Research

The Department of Chemical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University has a long tradition of excellence in Engineering Education. Within this tradition, and during the last few years, Research (as one of the most effective learning tools) has played an increasing role in the Department where research opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students are prevalent. We will briefly review below the numerous options for research implemented by the faculty of the Department in order to expose students to the exciting techniques used in an inquiry-based approach and needed to develop the new technologies of the 21^st Century.

Following recommendation by Dr. Allen Atkins (a highly successful Doctoral Graduate from Tennessee Tech) and suggestion from our Board of Advisors, the Department pioneered the implementation of a Distinction in the Major (DITM) Option for juniors and seniors. This option requires students to work with a faculty member on a focused research project in order to write a DITM thesis to be defended in front of the committee of faculty. The program is coordinated with the Honors Program of the University. Numerous students have completed this option while obtaining their undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and many of these students have successfully completed a doctoral degree or are continuing their professional careers in leading companies.

For those interested in a dual degree option, the Department created a BS-MS (four+one year) option that allows students to finish with two degrees.  This option is beneficial for those with an interest in a managerial career, for example. For students interested in research involvement but without a formal option, the Department also offers Directed Individual Studies (DIS) through either or both the ChE 3990 or ChE 4990 courses.  Students interested in these options need to contact our Undergraduate Research Coordinator, Dr.Cynthia Rice-York ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

One of the most intensive efforts during the last few years has been in the development of a very active, cutting-edge, and exciting graduate and research program for those students interested in graduate education. The Department offers both a MS Degree and a PhD Degree in Engineering (in collaboration with the College of Engineering) with an emphasis in Chemical Engineering. This degree is uniquely suited for those students interested in interdisciplinary efforts, and students receive a focused diversity of training from co-advisers from different departments of engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology to name a few. An effective program of study is carefully tailored to satisfy the individual needs and interests of the students. Graduates from our Doctoral Program have found successful positions in leading global and international companies and have won very prestigious awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChE), among others. Additional descriptions of research areas can be found in Research Opportunities, by contacting the faculty directly (see faculty pages) or our Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Holly Stretz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

The highlight of the student research efforts at Tennessee Technological University is the annual Student Research Day event held each spring. The Department of Chemical Engineering has been the largest supplier of student posters for this event in all the years that it has been organized by our Office of Research, supplying approximately 45% of the posters originating from the College of Engineering and close to one third of the ones from the entire university. The ChE students’ participation in this showcase event provides an indication of the strong focus of our Department in Research opportunities pursued by our students and faculty.

Students of the Department are highly active in national and international meetings such as the Annual Meeting of the AIChE, the annual meeting of the American Electrophoresis Society (AES), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), the Electrochemical Society (ECS), the American Ceramic Society (ACerS), and the American Concrete Institute (ACI) to just name a few.

 

 

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