Department of Chemical Engineering

4055 Engineering Building, (307) 766‑2500
Web site: www.uwyo.edu/chemical
Department Head: Vladimir Alvarado

Professors:

VLADIMIR ALVARADO, B.Sc. Universidad Central de Venezuela 1987; M.S. Institut Francais du Pétrole 2002; Ph.D. University of Minnesota 1996; Professor of Chemical Engineering 2017, 2006.

DAVID M. BAGLEY, B.S. Colorado School of Mines 1984; M.S. Cornell University 1989; Ph.D. 1993; Professor of Chemical Engineering 2011, 2005.

DAVID A. BELL, B.S. University of Washington 1976; M.S. Rice University 1979; Ph.D. Colorado State University 1992; Professor of Chemical Engineering 2019, 1993.

JOSEPH HOLLES, B.S. Iowa State University 1990; M.E. University of Virginia 1998; Ph.D. 2000; Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering 2010.

JOHN OAKEY, B.S. The Pennsylvania State University 1997; M.S. Colorado School of Mines 1999; Ph.D. 2003; Professor of Chemical Engineering 2019, 2010.

MICHAEL V. PISHKO, B.S. University of Missouri-Columbia 1986; M.S. 1987; Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin 1992; Professor of Chemical Engineering 2015.

Associate Professors:

SAMAN ARYANA, B.S. University of Texas at Arlington 2003; M.S. 2006; Ph.D. Stanford University 2012; Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering 2013.

KATIE DONGMEI LI-OAKEY, B.S. Shandong University of Technology 1994; M.S. Tianjin University 1997; M.S. University of Colorado at Boulder 1999; Ph.D. 2003; Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering 2018, 2011.

PATRICK JOHNSON, B.S. Lehigh University 1992; M.S. University of Virginia 1994; Ph.D. Columbia University 2004; Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering 2012,2006.

Assistant Professors:

KAREN WAWROUSEK, B.S. The College of St. Rose 2001; Ph.D. California Institute of Technology 2009; Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering 2014.

Adjunct Professors:

John Ackerman
Morris Argyle
Youqing Shen
John Schabron

Professors Emeriti:

Chang Yul Cha
H. Gordon Harris
Henry W. Haynes

Chemical Engineering is one of the most versatile of the engineering programs. It prepares students for employment in many diverse fields, such as production of pharmaceuticals, polymers and plastics, semiconductors, heavy industrial chemicals, synthetic fuels, petrochemicals and petroleum refining. Chemical engineers also work in biological engineering, environmental engineering, enhanced oil recovery, corrosion control, metallurgy and microelectronics. Undergraduate chemical engineering training has been found to be an excellent background for graduate work not only in engineering, but also in a number of other fields, including medicine, law, business, and the natural sciences.

The chemical engineering curriculum is based on a sound background in chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology. The essentials of engineering are added to this foundation, including fluid dynamics and thermodynamics. In order to develop the individual’s social consciousness and to broaden the student’s educational background, an integrated program of study in the humanities and social sciences is included in the curriculum. Chemical engineering courses in multicomponent thermodynamics, transport phenomena, kinetics, process control and process design are concentrated in the junior and senior years. This program provides training for engineers to enter production, research, product and process development, process design, technical sales and engineering management positions. Training in chemical engineering equips the graduate to solve many of the problems facing society today: human health, energy shortages, synthetic fuels production, water and air pollution, toxic chemical control, and food production. Furthermore, our program prepares students interested in a career in medicine or the life sciences and is suitable for pre-medical and pre-dental students.

The department offers an 18-credit-hour block of approved technical electives. Students select an emphasis in Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Process Industry, Petroleum Engineering, Graduate School Preparation, and Pre-Medicine. Students can also pursue a concurrent major in Chemistry, minors in Physics, Chemistry, Math, Computer Science, Molecular Biology and Business. See department for details. Students are required to take a minimum of 3 credits of Chemical Engineering Technical electives. The Chemical Engineering Program requires that the number of credits of upper division courses be satisfied (ie.,. 10 credits of Technical electives must be 3000+). The Chemical Engineering program requires 48 hours of 3000 and 4000-level coursework. This is fulfilled by required courses and approved technical electives.

Chemical Engineering degree candidates must meet the academic requirements of the college and, in addition, must have a GPA of 2.000 in Chemical Engineering courses attempted at UW that are applied toward graduation for the B.S. degree from the department.

Students must achieve a C- or better in all chemical engineering courses serving as a prerequisite for another chemical engineering course.

Chemical Engineering Program Educational Objectives

Three to six years after graduation, graduates who choose to practice in Chemical Engineering should:

Successfully practice the profession of Chemical Engineering;
Demonstrate successful career growth

Chemical Engineering Program Outcomes

During the course of study in Chemical Engineering, the student should demonstrate:

an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams;
an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
an ability to communicate effectively;
the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
a recognition of the need for, and ability to engage in life-long learning;
a knowledge of contemporary issues;
an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Graduate Study

The Department of Chemical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering. The M.S. degree is offered under Plan A and Plan B. In addition, an environmental engineering program, run jointly by the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Petroleum Engineering, and the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, offers graduate programs leading to an M.S. in environmental engineering under either Plan A or Plan B.

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Admission Process and Requirements

Standard Admission

Admission is open to students with at least a bachelor’s degree who meet the minimum requirements:

A GPA of 3.000 (A = 4.000), or equivalent;
A GRE score of 305 (combined verbal and quantitative sections)
For international applicants who did not attend an English-speaking program in an English-speaking country for all years of their highest degree:

A TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet based) or an IELTS score of 6.5.

Unofficial transcripts of all prior college-level coursework, test scores and recommendations from three references must be uploaded as parts of the application.

If admission is granted, then official transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores are required.

The deadline to submit application credentials is February 1 (to be considered for Fall semester).

The application will not be processed until all the necessary documents have been uploaded.