Careers Home
Careers Calendar
Astra Zeneca Recruitment Presentation
Monday, 22 November 2010
1300 - 1400 at LT2
Aker Solutions Recruitment Presentation
Thursday, 18 November 2010
1800 - 2100 at LT2
Teach First Recruitment Presentation
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
1300 - 1400 at LT2
Chemical Engineering?
It would take too long to list all the products that are impacted by chemical engineers, but knowing what industries employ them may help you comprehend the scope of their work. Chemical engineers work in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, design and construction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals, polymers, biotechnology, and environmental health and safety industries, among others.
Within these industries, chemical engineers rely on their knowledge of mathematics and science, particularly chemistry, to overcome technical problems safely and economically. And, of course, they draw upon and apply their engineering knowledge to solve any technical challenges they encounter. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that chemical engineers only make things, though.
Their expertise is also applied in the area of law, education, publishing, finance, and medicine, as well as many other fields that require technical training. Specifically, chemical engineers improve food processing techniques, and methods of producing fertilizers, to increase the quantity and quality of available food. They also construct the synthetic fibers that make our clothes more comfortable and water resistant; they develop methods to mass-produce drugs, making them more affordable; and they create safer, more efficient methods of refining petroleum products, making energy and chemical sources more productive and cost effective. They also develop solutions to environmental problems, such as pollution control and remediation. And yes, they process chemicals, which are used to make or improve just about everything you see around you.
Chemical engineers face many of the same challenges that other professionals face, and they meet these challenges by applying their technical knowledge, communication and teamwork skills, the most up-to-date practices available, and hard work. Benefits include financial reward, recognition within industry and society, and the gratification that comes from working with the processes of nature to meet the needs of society
Role of CUCES
One of the many roles of CUCES is to provide a link between its members and the chemical engineering industry, where many of the students will have their future careers. The society does this by building and maintaining strong collaborative relationships with some of the leading chemical engineering employers in the world. In doing so, CUCES is in a great position to make sure the members of the society keep updated about the career options that are out there.
Every year, CUCES and the department invite several chemical engineering employers to present their internship and graduate opportunities to the members of the society. In addition to these informative events, CUCES also focuses on putting on social and fun events together with some of the industrial contacts in order to enable networking opportunities in more informal settings while also having a good time. To see photos and find information about some of the past events that CUCES has organised, click here.
The purpose of the career work that CUCES does is to provide the initial link between the students and potential future employers. As a result of the events, that we orgnanise many students have received industrial experience through summer placements or they have received their first employment following graduation. To find out more about some of the internships that students in the department have had, click here
Industries
Chemical Process Industries
The focus of companies in this industry is on the development, extraction, isolation, combination, and use of chemicals and chemical by-products. Chemical engineers design and operate processes and systems to combine, transport, separate, handle, recycle, and store them. This industry consists of several specialty areas: Agricultural Chemicals; Catalysts; Specialty Chemicals; Industrial Gases; Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Pigments, and Inks; Petrochemicals; Petroleum Products; Plastics, Synthetic Resins, and Composites; Polymers; Pulp and Paper; Rubber and Rubber Products; Soaps, Detergents, Perfumes, Fats, Oils, and Cosmetics; and Synthetic Fibers, Textiles, and Films.
Biotechnology
This area uses living cells, materials produced by cells, and biological techniques developed through research to create products for use in other industries. This field has produced antibiotics, insulin, interferon, artificial organs, recombinant DNA, techniques for waste reduction and recycling, and hybrid plants that are insect resistant. Chemical engineers develop and design the processes to grow, handle, and harvest living organisms and their by-products.
Design & Construction
This field works with other industry sectors to design and build facilities, specify machinery, and design and troubleshoot processes that allow companies to operate safe and efficient plants. Chemical engineers are involved with process design and project management and work closely with other engineering disciplines.
Electronics
Chemical engineers in the electronics industry are involved with material development and production, process control equipment design, and the manufacturing of microchips and intricate circuitry. Chemical engineers have contributed to the industry by producing components that better dissipate heat and operate faster.
Environmental Safety & Health
Every process involving use and manipulation of raw materials produces some by-products. Chemical engineers minimize the production of by-products (or find an appropriate use for them) through process monitoring and control, as well as by designing more efficient processes. Chemical engineers are involved in waste treatment and disposal and process safety and loss prevention.
Food & Beverages
This industry includes the handling, processing, preparing, packaging, and preserving of food and beverages. Chemical engineers formulate new products to meet consumer demand, change ingredients to improve flavor, adapt handling processes to ensure more consistent texture, and freeze-dry products or design aseptic packaging to enable a longer shelf life.
Fuels
This industry comprises petroleum and petroleum products production and refining, as well as nuclear and synthetic fuels. Typically known for their work in refineries, chemical engineers are also involved in developing alternative energy sources, working on production processes, environmental monitoring, research and development, and process safety.
Advanced Materials
Several industries (most notably aerospace, automotive, glass, ceramics, electronics, refractories, metals, metallurgical products, minerals processing, and photographic products) employ chemical engineers to help develop materials. Chemical engineers manipulate the weight, strength, heat transfer, reflectivity, and purity of substances to produce materials with unique properties.
Other
The technical training received by chemical engineers makes them well suited for positions in business, finance, insurance, law, publishing, education, and government. Chemical engineers manage, analyze, and insure businesses in the chemical process industries. U.S. government employers include the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the U.S. Navy, NASA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Agriculture.