It is the world of plastics and high-strength ceramics, of gasoline, natural gas, and fuel cells, of semiconductors and light emitting diodes, of clean air and water, of pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, and scaffolds for artificial organs. It is a world where engineers tinker with molecules through the foundations of chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics to develop new products and chemical processes that enhance our quality of life. This remarkable connection from the molecular scale to the macroscopic scale where one can touch and see the effects of molecular tinkering on products and processes, is truly the hallmark of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The world of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering fully embraces forefront areas of Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Science. Our students are given the fundamental training to work in virtually all industrial sectors - in the petroleum and chemical industries, in the consumer products industry, in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, in semiconductor manufacturing and microfabrication, in advanced materials and the polymer industries, in the food and natural products industries, and in environmental technology development. Students with Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering backgrounds also go on to successful careers in medicine, law, business and consulting.
The Curriculum is based on the foundations of the Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences. Through fundamental courses in thermodynamics, transport processes, reaction engineering and design, students learn how to work with molecules as simple as methane to molecules as complex as proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, and learn how new products and processes are developed. Biomolecular Engineering is an increasingly important component of our curriculum, and our faculty are involved in such wonderful new areas as gene delivery systems, cell and tissue engineering, biomimetic materials, and nanobiotechnology.
We have a small student-to-faculty ratio that allows every student to get individualized attention. The high level of research activity in the department leads to an environment where individualized learning is coupled to the opportunity to participate in research. Every student has the opportunity to obtain a research experience. Many of our faculty conduct collaborative research with faculty at the other Engineering Departments, in the Physical and Life Sciences, and at the Medical School. This allows the student to participate in forefront research and to understand the relevance of an education in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. We strongly encourage undergraduates to participate in research projects, present their research at scientific conferences and publish their work in journals.
The Department implements a unique Practice School Program in the final year, where students work on industrial projects jointly supervised by professional engineers at world-class chemical companies in the region. Students learn to work in teams, acquire excellent communication skills, and learn how to solve real-life technical problems.
We have a flexible curriculum that allows students to co-specialize in the areas of Biomolecular Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Materials Engineering or Business Studies.
Based on the events unfolding from the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering will reflect educational objectives that are distinctive to Tulane and to New Orleans. In addition to providing a highly rigorous education in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, the Department will work with University guidance to provide students with tremendous opportunities to help rebuild the city and community.