Graduate Studies in Chemical Engineering

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Chemical Engineering Graduate Program Snapshot

100% PhD graduate students

Receive full funding, including tuition, health insurance, and a competitive stipend.

35 Enrolled graduate students

55% Women and/or underrepresented minority PhD students

25% Students

Receive additional competitive internships, fellowships or scholarships.

Join our growing program and reach your goals!

The University of Kentucky offers a rich graduate program in chemical engineering that allows students to immerse themselves in novel research projects across many fields. Reasons you should consider UK include:

A highly collaborative cross-disciplinary research atmosphere with the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Arts & Sciences and Agriculture, Food and Environment—all within a 10-minute walk of each other.
The department also conducts research through the Center for Applied Energy Research, a nationally recognized leader in renewable energy solutions, as well as the Center of Membrane Sciences, UK Superfund Research Center, Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the Markey Cancer Center.

Career Paths

Academia and National Labs
Alumni have went on to have independent careers at University of Alabama, Vanderbilt University, University of Rhode Island, University of Michigan-Dearborn and Batelle and Oak Ridge National Lab to name a few.

Industry
Alumni have joined numerous fields and industries. A few examples include stating their own companies, joining the pharmaceutical industry at Moderna, GSK and Abbvie, joining the chemical industry at Johnson and Johnson, Ashland Chemical, and Thermo Fisher or even joining the bourbon industry at Buffalo Trace.

In addition to all of the options, chemical engineers have traditionally ranked at or near the top of starting salaries among all of the engineering professions!

Program Requirements

Most students take 12 courses in our PhD curriculum. To build and improve our student’s communication skills, all students serve as teaching assistants for one semester. Students also take a preliminary exam in the first year. The exam is meant to assess student progress and provide guidance for the development of their proposal. The students present their proposal to a committee of four to five faculty members in year two. To complete the program, students submit dissertations and take final oral examinations. For more details, please see the current chemical engineering graduate student handbook.

Tasks	Year 1		Year 2		Year 3		Year 4		Year 5+
Courses	x	x	x	x
Research		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Preliminary Proposal		x	x
Proposal				x	x
Defense								x	x	x
Teaching Assistant	x

Student working on a copper pipe in with an engineering sign in the background.

Research Areas

Advanced Materials:

Polymers and Composites
Biotechnology & Bionanotechology
Sustainable Engineering
Modeling & Simulation
Separations and Purification
Success in Engineering

Researchers in a lab with colorful lab equipment surrounding them.

Access, Community and Engagement

We aim to provide equitable opportunities, and develop an inclusive environment within our department.

Lexington is a great place to live

We are the Horse Capital of the World. Lexington has over 100 parks and a lively atmosphere for all kinds of lifestyles. The city also has four distinct seasons allowing you to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.

#33 Best Place to Live in the US – U.S. News & World Report
#19 Cheapest places to live - U.S. News & World Report

Cultural and historical attractions include the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Philharmonic, the Ballet Theatre of Lexington and Ashland, Henry Clay’s estate. Sports enthusiasts enjoy the thrills of horseracing at Keeneland, UK home football and basketball games and Lexington Legends baseball. With all these opportunities, it is not hard to believe Lexington is listed in the 100 Best Communities For Young People (America’s Promise Alliance).

Liquid swirling in a 4000mL beaker with a brown jug of another chemical in the background.

Collaborative Environment

Students and faculty commonly collaborate on projects. We share resources and expertise to help everyone accomplish their projects. Some groups even have joint group meetings to establish an open environment.

Researcher wearing a niosh mask and using a mortar and pestle.

Safety

The safety of all our students and staff is a top priority. We provide safety training regarding best practices in the research setting. We also prioritize safety as it pertains to the whole person, which includes both physical safety and mental health.