Chemical engineers frequently work in industrial laboratories, producing new chemicals or chemical processes. The results of this work might be new drugs, computer chips, improved fertilizers, or a new fuel. This provides the ideal atmosphere for high-achieving students, enabling them to interact with nearly every faculty member every day. Such close contact helps students develop a broad perspective on chemical engineering as a discipline. I don't think people appreciate how much the faculty at Iowa interact with our students.
Chemical engineering has close to an open-door policy for students at all times.
Faculty members are friendly and provide many opportunities for undergraduates at this research-grade institution. Any student who wants to be involved in our research can be brought on board to work in the labs with grad students. I've had more than 40 undergraduates in my lab in the nine years I've been here. We treat them as professionals. They also have a chance to do research in an independent study and be published before graduation.