Doctoral program · Rossin College
PhD in Chemical Engineering
The PhD in Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science unites advanced coursework with experimental, theoretical and computational research in energy, biomolecular systems, functional materials and data science.
- Degree awardedDoctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering
- DepartmentChemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Typical time to degree5 years
- Credit hours72 minimum
- Fall deadlineDecember 15
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
- Application fee$50 USD
Overview
What the PhD in Chemical Engineering is
Personalized faculty mentorship guides students as they carry out original research projects, solve complex problems and publish high-impact solutions to societal challenges. Research approaches include experiments, modeling, simulation and theory, and combinations of them.
Beyond expert technical proficiency, the program builds versatile communication skills so that graduates can lead basic science and engineering, industrial translation and entrepreneurial endeavors across academia, national laboratories and industry.
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering maintains the authoritative program detail. See the department page.
Research
Research that takes on society’s big challenges
Faculty and doctoral students across these areas take on some of the largest and most complex problems facing society: producing and using energy responsibly, understanding and engineering biological systems at the molecular scale, designing materials with new functions, and using simulation and data to improve how chemical systems are designed and controlled.
Energy and the environment
Meeting energy needs responsibly is one of the central problems of chemical engineering. Research in this area applies experiments, modeling, simulation and theory to energy and the environment.
Biomolecular sciences
Biological systems run on molecules, and understanding them opens routes to new biotechnology and medicine. Researchers in this area apply chemical engineering methods to biomolecular systems.
Functional materials and nanotechnology
New technologies depend on materials with specific functions, from nanostructures to surfaces and interfaces. This area connects the design and behavior of functional materials with colloidal and interfacial science.
Focus topics: Colloidal and interfacial science.
Molecular modeling and simulations
Simulation and data can show how molecules and systems behave before anyone runs the experiment. Researchers in this area combine molecular-scale models with data science, systems analysis and controls.
Focus topics: Data science, systems, and controls.
Student community and awards
- First-year PhD Seminar Series
- Annual Graduate Research Symposium
- Chemical Engineering Graduate Association (ChEGA)
- Wenzel Award
- Chevron Scholars Award
- John Chen Fellowship
Degree requirements
What the doctorate requires
A minimum of 72 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, or 48 credits with a prior technical master’s degree from another institution. Lehigh publishes the following complete set of requirements.
- Credit hours
A minimum of 72 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, or 48 credits with a prior technical master’s degree from another institution. Credits beyond the course requirements are earned through research, with dissertation credits or maintenance of candidacy credits. No course in which the grade earned is less than C- is credited toward the degree.
- Required core courses
12 credits: CHE 400 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, CHE 410 Chemical Reaction Engineering, CHE 415 Transport Processes and CHE 452 Mathematical Methods In Engineering I.
- Technical electives
12 credits: four courses selected from CHE courses at the 300 or 400 level and/or 300 and 400 level courses from other departments. CHE 490, CHE 499, CHE 454 and CHE 455 do not count as technical electives.
- Professional development
3 credits of CHE 496, either Safety, Ethics, and Communication or Graduate Professional Development: 2 credits in the spring of the first year and 1 credit in the spring of the third year.
- Seminar
CHE 455 Seminar, repeatable for 1 to 10 credits. Register for 1 credit each semester in which you have fewer than 9 credits of required courses.
- Research credits
3 to 10 credits, registered in the first through third semesters: CHE 460 Chemical Engineering Project (repeatable as needed), CHE 480 Research and CHE 481 Research. CHE 480 and CHE 481 are not repeatable and are not for students with a prior master’s degree.
- Dissertation
CHE 499 Dissertation, repeatable without limit after you pass the qualifying exam and until you are admitted to candidacy.
- Qualifying exam and general exam
A research-based exam given at the beginning of the third semester, in the first or second week of the fall semester of the second year. It has two parts: a written research report reviewed by faculty, and an oral exam before at least 3 ChBE faculty, with a 15 minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of questions. It assesses your understanding, critical and independent thinking, and progress toward initial research goals, and it also satisfies the general exam requirement. To take it you need a GPA of at least 3.15 in the four required core courses taken at Lehigh, or an exception requested by petition to the Chemical Engineering Graduate Affairs Committee. You receive feedback on strengths and weaknesses, and a student who does not pass on the first attempt after meeting the GPA minimum may retake the exam once, within 3 months of the first attempt or at the time the department specifies.
