advising students for a career as a chemical engineer

8/12/2019 Advising Students for a Career as a Chemical Engineer

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Advising Students on Preparing at NMSU fora Career as a Chemical Engineer

David A. Rockstraw, Ph. D., P. E.

Robert Davis Distinguished Professor

NMSU Distinguished Achievement Professor

& Academic Department Head

New Mexico State University

Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering


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What is a Chemical Engineer?

a. an engineer who manufactures chemicals

b. a chemist who works in a factory

c. a glorified plumber

d. all of the above

e. none of the above


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Definitions

chemical adj \ke-mi-kl\

of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the

phenomena of chemistry

engineeringnoun \-nir-i\

the application of science and mathematics by which

the properties of matter and the sources of energy innature are made useful to people


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So What is a Chemical Engineer?

The breadth and depth of scientific and technicalknowledge inherent to the profession has caused someto describe a chemical engineer as a universal engineer.

Despite a title that suggests a profession composed ofnarrow specialists, chemical engineers are actuallyextremely versatile and able to handle a wide rangeof technical problems.

This is apparent when one considers the industries inwhich a chemical engineer finds employment.


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Academia

Graduate

School

Professional

School

CHME Core Content: Design & Optimization Process Control Reaction Kinetics Transport Phenomena Thermodynamics

Fundamentals: Mathematics Physics Chemistry Biology

Industry:

Biotechnology

Chemicals

Electronics Materials

Energy

Pharmaceuticals

Food

Defense Environment

et al

Law Medicine Business

BSCHE

Career Paths available

to a Chemical

Engineering Graduate


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Chemicals & MaterialsEngineering

Michigan State Cal Poly Pamona

Idaho California (Davis, Irvine, USC)

Wayne State California Institute of Technology

Nevada, Reno Stevens Institute of Technology

Oklahoma Minnesota

Dayton San Jose State

Kentucky New Mexico State University

A Google search will reveal similarly-named programs:

Chemical Engineering and Materials Sciences are the twin engines of technological

innovation, and hence an ideal starting point to launch a successful engineering career.

Albert Yee, Professor and Chair of The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials

Science at The University of California, Irvine


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Another definition

material (/mti()rl/)

noun

plural noun: materials1. the matter from which a thing is or can

be made.

(i.e., pretty much everything)


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NMSU CHME Materials Electives

CH E 461/561. Calculation of Material and Molecular Properties

CH E 462/562. MEMs, bioMEMs, and nano devices & technologies

CH E 463/563. Soft Matter

CH E 464/564. Polymer Science

CH E 465/565. Rheology and Viscoelasticity

CH E 466/566. Fuel Cell Technology

CH E 467/567. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

CH E 468/568. Adsorption

CH E 469/569. Thermal, Optical, and Electronic Properties of Materials CH E 481/581. Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Healthcare

CH E 485/585. Materials from Biorenewable Resources

CH E 486/586. Biofuels


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Chemical Engineering & (fill in the blank)

Biochemical Engineering Biological Engineering

Biomedical Engineering

Biomolecular Engineering

Biotechnology

Energy and Environment

Environmental Engineering

Life Science Engineering

Nano Engineering Nuclear Engineering

Paper Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Pharmaceutical Engineering

Other Complimentary

Areas of Study,

all of which relate to

chemicals and materials.


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Some Companies where NMSU CHMEs work American Refining Group

Archer Daniels Midland

Arkema Aspen Technology

Avon

AVX Corp.

B/E Aerospace

Baker Hughes, Inc.

Chevron ChevronPhillips

Compaq

ConocoPhillips

Cummins, Inc.

DCP Midstream

Department of Energy Dow Chemical

DuPont

Eastman

Emcore

Enterprise Products

Ethicon Endo-Surgery

ExxonMobil

Fisher-Rosemount Freeport McMoran

Frito-Lay

Halliburton

HollyFrontier

Huntsman Corp.

Intel Jacobs Technology

JCL Bioassay

Johnson & Johnson

Kinder Morgan

Kraft

Lockheed Martin Los Alamos Natl Lab

Monroe Energy

NASA

Navarro Res. & Engr.

Nestle

Palo Verde Nuclear

Generation Station

Proctor & Gamble Raytheon

Rohm and Haas

Samsung

Sandia National Labs

Sapphire Energy

Schlumberger Shell

Southwest Cheese

Texas Instruments

Total Petroleum

Western Refining

URENCO URS Corp.

Victaulic Co.

