Research in the Department of Chemical Engineering spans the spectrum from fundamental work on chemical engineering science to applications development. Research projects broadly falls in four categories:

Bioprocess and Biomedical Engineering

Research projects include: enzymatic reactor design for production of ethanol from starches, modeling of chromatographic separations, hydrogel-based biomedical technologies, biodegradable polymeric drug-delivery materials, purification of wastewaters for space exploration applications

Energy, Sustainability & Environment

Research projects include: air-borne pollutant dispersion modeling, characterization of PEM fuel cells, biodiesel processing and implementation, production of alternative fuels and chemicals from renewable resources

Nanostructured Materials Synthesis and Applications

Research projects include: semiconductor nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic properties, metallic nanoparticles and quantum dots for opto electronic and sensing applications, magnetic nanoparticles for sensing and cancer treatment, supercritical fluid tuning of block copolymer properties, nanoporous materials for specialty applications.

Pharmaceutical Engineering

Research projects include: modeling and control of fluidized beds, supercritical fluid processing of pharmaceutical formulations, mixing in pharmaceutical formulations.