- Dissertation research plan defense
Complete it by the end of the fifth academic semester unless the Graduate Committee grants an extension. You present a written plan to your doctoral committee covering the objectives and specific aims, a review of the relevant literature, the significance and the scientific and societal impact of the work, preliminary work, the methods, anticipated difficulties and how to overcome them, and a timetable for completion. Committee members receive the plan no later than two weeks before you defend it orally.
- Admission to candidacy
You may apply for candidacy immediately after passing both the qualifying exam and the research plan defense, and at least 12 months before you expect to receive the degree.
- Dissertation and defense
The program culminates in doctoral dissertation research. Detailed procedures are set out in the department’s PhD Guidelines and Procedures.
- Courses that do not count
Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, undergraduate-only 300-level courses (CHE 300, CHE 379 and CHE 380), ENGR 492 and ENGR 496 Summer Work Experience.
Year by year
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| First year | Take the core courses, register for research credits in the first through third semesters, and complete 2 credits of professional development in the spring. |
| Second year | Take the qualifying exam at the beginning of the third semester, which also satisfies the general exam. |
| Fifth semester | Defend your written dissertation research plan before your doctoral committee. |
| Final stretch | Apply for admission to candidacy at least 12 months before you expect to receive the degree. |
Curriculum
Core and required courses
| Code | Course | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 400 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | Thermodynamics applied to chemical engineering. |
| CHE 410 | Chemical Reaction Engineering | Chemical kinetics for reactor design and operation. |
| CHE 415 | Transport Processes | Momentum, energy, and mass transport fundamentals. |
| CHE 452 | Mathematical Methods In Engineering I | Analytical math methods for engineering sciences. |
Careers
Where graduates work
Chemical engineering alumni lead research, process engineering and technical organizations across industry and academia.
Most of our alumni work in the life sciences and manufacturing, and others work in information technology, natural resources, education and health care. Common roles include process engineer, research engineer, senior research scientist, principal scientist, principal engineer and director of engineering. Some alumni have become professors, founders, chief technology officers and presidents. The program prepares graduates to lead basic science and engineering, industrial translation and entrepreneurial work across academia, national laboratories and industry.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Merck
- Air Products
- ExxonMobil
- Intel
- Regeneron
- Linde
- Honeywell
- Bristol Myers Squibb
Alumni also work at PBF Energy, Dow, Brooks Instrument, Lummus Technology, The Lubrizol, SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) For Petrochemical and EMD Electronics.
Based on current employers of Lehigh chemical engineering alumni, all degree levels, who graduated between 1996 and 2025.
Funding
Financial support
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department. Funding covers PhD tuition and a stipend.
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering does not publish program-specific stipend or assistantship figures; ask the graduate contact below what funding looks like for this program.
- PhD applicants wishing to be considered for financial assistance should submit a complete application no later than December 15 for a fall semester start.
- Named opportunities open to Rossin College doctoral students include the Rossin Research Scholars program, Pasteur PhD Partners (P3), and the SEED-EF NSF National Research Traineeship, see special opportunities for Lehigh PhD students.
- Financial aid for Lehigh’s graduate programs consists mainly of fixed-rate federal student loans through the Office of Financial Aid.
- Loan eligibility requires enrollment at least half-time, six credits during the academic year, three credits in summer.
- Emergency loans and grants are available through the Graduate Life Office.
Admissions
How to apply
Applications for admission, all semesters, all levels, are completed online. Applications open September 1; PhD applications for fall admission are due December 15 for financial aid consideration.
Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
What to submit
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts (with English translation for international applicants)
- Statement of purpose / essay
- Letters of recommendation (typically three)
- Résumé or CV
- Application fee of $50 USD
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering requirements
- Prior degree: At least a bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, in chemical engineering or a related engineering discipline by the time you enroll. Applicants with degrees in related science fields such as chemistry, physics and biology are also welcome.
- GPA: A GPA (U.S. equivalent) of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, with GPA standards for international institutions followed accordingly. Consideration is given to a trend of strengthening core GPA during the final semesters of study.
- Recommendations: A minimum of two letters of recommendation; preference is given to research advisors and professors.
- Review: The graduate program director reviews each application as a whole, in consultation with program faculty.
- Deadline: Applications are due December 15 for a fall start.
