Faculty in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering are solving some of the world’s most challenging problems. They’re engineering new therapies to combat cancer, developing biofuels for alternative energy, and designing new materials for a wide array of applications, ranging from molecular electronics to nanomedicine.
What type of research you are conducting, and under which faculty member, will determine what research course you should register for:
- EN.540.511 – ChemBE Undergraduate Research: UG Research conducted within ChemBE. Students sign up for the section instructed by the PI they are doing research under.
- EN.540.501 – Interdepartmental Undergraduate Research: Research conducted by ChemBE students outside of the School of Engineering. Students sign up for the section instructed by their Faculty Advisor.
- EN.540.801 – Graduate Research: Grad Research conducted within ChemBE. Students sign up for the section instructed by the PI they are doing research under.
Click here for a list of each faculty members research section number.
Research Areas
Biomolecular Engineering and Synthetic Biology
We are creating new technologies and approaches for the design and engineering of biomolecules in order to uncover new insights into human biology that can be leveraged to solve today's most pressing problems in biotechnology, bioengineering, and medicine.
Engineering for Precision Medicine
Our advancements in precision medicine range from innovative new platforms for the diagnosis, prognosis, and precision care of cancer patients and developing novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets to treat cancer and immune-related diseases to artificial intelligence-based imaging techniques.
Materials for Energy, Catalysis, and Separations
We collaborate to tackle the grand challenges of designing transformative new nanomaterials for energy, chemical, and environmental applications.
Modeling in the Big Data Era
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, modeling, and simulation will transform and accelerate the discovery, development and manufacturability of systems in areas including climate change, sustainable energy, health, and molecular design.
Self-assembly and Soft Matter
We address fundamental challenges in the development of supramolecular, hydrogel and colloidal materials for medical, environmental, industrial, and energy-related applications.
The broad expertise of our faculty provides students with opportunities to pursue their interests and graduate ready to lead in their professional endeavors.
We train outstanding engineers and scientists who produce innovative, high-quality research and our students graduate prepared to pursue careers in academia and industry, including in the chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, law, and financial sectors.
Explore our Research
Get a Grip! - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering’s David Gracias has designed tiny, star-shaped microdevices that can latch onto intestinal mucosa and release drugs into the body.
A Tool for Treating Solid Tumors - A team of researchers, led by Kostas Konstantopoulos, are creating a diagnostic tool and method for predicting breast cancer metastasis by looking instead at the tumor cell phenotype.
Maximizing Catalysts’ Benefits - Professor Marc Donohue and research scientist Gregory Aranovich developed a way to identify conditions where adsorption compression occurs and then operate catalytic reactions under these conditions–making it possible to run reactions up to 20 times faster and be carried out at lower temperatures.
Join Us and Advance Discovery
As a student in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, you can contribute to the creation of knowledge and at the country’s leading research university.