Yates Petroleum


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What makes a CHME so employable?

Beyond the content of the curriculum, a chemical

engineer will have developed:

a systematic problem-solving methodology; and

an ability to seek out and assimilate knowledgebeyond the classroom.

These traits permit Chemical

engineers to work in a widerange of fields and disciplines.


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How much does an CHME get paid?

2014 graduating classstarting wage

$50,000 to 100,000/yr

Avg: $77,000/yr

2014 summer co-ops

and interns

range: $16 to 40/hr

Avg: $30/hr


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What Does a Chemical Engineer Do?

During the past century, chemical engineers have

made tremendous contributions to the standard of

living.

To celebrate these accomplishments, the American

Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) compiled a

list of the "10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical

Engineering.


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10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical

Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Engineering


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Preparing to enter NMSU CHME


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Math preparation

Calculus 1 for the entering Freshman

To get to Calculus 1 CCDM 103N. Pre-Algebra (3) CCDM 114N. Algebra Skills (3)

Math 120. Intermediate Algebra (3)

Math 121G. College Algebra (3)

Math 190. Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus (4)

Math 191 Calculus I (4)

Fall 2014 undergrad tuition is $247.90/credit hour.


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Science preparation

Inorganic (General) Chemistry (8)

Organic Chemistry(8)

Physical Chemistry (3)

Physics (6)

Natural Science Elective (3)

Biology/Chemistry/Physics

CHEM 115 requires students be in MATH 190 or higher

and have an ACT composite of 22 or higher.


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Computational preparation

All CH E courses use math to solve problems, for

which students make use of mathematical analysis

software (Matlab, Mathcad, Excel).

Some courses include extensive linear programming,data analysis,

and process

simulation tools.


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Economics preparation

An ability to perform a rigorous economic evaluation

of a process is one of the skills that separates a

chemical engineer from a fundamental scientist.

ECON 251G and ECON 252G are recommended. Capstone design projects (CH E 455) require an

extensive economic analysis be performed.


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Communication Skills preparation

Students entering Engineering often

underestimate

the importance

of strongcommunication

skills.

The academic curriculum, like the profession, requires

students be expert communicators. Students will write

and speak in a public forum on a regular basis.

There is 2% unemployment in

the engineering fields, yet there

are jobs that are unfilled.Employers are looking for the

right candidate not the almost

right candidate. - recruiter


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NMSU CHME Pre-med option


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Transfer Students

Undergraduates CHME students begin taking CH E

courses in their freshman year.

As such, a transfer student who takes two years of

fundamental courses at an extension or communitycollege must still begin as a freshman.


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Prerequisite sequence

7 semesters of

course work(CH E 102 - 455) only

available on the

main NMSU campus.

CHEM 115 is also aspecialized course.

Taking chemistry at a

community college

may fulfill the CH E

102 prereq , but will

not transfer as

CHEM 115.


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Summary

CHMEs are trained to a solve complex problems,

thus they have diverse career opportunities

The BSCHE at NMSU has lengthy prerequisite

sequence (8 semesters), where the first freshman

semester begins with

MATH 191 (Calculus 1) and

CHEM 115 (General Chemistry for CHMEs)

Therefore, students should

Take all the HS math, science, English courses possible

Get to campus ASAP after completing high school

Come prepared to develop a love of learning.


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Program Strengths

Excerpt from the 2012-2013 EAC Final Statement and Actions for NMSU

concerning ABET accreditation of the NMSU CHME program

The alumni are very supportive of the program and devote

considerable time and effort, especially through the Alumni

Academy, to advise the department on continuous

improvement. The students are actively engaged not just in their own

individual education but also in the education of their peers.

This environment goes beyond camaraderie and includes

cooperative learning, peer-assessment, and self-assessment. The faculty members are very committed to the success of

their students, and the students understand and appreciate it.


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2014-2015 AICHE Officers


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Get More Information

Website is alwaysup-to-date:

http://chme.nmsu.edu

Contact:

David A. Rockstraw, Ph. D., P. E. [email protected]

(575) 646-1213 (main office for appt)

(575) 646-7705 (direct office line)

(575) 635-9539 (cell)

Feel free to put students/parents directly in touch with me
http://chme.nmsu.edu/http://chme.nmsu.edu/


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Thank you for your attention

NMSU AICHE members representing the program at The University of Utah standing

on the goal line at Rice-Eccles Stadium during the 2014 AICHE Rocky Mountain

Regional Conference in Salt Lake City.

advising students for a career as a chemical engineer

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