Work in plant operations may lead the chemical engineer into management. Indeed, many leading Canadian companies have chemical engineers as their chief executive officers. Chemical engineers also engage in research and development. Development consists of the collection of engineering data needed to design and construct better equipment or to modify an entire plant. Research in chemical engineering is illustrated by some of the projects currently active at UBC which include novel processes for pollution control, fertilizer coating, electrosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide, therapeutic proteins, and biocompatible polymers.
Some chemical engineers work in technical sales in a variety of industries.
Others are involved in patent examination, and so become closely associated with the legal profession. Some become engaged in analysis of industrial hazards and safety. A few enter the field of teaching in universities and colleges. C urriculum Background mathematics, physics, chemistry, and basic engineering subjects such as materials science and computer programming are completed in the common first year and in second year Chemical Engineering. A course in fluid mechanics and introductory chemical engineering courses are also part of the second year program.