Cookin’ something up in the classroom might be a familiar phrase at a Culinary Institute, but at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology? No way. 

Well, not unless you're a chemical engineer, that is. Chemical Engineering can best be described as “scale-up” engineering and might be compared to taking a formula for popcorn for two and making popcorn for 200. How much popcorn will it take? How much heat? For what length of time should the pan be applied to heat? Just how big of a pan do you need to pop that much popcorn? Will that be safe?

These are the kinds of questions that chemical engineers face daily. But they aren't popping popcorn.

They are working at environmental clean-up sites, in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, in formulating plastics, and working for many other companies to bring products and services to the general public, on a large scale. Chemical engineers, with their diverse backgrounds and flexible job options can achieve success in almost any setting.

Chemical engineers are not the scientists who develop the “wonder drugs” or “cure-alls”. They are the ones that make it possible for pharmaceutical companies to make those drugs. Chemists create, much like cooks, the recipe for one. Chemical engineers create the process that makes it possible for products and services to be available to 200, 2,000, or 2,000,000 people. “Invention is only the first step in the process, but society appreciates the inventors more so than the engineers that can make the products we need,” Hossein reflected.

Job descriptions for a Chemical Engineering graduate may not fit the norm of many engineering students, though. Ira Rainey, a 1994 graduate of Rose-Hulman, and Refinery Area Manager for AE Staley Manufacturing says, “My area of responsibility includes unit operations ranging from ion exchange, to soluble and insoluble enzyme reaction, to carbon absorption, to vacuum evaporation to crossflow nanofiltration and many others. The ability to understand, design, troubleshoot and teach others about these operations is something I use everyday.”

According to Rose-Hulman Chemical Engineering Professor and Department Head Hossein Hariri,  “Chemical engineers tend to climb the corporate ladder faster than many others because the process of problem solving can be applied to many management problems, as well.” They can be described as the most versatile engineers out there because they are the process engineers. Because they analyze, design, determine, and control the process of engineering, they have learned to analyze the problem and all of its components. Hossein says, “Chemical engineers have a reputation for a variety and flexibility of career options.”

Ira couldn't agree more, “Chemical engineers tend to have a very broad base of technical knowledge and experience to draw from. This often enables a chemical engineer to better interact with different areas very effectively. Whether this includes environmental permitting, controls programming/hardware, production management or even sales strategies, the chemical engineer has a basic understanding of the subject.”

Chemistry is only 20-30% of the chemical engineering curriculum; mathematics, computer, and problem-solving skills are equally important to the chemical engineer. Ira adds, “Having a strong background in science and chemistry is an obvious necessity for success in chemical engineering, but the importance of a broad background must be included. Foreign languages, multi-cultural experiences, and a solid ability to communicate will increase a person's ability to advance rapidly in their field.”

What sets a Rose-Hulman engineer apart from others? Ira says its a can-do, aggressive attitude. “We approach projects saying ‘We will make this succeed” rather than ‘We might not succeed.’”

“The single most important skill I learned while at Rose-Hulman was problem-solving. The ability to identify problems, locate the core or key issues and then resolve that issue in a logical manner is used by every person that succeeds in their field.”