About the PhD degree ...

The PhD degree is the highest academic degree awarded by any university; consequently the PhD degree program is the flagship educational offering of Carnegie Mellon. Students pursuing the PhD in chemical engineering become independent researchers with the ability to apply chemical engineering principles as well as advanced analytical and experimental techniques to the solution of large-scope open-ended research problems. The education and training prepare students for academic, industrial, and governmental research careers.

The cornerstone of a PhD education is the development of a research-based thesis. The thesis research begins with the selection of a research area and faculty mentor called the Thesis Advisor. The mentor guides the student's development of an experimental and/or theoretical plan of study to advance the state of the art in the topic area. The relationship between the Thesis Advisor and the PhD student is profound and unlike any other, developing over years of close collaboration. By the end of the student's thesis research, the student will have assembled an unparalleled body of knowledge in the topic area and will have demonstrated the ability to conduct an independent investigation. At that point, the student summarizes the knowledge generated through his/her research program in a doctoral thesis and presents the results to the public in an oral thesis defense. The knowledge generated is disseminated to the scientific and technological community through the publication of articles in the scientific literature and through presentations at scientific and technological meetings and symposia.

Courses in the Department of Chemical Engineering, as well as advanced courses in mathematics, chemistry and/or other engineering and science disciplines provide a sturdy and vital foundation for research. Courses are offered at various levels in the field of fluid mechanics; heat and mass transfer; reactions kinetics; surface chemistry and catalysis; thermodynamics; kinetic theory; process systems engineering; optimization; synthesis; scheduling and control; applied mathematics; engineering design; computational chemistry and molecular simulation; electrochemical engineering, semiconductor processing, polymeric materials; fermentation technology and biological process design; biomedical engineering; colloids and dispersions; and atmospheric chemistry. First-year graduate courses are designed to provide the student with a thorough knowledge of basic engineering science and their applications. The courses beyond the first year expose students to advanced materials in specialized areas. Individual programs are developed to fit the interest of each student, although mastery of certain basic coursework is expected of all students.

Doctoral students entering the program with a bachelor's degree, known as "Direct Entry" students, usually fulfill all requirements in four year plus two semesters "Advanced Entry" students, those students entering the PhD program with an MS degree in chemical engineering, should complete the PhD program in four years or fewer.

Who should consider entering our PhD program?

The PhD program is for students who want to direct their own large-scale research project and to receive the ultimate license for a career in research whether in industrial, academic, or government laboratories. The PhD program also is for students who want to meet and form lifelong bonds with like-minded fellow students, faculty, and researchers in the global scientific and technological community. The PhD program is for students who want to join one of the elite clubs in society, those having the privilege to peer into the future and help shape it.