About Us

The mission of the Department is to provide the highest quality programs to educate students at all levels in the principles and applications of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, within the environment of Tulane University. As part of this mission, students perform innovative and high quality research that advances engineering solutions as applied to health, energy, and the environment.

Vision Statement

We strive to be internationally recognized as a leading chemical and biological engineering department that exemplifies the dual commitment of outstanding research and education, producing high quality graduates who are creating knowledge and developing innovations.
 

Distinctive Features of Our Program

• Small class size (high faculty-to-student ratio) with individualized attention to students at all levels.
• Discovery-based research at the molecular level with strengths in materials, biomolecular and interface sciences, bioengineering, and molecular modeling and simulation
• Opportunities for undergraduates to carry out research
• Opportunities to interact with the major chemical industries along the Gulf Coast
• Interdisciplinary research with Tulane Medical School, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the Departments of Chemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Physics and Engineering Physics, and the Neurosciences Program
• Entrepreneurial research opportunities related to the unique environment of the coastal and deltaic region
• A rich and unique cultural environment in the New Orleans area and a campus culture that embraces civic engagement
   

Accreditation

The Chemical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

In 1894, Tulane University was the first school in the South and the third in the United States to establish a four-year curriculum labeled Chemical Engineering. The program had it roots in Chemistry with the first curriculum being based on Industrial Chemistry. In 1895, B. P. Caldwell was the first recipient of the B.E. degree in Chemical Engineering at Tulane.

Today the department continues a strong tradition of rigorous learning coupled with the joy of discovery. The department values scholarship and seeks to provide its students with all opportunities to develop their academic potential. Class sizes are small and the student to faculty ratio in the department is typically less than 10:1. The faculty has an open-door policy and is accessible to students at all times of the working day. There are tremendous opportunities for undergraduates to participate in research, and the faculty encourages and promotes undergraduate involvement in research. The department has ten faculty members and sustains an intensive graduate research program leading up to the doctoral degree.

We welcome you to look through our website and learn more about the department, its people, and its educational and research opportunities.

Juergen Hahn
Professor and Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Carol Hall
Camille Dreyfus Distinguished University Professor
NC State University

Miriam E. John, Chair of Board
Vice President Emeritus
Sandia National Laboratories

Alon McCormick
Professor, Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
University of Minnesota

Terrance C. Osby
Olefins Planning- Basic Chemicals Technology
Exxon Mobil

Shepard F. Perrin, III
Procurement Manager
INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA

Hadley Sikes
Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Associate Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Blake Simmons
Division Director, Biological Systems and Engineering
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Michael Spaid
President and CEO
ConductiveBio

Franz Vogt, PE
Rain CII

Akira Yato
Facilities Manager and Senior Development Engineer
Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corporation

Early-career Board of Advisors

Alec Walker (chair)
Class of 2018
Bayer

Sam Copper
Class of 2019
Phillips 66

Chris Aubin
Class of 2018
LyondellBasell

Melissa Lieberson
Class of 2019
Bayer

Sean Madsen
PhD 2020
Bristol-Myers Squibb

Patrick Kimes
Class of 2020
J.M. Smucker Co.

Ila Keshishian
Class of 2022
Merck

Andrew Kese
Class of 2023
Rystad Energy

Henry Lively
Class of 2015
INEOS

Hailey Hayes
Class of 2024
Venture Global

Chloe Camel
Class of 2024
Shell Geismer

Emeritus Members

Helen Armer
Applied Materials

Joseph F. Boston
President (Retired)
Aspen Technology, Inc.

Robert F. Buesinger
General Manager, Alpha Olefins
Global Business Unit, Chevron Phillips Chemical

Eduardo Glandt
Dean, School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
University of Pennsylvania

Lisa P. Jackson
Former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Vice President, Environmental Initiatives, Apple

Judy Kron
Corporate Human Resources
DuPont Co.

Douglas A. Lauffenburger
Professor and Chair, Biological Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Clarence I. Lewis, Jr. (Clay)
Executive Vice President (retired)
ExxonMobil Corporation

Pramthesh (Prem) Patel
Director, Microbial & Cell Culture Development
Glaxo, Smith, & Kline

Ponisseril Somasundaran (Som)
La von Duddleson Krumb Professor of Mineral Engineering
Henry Krumb School of Mines, Columbia University

George A. Swan, III
Distinguished Engineering Associate
ExxonMobil Process Research Laboratories