The Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHB) at the University
of Maine has two strong undergraduate programs for a
B.S. degree in Chemical
Engineering and a B.S. in
Bioengineering. Both programs are accredited by the
Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market
Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410)
347-7700.
We also have active graduate programs for
M.S. in both Chemical and
Biological Engineering and a flexible
Ph.D. degree program in
Chemical Engineering. In addition, the Department offers a
Fifth-Year Certificate in Pulp
and Paper Management.
Chemical Engineers are concerned primarily
with the design, operation, and management of processing systems
to alter and upgrade raw materials into products that are more
useful to society and therefore more valuable. In the design and
operation of such facilities two competing concerns are
generally paramount: the need to minimize both costs and
environmental impact. Our engineering training provides a unique
background for solving problems, especially those involving
physical, chemical and/or biological changes in materials.
Although our engineers are employed in many different
industries, the basic training is general and not
industry-specific. You will find our graduates in industrial
settings, consulting firms, as well as governmental agencies.
Our undergraduate programs provide a solid foundation on which
to build with graduate education. An engineering education is
also an excellent component of training for a professional
career that leads to management or other pre-professional
programs such as pre-med and pre-law. For more information,
visit
American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Bioengineers work at the cutting edge of research and
industry, and frequently address clinical, diagnostic, and
therapeutic applications of engineering. For example, they may
be involved in diagnostic imaging of tissues, engineering
surfaces to ensure compatibility of implants with the body, or
creating sensors for monitoring the repair of biological
systems. They also work on the design of artificial organs, the
development of new methods to detect and treat cancer, the
production of devices to measure biological agents, and the
creation of ways to obtain the controlled release of drugs.
Our Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering undergraduate
programs at UMaine aim to provide a broadly based education
together with a thorough training in the principles of chemical
engineering and bioengineering. A sound foundation in science
(physics, chemistry and/or biology and mathematics) is required;
much of your time during the first two years will be devoted to
these subjects. During the junior year the focus shifts towards
“engineering science” courses. Process
modeling/simulation and design are emphasized during the final
year of the program. In addition to the technical training in
chemical engineering or bioengineering, there is considerable
emphasis on communications skills, teamwork, and computer
proficiency throughout the program.
Graduate research projects cover a wide area of chemical and
biological engineering topic and are related to particular
faculty interests. These include both fundamental and applied
topics. External research support comes from industrial
sources and from various government funding agencies. Several
graduate research assistantships are available.
Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering graduates find employment
in all the major process industries: petroleum refining,
petrochemicals, commodity chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
biotechnology, extractive metallurgy, production of
semiconductors, governmental agencies, private consulting
companies, and the pulp and paper industry. Job functions cover
a wide range of activities including research and development,
process design, control, operation and management of production
facilities, and technical sales.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, chemical
engineers and
bioengineers are among the highest paid engineers with
starting salaries for B.S. graduates in excess of $50,000 per
annum. Some of the companies that have hired significant numbers
of UMaine CHB graduates in recent years include: Procter and
Gamble, Nalco, Teradyne, SAPPI, National and Fairchild
Semiconductor, P.H. Glatfelter, Honeywell-Measurex, Millipore,
USDA, US-EPA, as well as other biotechnology firms and
consulting firms.
Many CHB students participate in our well established co-op
program that provides 6-8 months of practical training and work
experience with one of the participating companies. This program
provides students with insight into the operation of an
industrial company, direct experience with the type of work
carried out by practicing chemical engineers, and an additional
source of financial support. Qualified students find themselves
competitive for the National Science Foundation research
experience as well as other internship programs. Because we
offer the CHE third-year core courses in summer, CHE students who
participated in the co-op program can still complete their
degree programs in four years. BEN students who participated in
the co-op experience can still graduate in four years by
rescheduling their coursework and taking classes during a summer
term.
Although your academic record is important, it is not the
only important component of an engineering education at UMaine.
Prospective employers generally look for well rounded graduates
with broad interests, good communication skills, and well
developed leadership abilities. Participating in extracurricular
activities is a good way to enhance and develop such skills.
There are numerous opportunities for extracurricular activities
including the student run professional societies (AIChE, SBE,
IBE, TAPPI and PIMA), intramural sports, student government,
Maine Bound Outdoor Leadership Schools and various other
programs organized through the campus and community life
programs.
CHB students are eligible for a wide range of need- and
merit-based scholarships through our department, the College of
Engineering, and the University of Maine. For more information
on these scholarships, please call 207-581-2277 or
contact us.
In addition, the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation supports 100 upper
class students per year with full Maine resident tuition
scholarship and provides 25 first year students with stipends of
$1,000 each. Entry scholarships are offered to competitive
first-year students based on their high school records. For more
information about the opportunities, contact the
University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation
or call 207-581-2297.
| Contact for B.S. Chemical Engineering
Program |
| |
John J. Hwalek
Associate Professor and Coordinator
207-581-2302
hwalek@maine.edu |
| Contact for B.S. Bioengineering
Program |
| |
David J. Neivandt
Associate Professor and Coordinator
207-581-2288
dneivandt@umche.maine.edu |
| Contact for Graduate Programs |
| |
Douglas W. Bousfield
Professor and Graduate Coordinator
207-581-2300
dbousfield@umche.maine.edu |
| Department Office |
| |
5737 Jenness Hall, Room 117
Orono, ME 04469-5737
207-581-2277
207-581-2323 (fax) |
|