Chemical Engineering major Bradley M. Buchheit '08 won second place in the student poster competition at the national American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, this past fall.

Buchheit's poster described his honors thesis, which investigates the effect of dissolved water and alcohols on the viscosity of room temperature ionic liquids.

Mentored by Prof. Ruth E. Baltus of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Buchheit first gained interest in chemical engineering after learning of the job opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry. After he graduates from Clarkson, he plans to attend medical school and pursue pediatric oncology.

The Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering is committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, in both teaching and research.

Chemical engineers deal with many problems that arise in a technical society, especially those involving chemistry. Chemical engineers engage in a spectrum of manufacturing, sales, and research activities in a variety of industries ranging from specialty chemicals to semiconductors and food processing.

Chemists do chemistry in test tubes and small beakers; chemical engineers do chemistry in a big way. They make useful products at the rate of tons per day, like gasoline, nylon, paper, penicillin, peanut butter, silicon wafers, catalytic crackers, and beer. They do a variety of tasks, such as product development, process design, management, quality control, pollution control, marketing, and technical sales.

Chemical engineers have historically had the highest starting salaries of all the major engineering professions. In past years, graduating chemical engineers have enjoyed a high placement percentage. Since chemical engineers find employment in many different industries, a strong economy will always provide numerous opportunities for chemical engineers.

Some students seek employment right after graduation. Others go on to graduate school, in chemical engineering or a related field. Chemical engineering is also a good choice of major for students who want to enter medical school or law school.

To prepare for these diverse career paths, your education will include a significant amount of applied math, engineering, and chemistry. While these classes will be exciting, recognize that some of your important courses will be in liberal studies. Courses in economics, ethics, and communications skills will be vital toward your development as a professional engineer able to make significant contributions to society.