Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering - Advanced Materials

The PhD degree in chemical engineering is a research-based doctoral degree program. The program requirements are designed to provide candidates with fundamental understanding of core chemical engineering principles and intensive original research experience. Research opportunities are available in advanced materials, catalysis and electrocatalysis, batteries, biological and medical systems, computational fluid dynamics, functional interfaces, optical materials and theory, simulations and artificial intelligence in well-funded, department-affiliated research groups.
The Department of Chemical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to PhD and MS degrees in chemical engineering. Students in our department participate in groundbreaking, multidisciplinary research and education in an innovative environment. Students can join one of our distinguished and well-funded research groups and benefit from close interactions with our faculty, through carefully designed courses and cutting-edge research projects.
Our faculty value interdisciplinary research, giving students the opportunity to collaborate with other departments like chemistry, optics, biomedical engineering, and materials science. The department and the university offer state-of-the-art research equipment and computer facilities to perform high-impact research.
Advanced materials are urgently needed to accelerate progress in emerging areas such as photonics, green process engineering, heterogeneous catalysis, electrocatalysis, renewable energy, aerospace, tissue engineering and biomedicine. The intersection between engineering and materials science offers fertile ground for technological breakthroughs and is a hallmark of Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester. Researchers skillfully apply thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport principles to design and achieve new materials with unprecedented end-properties. Innovations have included glassy liquid crystals, vapor deposited polymer films, electrically responsive liquid crystal flakes, hydroxyapatite thin films for bone healing, and self-stretching polymers. Faculty and students have access to quality laboratory facilities, computational resources, and characterization tools.

Application Package
A completed application must be accompanied by transcripts and letters of recommendation. A completed application may additionally require standardized test scores. Details of these requirements, including additional information for international students, are described in the following.

Transcripts
Applicants should send their official transcript(s) from each college or university they attended directly to the Department of Chemical Engineering. Electronic copies are accepted as part of the online application. Students are required to submit official transcript(s) upon matriculation to the program.

Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required (one letter of recommendation for internal University of Rochester undergraduates applying to the 4+1 Option). Recommenders will be contacted by email and provided a link where they can upload their letter of recommendation.

Standardized Tests
Applicants are urged to take required tests early so that the results can be considered in conjunction with the candidate's academic records.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Submission of GRE scores is encouraged but not required.

An English language proficiency exam is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. The Department of Chemical Engineering accepts the TOEFL and IELTS test. A minimum TOEFL score of 620 (paper-based test), 260 (computer-based test), or 95 (Internet test) is preferred for admittance. A minimum IELTS band score of 7.0 is preferred for admittance.