The University of Iowa Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering offers both thesis and non-thesis Master's of Science programs, a Doctor of Philosophy program, and a five-year U2G program. Graduate students in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering gain an understanding of the principles of engineering science, with a focus on a chosen research area.

Information for Graduate Students

Student Learning Outcomes

MS graduates will:

  • Demonstrate a mastery of core chemical engineering concepts;
  • Effectively communicate scientific concepts and/or research results in both written and oral formats to scientific and general audiences;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to safe and ethical behavior through adherence to best safety practices and academic integrity principles.
  • Students completing the program with thesis will additionally demonstrate the abilities to:
    • Demonstrate the ability to perform independent research, critically identify and solve research problems, summarize disciplinary information, evaluate research findings.

PhD graduates will:

  • Demonstrate a mastery of core chemical engineering concepts;
  • effectively communicate scientific concepts and/or research results in both written and oral formats to scientific and general audiences;
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform independent research, critically identify and solve research problems, summarize disciplinary information, evaluate research findings;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to safe and ethical behavior through adherence to best safety practices and academic integrity principles.

Contacts

Eric Nuxoll

Eric Nuxoll

Director of Graduate Admissions

Associate Professor, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

The director of graduate admissions recruits and serves as the first point of contact for prospective graduate students.

Alec B. Scranton

Alec Scranton

Director of Graduate Studies

Professor, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

The director of graduate studies is an advocate for graduate students and their success. He advises incoming students, coordinates the research advisor selection process, monitors and tracks student progress, and is a point of contact for graduate program questions.

Jun Wang

Jun Wang

Departmental Executive Officer

Lichtenberger Family Chair in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

The departmental executive officer is the academic administrator the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.

Sara Hartman

Sara Hartman

Graduate Program Specialist

The graduate program specialist is a contact for prospective, incoming, and current students for anything related to the academic program.

Amanda Jensen

Amanda Jensen

Department Administrator

The department administrator is a point of contact for anything related to graduate student human resources, finance, travel, and administrative odds and ends.

News Highlights

Portrait, woman with long dark hair, pink coat over black shirt.

UI engineering alumna elected fellow of American Meteorological Society

Friday, August 7, 2026
Yang Zhang, a University of Iowa engineering alumna and current professor at Northeastern University, has been elected as a fellow of the American Meteorological Society.
NASA’s high-altitude ER-2 aircraft used to collect data for the INSPYRE project

Iowa students join NASA mission to study wildfire clouds

Wednesday, July 29, 2026
University of Iowa engineering students are helping researchers collect data on pyrocumulonimbus clouds formed by intense wildfires.
Greg Carmichael

“The Foundation of the Global Atmosphere Watch is a Long-term, Open and Trusted Source of Information”

Monday, July 20, 2026
UI atmospheric scientist Gregory R. Carmichael reflects on four decades of advances in air quality research and the growing role of artificial intelligence.