers also work with food, flavorings, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and nanomaterials, among
others.
What kinds of work would young engineers in this field expect to be doing in the first jobs?
It really depends on the area, for example, the food industry versus pharmaceuticals. They may work
supervising lower-level workers in a chemical plant, or developing a chemical or a process as part of a
research and development team doing lab work such as basic research testing.
What kinds of work might young engineers look forward to doing as they gain experience in this field?
Again, this depends on which sub-field within chemical engineering an individual chooses to pursue.
Usually, engineers move into management, if not pure research and development. Currently, most
chemical production is moving abroad, so many engineers work internationally, often as consultants.
The global market affects where the jobs are.
What job opportunities exist in this field?
This really depends, and it is changing. In the traditional chemical industry, companies such as DOW,
BASF, and Dupont used to hire 95% of Wayne States’s graduating chemical engineers. Now, those
companies are hiring 45% of Wayne State’s graduating chemical engineers, and the other 55% go to
work for non-oil and commodities companies. There are many start-up companies, non-Fortune 500,
nontraditional companies that are hiring chemical engineers.
What do you see in the future of these fields?
Diversification. More focus on biomedical and nanomaterials. It really depends on the product being
brought to market. The growth will be in high-tech and high-value-added commodities that are not
imports, especially pharmaceuticals. The traditional chemical industry will stay where it is. New energy
sources, fuel cells, and other new technologies will propel future job growth.
What specializations within the field of chemical engineering are offered at Wayne State University?
Nanomaterials with a focus in biomedical engineering is offered at Wayne State, as are specializations in
foods and flavorings, pharmaceuticals, catalysis, alternative energies, and waste minimization.
What web resources are available to students interested in the field of chemical engineering?
The professional society website for chemical engineering is the American Institute of Chemical
Engineers, which may be found at www.aiche.org.
Works Cited
[1] http://www.aiche.org/
[2] http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/07/12/daily54.html
[3] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Colonne_distillazione.jpg
[4] www.eng.wane.edu/che/