Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

The School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering offers graduate programs involving advanced-level coursework and independent research leading to MS and PhD degrees in chemical engineering. The MS degree may also be obtained by coursework only. Course selection for both the MS and doctoral degrees is quite flexible, with individual plans of study developed for each student. Research opportunities exist in a broad range of areas of importance to chemical engineers and society, including catalysis, reaction kinetics, complex fluids, microelectronics, microfluidics, optimization, bioinformatics, polymers, sustainable development, pulp and paper, separations, CO2 capture, biomedicine, solar energy, thermodynamics, MEMS, environmental science, reaction engineering, cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, biofuels, air quality, modeling, and process synthesis and control. Furthermore, the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering participates with several other schools in offering MS and PhD degrees in Bioengineering and Paper Science and Engineering.

Core Courses

• CHBE 6003 – Chemical Process Safety
• CHBE 6100 – Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
• CHBE 6200 – Transport Phenomena
• CHBE 6260 – Mass Transport
• CHBE 6300 – Kinetics and Reactor Design
• CHBE 6500 – Mathematical Modeling

Elective Courses

• CHBE XXXX – ChBE Elective

3.2 GPA required for the above core and elective courses.

Minor

• 3 courses from outside ChBE
• 1 can be at 4000-level; the other 2 must be graduate level
• Course of study requires approval before starting
• Must earn a B or better in each class

Other Courses

• CHBE 8001–2 – Graduate Seminars (must attend at least 60% every semester in residence)
• CHBE 8801 – Introduction to Research

Qualifying Exam

Oral Exam

• Review and critique an assigned technical paper
• 15 minute oral presentation to 2 or more faculty members
• Up to 45 minute question and answer session covering the paper and other fundamental aspects of chemical engineering

Core Courses

• Must complete core courses listed above with a GPA of at least 3.2

Research Evaluation

• The research advisor will submit an evaluation of the student’s research progress and potential.

Thesis Proposal and Oral Defense

• 10 to 20 pages in length
• 20 minute defense before Thesis Advisory Committee
• Must be completed no later than the end of the sixth semester at Georgia Tech

Thesis Research

• Must be a significant contribution to the field of chemical & biomolecular engineering
• Must be publishable in a peer-reviewed research journal in the field

Pre-Doctoral Review

• Includes a presentation of an outline for the completed PhD dissertation
• Done at least 6 months before the Thesis Defense

Fall Graduate Colloquium

• Must present seminar to ChBE faculty and students during the fall semester of your fourth year

PhD Dissertation

• Must meet Division of Graduate Studies guidelines

Thesis Defense

• Given before Doctoral Examination Committee, which contains at least 5 facutly members, 3 of whom must be from ChBE and 1 of whom must be from another academic unit at Georgia Tech.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in chemical engineering, bioengineering, paper science & engineering, or a closely related discipline
• Minimum GPA of 3.3/4.0
• GRE test scores and, for international students, TOEFL scores (minimum 85)

Applications for graduate admissions must be submitted through the Georgia Tech Graduate Studies & Admissions Office.

Scholarships

We provide financial support for all of our PhD students. Every School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering PhD student making satisfactory progress towards his or her degree receives a competitive stipend and a tuition waiver that drops the cost of tuition to $25 per semester. In return for the stipend, PhD students are expected to serve as teaching assistants for three or four semesters during their time at Georgia Tech, depending upon the needs of the School.

Outstanding students can apply to receive additional funding through the following external sources:

• The National GEM Consortium
• National Science Foundation
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship
• Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
• NASA Harriett G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Project (must be a member of an underrepresented group)
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
• American Association of University Women (must be a woman)
• Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs (for US citizens or nationals committed to teaching and research at the university level)
• The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
• ASEE SMART Scholarship for Service