The PhD program in Chemical Engineering is comprised of coursework, teaching, and research elements. Graduate students take advanced courses in fundamentals of chemical and biological engineering as well as elective courses in specialized areas that provide an opportunity to gain knowledge from other world-class departments at UW-Madison. PhD students serve as teaching assistants in the classroom and often serve as research mentors to undergraduates. These opportunities help students to master their knowledge of engineering concepts and develop teaching and mentorship skills. PhD students also participate in student-led organizations such as the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association (ChEGS).

Graduate students are matched with a faculty research advisor in their first semester and, beginning in the spring semester, engage in the development of an independent PhD thesis. Research is the core activity of the PhD program and progress towards the thesis is periodically evaluated and guided by faculty serving on the student’s thesis committee.

Students typically earn a Ph.D. within 5 years, then move on to careers in industry, academia, national labs, or other areas. A list of initial jobs received from PhD graduates between 2018-2023 is available here. Student professional development is enhanced by a wide variety of programs available to support students interested in teaching, mentorship, entrepreneurship, science communication, or science policy. Example professional and career development resources are listed here.