Advising Students on Preparing at NMSU for a Career as a Chemical Engineer

1. Advising Students on Preparing at NMSU for a Career as a Chemical Engineer David A. Rockstraw, Ph. D., P. E. Robert Davis Distinguished Professor NMSU Distinguished Achievement Professor & Academic Department Head New Mexico State University Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering

3. What is a Chemical Engineer? • an engineer who manufactures chemicals • a chemist who works in a factory • a glorified plumber • all of the above • none of the above

4. Definitions chem·i·caladj \ˈke-mi-kəl\ of, relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry or the phenomena of chemistry en·gi·neer·ing noun \-ˈnir-iŋ\ the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to people

5. So What is a Chemical Engineer? The breadth and depth of scientific and technical knowledge inherent to the profession has caused some to describe a chemical engineer as a universal engineer. Despite a title that suggests a profession composed of narrow specialists, chemical engineers are actually extremely versatile and able to handle a wide range of technical problems. This is apparent when one considers the industries in which a chemical engineer finds employment.

7. Chemicals & MaterialsEngineering A Google search will reveal similarly-named programs: “Chemical Engineering and Materials Sciences are the twin engines of technological innovation, and hence an ideal starting point to launch a successful engineering career.“Albert Yee, Professor and Chair of The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at The University of California, Irvine

8. Another definition ma·te·ri·al(/məˈti(ə)rēəl/) noun plural noun: materials 1. the matter from which a thing is or can be made. (i.e., pretty much everything)

9. NMSU CHME Materials Electives • CH E 461/561. Calculation of Material and Molecular Properties • CH E 462/562. MEMs, bioMEMs, and nano devices & technologies • CH E 463/563. Soft Matter • CH E 464/564. Polymer Science • CH E 465/565. Rheology and Viscoelasticity • CH E 466/566. Fuel Cell Technology • CH E 467/567. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology • CH E 468/568. Adsorption • CH E 469/569. Thermal, Optical, and Electronic Properties of Materials • CH E 481/581. Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Healthcare • CH E 485/585. Materials from Biorenewable Resources • CH E 486/586. Biofuels

10. Chemical Engineering & (fill in the blank) • Biochemical Engineering • Biological Engineering • Biomedical Engineering • Biomolecular Engineering • Biotechnology • Energy and Environment • Environmental Engineering • Life Science Engineering • Nano Engineering • Nuclear Engineering • Paper Engineering • Petroleum Engineering • Pharmaceutical Engineering All of which relate to chemicals and materials.

11. Some Companies where NMSU CHMEs work • American Refining Group • Archer Daniels Midland • Arkema • Aspen Technology • Avon • AVX Corp. • B/E Aerospace • Baker Hughes, Inc. • Chevron • ChevronPhillips • Compaq • ConocoPhillips • Cummins, Inc. • DCP Midstream • Department of Energy • Dow Chemical • DuPont • Eastman • Emcore • Enterprise Products • Ethicon Endo-Surgery • ExxonMobil • Fisher-Rosemount • Freeport McMoran • Frito-Lay • Halliburton • HollyFrontier • Huntsman Corp. • Intel • Jacobs Technology • JCL Bioassay • Johnson & Johnson • Kinder Morgan • Kraft • Lockheed Martin • Los Alamos Nat’l Lab • Monroe Energy • NASA • Navarro Res. & Engr. • Nestle • Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station • Proctor & Gamble • Raytheon • Rohm and Haas • Samsung • Sandia National Labs • Sapphire Energy • Schlumberger • Shell • Southwest Cheese • Texas Instruments • Total Petroleum • Western Refining • URENCO • URS Corp. • Victaulic Co. • Yates Petroleum

12. What makes a CHME so employable? Beyond the content of the curriculum, a chemical engineer will have developed: • a systematic problem-solving methodology; and • an ability to seek out and assimilate knowledge beyond the classroom. These traits permit Chemical engineers to work in a wide range of fields and disciplines.

