Best 20 PhD in Chemical Engineering Programs in 2024

Candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Houston are given intensive exposure to a specific field of engineering research as well as continued study of a broad range of engineering fundamentals. The main focus is individual research, and students are expected to expand the frontiers of knowledge in their area of endeavor. Requirements for completing a PhD in chemical engineering include coursework, residency, and a research dissertation.

The Cain Department of Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University offers a PhD in chemical engineering. Students with undergraduate degrees from disciplines outside the chemical engineering field may be eligible for admission via a special transition program. Louisiana State University is nationally recognized as a strong educational and research unit and the chemical engineering department is consistently among the top in the nation in sponsored research. Funding is through external grants and contracts from federal agencies, state sources, and, private corporations.

Candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Utah are expected to publish a minimum of two first-author articles in peer-reviewed journals, present research at local and national conferences, participate in graduate seminars and symposia, and serve as a teaching assistant for two chemical engineering courses. Of major importance to the degree is the student’s research, publication in peer-reviewed journals, and dissertation, which must provide new and significant contribution to knowledge in the student’s field. Candidates typically complete a PhD in chemical engineering in five years and the maximum allowable time for completion of the PhD degree is seven years.

The University of New Mexico offers a PhD in engineering with an emphasis in chemical engineering. Students who already possess a master’s degree in chemical engineering may be eligible to apply for partial coursework credit. In addition to coursework, PhD candidates take a comprehensive exam which consists of an oral presentation and defense of a research proposal. Graduate students at the University of New Mexico enjoy access to nationally recognized faculty and degree programs, cutting edge research, student support organizations, and professional and academic workshops.

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin — Madison has a tradition of excellence dating back to 1905. For over a century, the program has consistently ranked as one of the best in the world. The department offers candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering research opportunities in both traditional and emerging areas of research in chemical and biological engineering. Graduate students in the department are encouraged to participate in international research experiences, industry internships, and entrepreneurial activities. Researchers have access to state-of-the-art facilities for research, including facilities for nanofabrication and the life sciences.

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University at Buffalo SUNY offers graduate courses leading to a PhD in chemical engineering. PhD students spend the majority of their time carrying out dissertation research. Coursework requirements beyond the first semester are minimal and students typically become deeply engaged in research in their second semester. Research at the University at Buffalo SUNY spans all areas of chemical and biological engineering with particular emphasis on nanoscale science and engineering, computational science and engineering, and biochemical and biomedical engineering.

The PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Arizona is designed to provide advanced work in a core of transport phenomena, thermodynamics, and reaction engineering. Departmental research takes advantage of state-of-the-art facilities such as the Water & Energy Sustainable Technology Center, the BIO5 Institute, the Micro/Nano Fabrication Center, and facilities associated with the Institute for Energy Solutions. Candidates for the PhD in chemical engineering have a good track record of receiving financial aid from both university and federal fellowships. Graduates of this program most commonly obtain jobs in industry, government organizations, consulting, and continue on to academia.

The University of Michigan is a premier public university with many top-rated programs. Candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering are mentored by research advisors who can help provide tailored opportunities for conference presentations, networking, publishing scholarly articles, learning how to teach, and grant writing. The University of Michigan offers a broad range of research opportunities that apply traditional chemical engineering principles and modern science to solve some of today’s most pressing problems, including renewable energy solutions, drug delivery optimization, and using novel experimental methods and advanced scientific computing.

Pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering at Northeastern University offers students the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research that tackles pressing challenges facing society and the planet in areas such as biomedicine, energy, security, and sustainability. Students pursuing graduate-level coursework develop an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles of chemical engineering and gain expertise in modern topics in the field through select elective courses. Candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering are able to select thesis topics from a diverse range of faculty research interests, spanning two strategic research foci in advanced materials and biological engineering.

Yale University offers candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering an intimately sized program within a leading institution. Yale Chemical Engineering features internationally recognized, externally funded projects in many exciting areas of modern chemical engineering. Fundamental principles are the key focus, and interdisciplinary collaboration abounds. Many faculty are recipients of prestigious awards, including a Nobel Prize and two elections to the National Academy of Engineering. All admitted PhD students receive full tuition and fee waiver, a generous stipend, and health insurance.

