the department of chemical and biological engineering (chbe) prepares students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to society and their profession.  our chemical engineering graduates practice in a variety of fields: chemical manufacturing and petroleum refining, environmental engineering, materials and microelectronics, pharmaceutical manufacturing and delivery, food processing, and many others. our biological engineering graduates also practice in a variety of fields: chemical manufacturing using biological processing, biofuel production, environmental engineering and remediation, biomaterial manufacturing and biologically compatible materials, food processing, agrichemical processing, pharmaceutical production, medical device design, and biomedicine. both lists will continue to expand as the fields continue to develop.

the preparation of women and men competent to develop, design, and operate new chemical or biological systems, or to perform the research and development to improve existing products and processes, is a comprehensive process. thus the curricula in chemical engineering and biological engineering are founded on the study of engineering principles and basic science, particularly chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. safety and concern for the environment and society must be overriding concerns to chemical engineering and biological engineering practitioners, and developing this awareness is another aspect of the department's educational goals. both chemical engineers and biological engineers typically work as teams of professionals, sharing expertise and knowledge for greater achievement, so teamwork and communication are emphasized. the curricula have been developed to provide these skills through faculty members who have extensive knowledge and experience in the field.