What is Chemical/Biochemical Engineering?
A layperson’s understanding of the words “Chemical Engineering” or “Biochemical Engineering” is often “something practical that you do with Chemistry or/and Biology”. Actually, these words have a much broader meaning, expressing a professional way of life which requires deep knowledge in a large variety of subjects. This fact sets us (Chemical or Biochemical Engineers) apart from other engineers and makes the study of our profession especially attractive to students with broad interests and a multidisciplinary scientific curiosity.
Chemical or Biochemical Engineering is based on the application of Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Materials Science, Mathematics, and Economics. Our students study applied mathematics, mass and energy balances, physical properties of gasses, liquids and solids, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transport, thermodynamics, and more. The breadth of the acquired knowledge, and the wide range of existing applications, provides our graduates with significant flexibility when choosing a professional career.
Chemical or Biochemical Engineering is concerned with a wide range of processes affiliated with several different industrial disciplines. Typically, such processes involve low value starting materials which undergo physical, chemical and/or biological changes so that the end product has a significant added value. Most processes are based on a number of “unit operations” which are common to several other processes. Many industries need Chemical/Biochemical Engineering graduates who can be employed as design, process and control engineers: The energy industry, the petrochemical industry, Hi-Tech industry, pharmaceutical companies, the defense industry and more. In addition, Chemical or Biochemical Engineers also work in universal and nonstandard areas such as the solution of water or air pollution problems, the development of new energy resources, desalination and more.
Most of our graduates, or in many cases, fourth year students, are hired by a variety of employers. About 10-15% of the graduates continue on to pursue graduate studies in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Materials Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Bio-Medical Engineering.