The chemical engineering program at Tulane has a firm basis in classroom fundamentals, coupled with direct practical experience. This commitment is reflected in many ways, particularly the unique Practice School for seniors. Practice School provides on-site instruction in local industrial facilities, government agencies, and hospitals, permitting students to apply knowledge to problems of current professional concern. The students work closely with faculty members and professionals from the host site, gaining experience in effective problem-solving and presentation of their findings while still under the eye of sympathetic counselors. The faculty research covers areas including exploring new catalysts for use in petroleum processing, developing designer microbes to clean up bio-environmental toxins, studying how to reduce greenhouse gases, and using polymer membranes to separate out toxins in water.
Faculty members have an open door policy and often involve students in their laboratory efforts.
Through technical electives and research, students may prepare for a career in biotechnology. A large percentage of Tulane s graduating chemical engineers are immediately recruited into a wide variety of industries, while others continue to graduate studies in engineering, management, medicine, or law. The Department of Chemical Engineering at Tulane prizes curricular innovation, flexibility, and practical experience, with faculty members using an intense problem-solving approach to education. Through research and special projects, advanced undergraduates put their skills and talents to use inside and outside the classroom. For example, fourth-year students in chemical engineering form teams to investigate problems in local industry, sometimes uncovering flaws that company experts miss, and numerous other Tulane students have presented papers at national conferences or published articles in prestigious science journals.