Chemical Engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines. It presents a plethora of research opportunities and finds application in a diverse range of industries. A common misconception is that chemical engineering is associated with chemistry. In reality, the discipline is more closely related to physics, with the major part of one’s coursework revolving around Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Process Design.
WHAT CHEMICAL ENGINEERS DO
Chemical engineers are involved in the designing, supervising, and testing of production processes for the manufacturing of chemicals. Being a foundational degree, Chemical Engineering also allows graduates to branch out into lucrative subfields such as nanotechnology, metallurgy, and biochemical engineering. They find employment in pharmaceutical companies, oil rigs, energy industries, and even at climate change mitigation projects.
WHAT YOU STUDY AT BITS TO BECOME ONE
Core chemical engineering courses start from the second year, and include Applied Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Material Sciences, Heat Transfer, and Separation Processes. In the third year, students are exposed to laboratory work while being taught process and reactor design principles. On-campus projects are offered in areas such as computational fluid dynamics, foam analysis, and applications of nanotechnology in the petroleum industry. Discipline electives related to petroleum and biochemical engineering are also offered, ensuring that students remain in touch with recent industrial developments.
WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER GRADUATING
A student pursuing post-graduation will find several avenues for specialisation, such as material sciences, process systems, and biotechnology. For placements, Chemical Engineering is generally clubbed with other core branches like Mechanical and Manufacturing. Graduates are often put through an initial training period, following which they are given profiles based upon the company’s requirements. Exxon Mobil is one of the major recruiters on campus for core Chemical profiles. If one wishes to opt for a core job, a decent CGPA supplemented with projects and internships which pertain to the field one wishes to work in is a major requirement.