The Chemical Engineering Department at BYU hosts a rigorous PhD program designed to prepare students for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry and research, character building, and service in their homes and communities.  Students propose a topic of research via a formal prospectus and are then expected to work with their research advisors to create a strong collaborative research program which results in innovative and significant advances to their chosen field of research.  It is expected that each student produces two to three peer-reviewed journal articles, a defensible dissertation, and a demonstration of their ability to communicate complex research topics to a variety of audiences.

The University of Georgia offers a rigorous engineering education combined with real-world, hands-on experience at one of the nation’s foremost public universities. The relatively new College of Engineering doesn’t have traditional academic departments, allowing students to experience a truly interdisciplinary education. Students holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or a related field from an accredited institution are invited to apply for admission to a PhD in chemical engineering. Students with degrees in non-engineering disciplines may be asked to take additional selected course work to adequately prepare them for their studies.

The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at Colorado State University has a world-class reputation, top-rated faculty, distinguished research programs, and outstanding students. Candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering have opportunities to work with industry and government agencies on research projects with global impact. Our researchers develop new technologies in systems and synthetic biology, biomedical materials, biosensors, and advanced materials. The department offers both graduate research assistantships and graduate teaching assistantships. Students on an assistantship also receive tuition support.

PhD in chemical engineering courses at Kansas State University are comprised of a combination of advanced courses in thermodynamics, reaction engineering, transport phenomena, and process systems engineering. Students learn effective oral and written communication through presentations at professional meetings and publications in technical journals. They also work closely with their advisers and collaborators, learning from their experiences and expertise. All on-campus graduate students receive competitive stipends in addition to their tuition.

The Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at Tulane University offers PhD in chemical engineering, in which students perform cutting edge research in advanced engineering topics. Graduate students pursuing PhD studies are supported as research or teaching assistants. The PhD degree requires a student to reach a critical understanding of the basic scientific and engineering principles underlying their field of interest. In addition, the student must demonstrate the ability to conduct independently an intensive research project and document their results in the form of refereed publications, presentations, and a final thesis dissertation.

California Institute of Technology is world-renowned as a leading educational and research institution. The general objective of the PhD in chemical engineering from CalTech is to produce individuals who are exceptionally well trained to apply mathematics, the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, and engineering to the understanding of systems involving chemical reactions and transport phenomena and to the development of new processes and materials. The program also strives to develop in each student self-reliance, creativity, professional ethics, and an appreciation of the societal impact of chemical engineering and the importance of continuing intellectual growth.

Students accepted into a PhD in chemical engineering at Ohio State University must demonstrate excellent graduate coursework performance, pass a qualifying exam, and demonstrate satisfactory progress in research during the first four semesters of their graduate study. Students are required to work with a faculty advisor, pass a candidacy exam, and complete a PhD dissertation and oral examination. Students may complete a PhD in chemical engineering in five years, depending on their area of research and whether they hold a master of science degree.

The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago offers a program leading to a PhD in chemical engineering The primary areas on which this program is based are continuum and molecular transport phenomena, complex fluids and soft matter, nanotechnology, macroscopic and microscopic thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, and process analysis, microelectronic materials and processing, catalysis and surface science, electrochemistry, drug delivery, and biotechnology. PhD students must complete coursework, examinations, a final dissertation, and a seminar presentation.

The PhD in chemical engineering program at New York University‘s School of Engineering is designed to outfit students with expert knowledge of the field’s core fundamentals as well as the latest research in its subtopics. By doing so, students further their specialization beyond a master’s degree, helping them achieve superior competence in a minor topic within chemical engineering. Candidates for a PhD in chemical engineering must complete coursework, pass a comprehensive qualifying examination in chemical engineering, and present a doctoral dissertation.

Students pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University become independent researchers equipped to apply chemical engineering principles as well as advanced analytical and experimental techniques to the solution of open-ended research problems. The education and training prepare students for academic, industrial, and governmental research careers. The PhD program is for students who want to join an elite global scientific and technological club and is a living space where students meet and form lifelong bonds with like-minded peers within their research group and across the program.