The scientific approach taken by the department provides these industries with a fundamental foundation on which to build their technologies. The department sustains research programs in traditional areas of strength including fluid mechanics, reactor engineering, catalysis, corrosion, polymer processing, interfacial phenomena, control, and optimization. In addition, the department is developing strengths in silicon wafer fabrication and protein and cellular engineering. These activities ensure that the department retains its leadership position in laying the fundamental foundation essential to maintaining and advancing our standard of living.
Departmental research is built on a tradition of fundamental research.
A strong base of corporate and federal research funding sustains this effort. These activities provide faculty with significant leverage in building multidisciplinary programs. Research in the department is carried out through the collaboration of faculty members, graduate students, undergraduate students, and post-doctoral fellows. Admission to graduate study is an extremely selective process and students are encouraged to initiate their research programs early in their graduate careers. As part of their Ph.D. program, many students participate in internships in corporate research laboratories through the department's Corporate Partnership Program.