r/ChemicalEngineering

Hello all, I'm currently pursuing my BS in biological engineering (not interested in grad school) but I can't tell if I'm making the right decision. I'm very drawn to both chemical and biological engineering, but can't choose (NOT biomed). I'm really interested in food science/packaging, environmental control, and parasitology.
After looking at my schools degree requirements, I don't feel very interested in the coursework later in my degree. However, I truly worry about my ability to successfully complete a chemical engineering degree because I know the content is physics heavy, and I ate SHIT during physics 1.
Which do you think would be a more appropriate field based on interests/concerns? I appreciate any advice!

Hi everyone,
I am looking for career outlook advice regarding two specific professional paths in the energy sector.
As a fresh graduate aiming to enter the Oil & Gas industry, I am trying to understand the long-term industry value of specializing early versus staying on a broader technical path.
Assuming no prior plant experience, how do hiring managers view these two backgrounds for entry-level roles:

1. Advanced Chemical Engineering (Core/Operations/Design focus)
2. Process Safety Management / Process Safety Engineering
   The Dilemma: Does a specialized safety degree offer a genuine competitive edge to get a foot in the door at energy companies, or is it heavily preferred to have field/operations experience first before focusing on safety?
   Would appreciate insights from anyone currently working in O&G or involved in recruitment. Thanks

During my undergrad and graduate ChemE engineering courses, we never discussed how to reconcile the error-prone experimental data with the modeling equations. We always just assumed solving equations was “good enough” to be a chemE.

As I’m applying for positions, I realize I don’t know what to do with actual data…all I’ve done is model it.

Sorry about the vent, but kind a need to get this out of me chest and hear other perspectives. I started in a new project some time ago, the engineer lead, me and one other person. I am worried because of the lack of leading especially now when two new people join to the team.

I have asked many times what is the workflow for our design, still no proper answer. Everyone are just doing their own “areas” with own style without proper alignment with the desing. I don’t hear anything from the lead unless it is time for weekly meeting and that is also more like “how is evrything going”, every one are just shut 10-15min and meeting is done.

Im also worried about the technical part. Every time I ask something I just get an manual to read or screenshot of something, not proper answer. So go figure. I have also rised concerns on how to do xyz and also given my thought process why it should be done in x way. Many times I feel they just don’t understand or don’t care.

I think it is good that we are not micromanaged but I’m very concern of the lack of communication in the team, the direction and just lack of technical know how as well. Have you ever experienced something similar what to do? I have a feeling that it will all backflash hard once we deliver the design to the customer.

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Is it crazy to have all in the same semester? And biochemistry too?

Hi guys! So basically I'm in my junior year of ChemE. At my university, writing an undergrad thesis is optional. I am not interested in research, my ultimate goal is to work in industry. However, I am planning to pursue a masters right after finishing my bachelors. Would skipping the thesis hurt my chances of getting into a good masters program? Thank you.

I’m heading into my last semester this fall in Chemical Engineering at a local state school and I honestly thought by this point I’d have a better idea of what I wanted to do career wise. Somehow I feel even more confused now than I did earlier in my degree.

By the time I graduate, I’ll have about 24 months of internship experience completed. I’ve worked in process and manufacturing roles at two different companies for 4 months each. Both roles were okay in my opinion but the work felt pretty mundane. A lot of it was things P&ID redlining and general support work on SOP's and MOC's. Since both placements were short, I also feel like I never really got the chance to get into the more technical side of process engineering.

Most of my experience has actually been closer to Civil Engineering. I’m currently working as a Field Engineering Student for a civil engineering firm doing QC and inspections and I also did similar work for another company previously for an extended period of time as-well. So even though I’m in chemical engineering, I have a lot more experience in the civil/environmental side of things.

I also took an environmental engineering course on contamination and remediation and I found it somewhat interesting. Because of my civil-related experience, I’ve been thinking about maybe pivoting toward a career in Remediation since it might be an easier field for me to break into. At the same time, I’m not sure if I’m considering it because I actually like it, or just because it feels like the path of least resistance.