13. How much does an CHME get paid? • 2014 graduating classstarting wage • $50,000 to 100,000/yr • Avg: $77,000/yr • 2014 summer co-ops and interns • range: $16 to 40/hr • Avg: $30/hr

14. What Does a Chemical Engineer Do? • During the past century, chemical engineers have made tremendous contributions to the standard of living. • To celebrate these accomplishments, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) compiled a list of the "10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering.”

15. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

16. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

17. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

18. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

19. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

20. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

21. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

22. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

23. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

24. 10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering

26. Preparing to enter NMSU CHME

27. Math preparation • Calculus 1 for the entering Freshman • To get to Calculus 1… • CCDM 103N. Pre-Algebra (3) • CCDM 114N. Algebra Skills (3) • Math 120. Intermediate Algebra (3) • Math 121G. College Algebra (3) • Math 190. Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus (4) • Math 191 Calculus I (4) • Fall 2014 undergrad tuition is $247.90/credit hour.

28. Science preparation • Inorganic (General) Chemistry (8) • Organic Chemistry(8) • Physical Chemistry (3) • Physics (6) • Natural Science Elective (3) • Biology/Chemistry/Physics CHEM 115 requires students be in MATH 190 or higher and have an ACT composite of 22 or higher.

29. Computational preparation • All CH E courses use math to solve problems, for which students make use of mathematical analysis software (Matlab, Mathcad, Excel). • Some courses include extensive linear programming, data analysis, andprocesssimulation tools.

30. Economics preparation • An ability to perform a rigorous economic evaluation of a process is one of the skills that separates a chemical engineer from a fundamental scientist. • ECON 251G and ECON 252G are recommended. • Capstone design projects (CH E 455) require an extensive economic analysis be performed.

31. Communication Skills preparation Students entering Engineering often underestimate the importance of strong communication skills. The academic curriculum, like the profession, requires students be expert communicators. Students will write and speak in a public forum on a regular basis. “There is 2% unemployment in the engineering fields, yet there are jobs that are unfilled. Employers are looking for the right candidate not the almost right candidate.” - recruiter

32. NMSU CHME Pre-med option

33. Transfer Students • Undergraduates CHME students begin taking CH E courses in their freshman year. • As such, a transfer student who takes two years of fundamental courses at an extension or community college must still begin as a freshman.

34. Prerequisite sequence • 7 semesters of course work (CH E 102 - 455) only available on the main NMSU campus. • CHEM 115 is also a specialized course. Taking chemistry at a community college may fulfill the CH E 102 prereq, but will not transfer as CHEM 115.

35. Summary • CHMEs are trained to a solve complex problems, thus they have diverse career opportunities • The BSCHE at NMSU has lengthy prerequisite sequence (8 semesters), where the first freshman semester begins with… • MATH 191 (Calculus 1) and • CHEM 115 (General Chemistry for CHMEs) • Therefore, students should… • Take all the HS math, science, English courses possible • Get to campus ASAP after completing high school • Come prepared to develop a love of learning.

36. Program Strengths Excerpt from the 2012-2013 EAC Final Statement and Actions for NMSU concerning ABET accreditation of the NMSU CHME program… • The alumni are very supportive of the program and devote considerable time and effort, especially through the Alumni Academy, to advise the department on continuous improvement. • The students are actively engaged not just in their own individual education but also in the education of their peers. This environment goes beyond camaraderie and includes cooperative learning, peer-assessment, and self-assessment. • The faculty members are very committed to the success of their students, and the students understand and appreciate it.

37. 2014-2015 AICHE Officers

38. Get More Information • Website is alwaysup-to-date: • http://chme.nmsu.edu • Contact: • David A. Rockstraw, Ph. D., P. E. • drockstr@nmsu.edu • (575) 646-1213 (main office for appt) • (575) 646-7705 (direct office line) • (575) 635-9539 (cell) Feel free to put students/parents directly in touch with me

39. Thank you for your attention NMSU AICHE members representing the program at The University of Utah standing on the goal line at Rice-Eccles Stadium during the 2014 AICHE Rocky Mountain Regional Conference in Salt Lake City.