My biggest worry is that my process engineering knowledge feels really weak. I’ve finished my Capstone 1 course, but I still feel like school only scratched the surface of what I’d actually need to know in industry. I’m decent at studying and getting through classes, but I don’t actually feel technically strong, especially when it comes to process engineering. I’m honestly worried I’d struggle in technical interviews or end up not being able to compete.

For those of you working in industry

1. What do employers actually look for in new grads? Do they expect strong technical knowledge right away, or more of a willingness to learn?
2. How did you figure out what industry or career path you actually wanted to pursue?

I have been trying to find research topics and I just dont know if theyre good or not.

For those who have taken both, which course did you find more difficult: Calculus III or Thermodynamics? I’m especially interested in hearing from Chemical Engineering students. Thanks!

I have a 127 degree Celsius glycol system. This is a loop system where the glycol recirculates and then feeds into a tank where it is then pump back around. The pump is cavitating . The best efficiency point for the pump is 600 GPM which is 180 psig discharge pressure. But they are running at 300 gpm at 50 psig discharge pressure. The pump curve says it should be 190 psig. But the PCV holds it at 50. How are we so far off the curve and why are we cavitating

I am in my 7 th sem of bsc chemical engineering... I wanna do a masters in Heath and Safety, I want to start doing it from now what should I do and how ?

So, I will be graduating from my MSc in Chemical Engineering in September. I have studied in a top 100 uni for my BSc (RUG) and a top 50 uni (KUL) for my MSc. I would say I was one of the best in my BSc and an average student in my MSc. I really got burned out after the last 6 years of continuously grinding to achieve these degrees. Both my BSc and MSc thesises are based on cellulose and cellulose-based products (e.g. cellulose-stabilized emulsion gels and recycling of cellulosic cotton). From the name of the universities you might have already understood that I am based in Western Europe and to be even more concrete, I am a EU citizen as well. There are a lot of issues in the chemical industry, almost nobody is hiring juniors, salaries are not as they were 2-3 years ago for starting positions and also the competition is insane (since there’s at most 1 open junior position in companies like INEOS or ExxonMobil). Considering all of the above-mentioned facts and based on my personal preferences/feelings, I don’t think working for a big company that produces base chemicals is my cup of tea. I speak 4 languages as mother tongues and a 5th one ( Dutch ) at A2/B1 level. I am sociable , great at “ selling” and a very extroverted guy who turned 25 recently. I thought that going into consultancy would be great for me and all my acquaintances have been telling me the same..
But I don’t want to work for the big players (e.g. KPMG , Deloitte, etc). I’d like to be part of a real engineering consultancy company and not be surrounded by all those “ consultants” who have no idea what a mass balance or energy balance is …
I forgot to mention that I do have some experience in the field (6 months) but a lot of it is outside the field. I had to work my whole student life to be able to sustain myself and cover the study costs..
So before jumping in with conclusions about not having “ 3 years of experience before graduating a MSc degree” , please consider what was written above as well.

So what do I do guys? Should try going into consultancy ? Are there any other better choices in your opinion ? Should I maybe try and go into the textile business or cellulose-based business? What is the best sub-field or country to go ?
I am so lost and would very much like some piece of advice from people who know the field.

Thank you a lot in advance !

As the title saying i am planning on taking chemE for college,will i be able to work in this field if i have asthma?and if i will face problems will it be too severe that i cant manage it?(the thinng i read at several places on people facing problems in this industry without even any condition like mine, i will be really grateful if you kindly give me an opinion on this matter)

I am an incoming freshman interning at a Chemical Engineering plant this summer. A lot of the work I do is shadow people around or take a few samples from time to time, but I also sit around and do nothing a lot of the time. I feel like if I had more skills to contribute I would be doing more work. I also feel like there are things I could be doing while sitting around that will also help me gain more skills to work if that makes sense. Iv'e learnt a lot of new things related to the plant but I also feel confused on a lot of things from time to time. What are some things I could do while i'm sitting around or ways you guys think I could contribute more in the plant? Thank you!