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
English proficiency minimums
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 81 (old scale) / 4 (new scale); Speaking 22/4, Writing 20/4, Reading 20/4, Listening 16/4 |
| IELTS | Overall 6.5; Speaking 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6.5, Listening 6 |
| Duolingo English Test | Overall 125; Speaking 125, Writing 120, Reading 125, Listening 110 |
| Cambridge | Overall 176; Speaking 176, Writing 169, Reading 176, Listening 169 |
| Pearson (PTE) | Overall 68, with 53 or higher on each band |
Scores expire two years from the test date. MyBestScore and One Skill Retake formats are not accepted. Waivers are available for applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of an English-speaking country, earned a U.S. degree with two or more years of in-person study, earned a degree taught in English in an English-speaking country, or studied or worked full-time in an English-speaking country for two or more years within the last five.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which department at Lehigh offers the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
The PhD in Chemical Engineering is offered by Lehigh University’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Full program detail, faculty and current requirements are maintained on the department’s own page: https://engineering.lehigh.edu/chbe/graduate/phd-chemical-engineering-phd
What is the PhD in Chemical Engineering at Lehigh?
It is a doctoral program that unites advanced coursework with experimental, theoretical and computational research in areas spanning energy, biomolecular systems, functional materials and data science. Through personalized faculty mentorship, students carry out original research projects, solve complex problems and publish solutions to societal challenges.
How long does the PhD in Chemical Engineering take?
5 years. Students take the qualifying exam at the beginning of the third semester and defend their dissertation research plan by the end of the fifth semester.
How many credits does the PhD in Chemical Engineering require?
A minimum of 72 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, or 48 credits with a prior technical master’s degree from another institution.
Do I need a master’s degree to apply to the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
No. You need at least a bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, in chemical engineering or a related engineering discipline by the time you enroll, and applicants with degrees in related sciences such as chemistry, physics and biology are also welcome. A prior technical master’s degree from another institution lowers the credit requirement from 72 credits to 48.
What GPA do I need to apply to the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
A GPA (U.S. equivalent) of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, with GPA standards for international institutions followed accordingly. Admissions reviewers also consider a trend of strengthening core GPA during your final semesters.
Is the GRE required for the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
No. GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science graduate program.
What is the application deadline for the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
Applications are due December 15 for a fall start. At the college level, PhD applications for fall admission are due December 15 for financial aid consideration, and applications open September 1. Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
What English proficiency scores are required?
International applicants must meet Lehigh’s minimum scores: TOEFL iBT overall 81 (old scale) or 4 (new scale); IELTS overall 6.5; Duolingo English Test overall 125; Cambridge overall 176; or Pearson (PTE) overall 68. Scores expire two years from the test date. Waivers are available in defined circumstances.
Is the PhD in Chemical Engineering funded?
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department.
What courses does the PhD in Chemical Engineering require?
Four core courses are required of every doctoral student: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (CHE 400), Chemical Reaction Engineering (CHE 410), Transport Processes (CHE 415) and Mathematical Methods In Engineering I (CHE 452). You also take four technical electives, professional development, seminar and research credits, and then dissertation credits to reach the credit total.
What is the qualifying exam for the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
It is a research-based exam given at the beginning of the third semester, with a written research report reviewed by faculty and an oral exam before at least 3 ChBE faculty. To take it you need a GPA of at least 3.15 in the core courses, or an exception by petition. A student who does not pass on the first attempt after meeting the GPA minimum may retake it once, within 3 months.
What happens after the qualifying exam?
The qualifying exam also satisfies the general exam requirement. By the end of the fifth academic semester you defend a written dissertation research plan before your doctoral committee. After passing both, you can apply for admission to candidacy at least 12 months before you expect to receive the degree, and you complete the program with your dissertation research.
What research areas can I work in as a PhD in Chemical Engineering student?
Doctoral research spans energy and the environment, biomolecular sciences, functional materials and nanotechnology, colloidal and interfacial science, molecular modeling and simulations, and data science, systems, and controls.
What careers do PhD in Chemical Engineering graduates pursue?
Most alumni work in the life sciences and manufacturing, and others work in information technology, natural resources, education and health care. Common roles include process engineer, research engineer, senior research scientist, principal scientist and director of engineering.
Who do I contact about the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
The department can be reached at inchegs@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-4261. General Rossin College graduate inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.
What courses do students take in the PhD in Chemical Engineering?
Required courses include Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Chemical Reaction Engineering, Transport Processes and Mathematical Methods In Engineering I. Other courses students can choose from include Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics II, Heterogeneous Catalysis and Surface Characterization, Rheology, Mass Transfer, Multivariable Process Control, and Chemical Engineering in the Life Sciences, among others. Coursework is planned with your advisor and doctoral committee, and the Lehigh course catalog carries the current requirements.
Contact
Talk to the department
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Address
HST Building
124 East Morton Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Phone and email
(610) 758-4261
inchegs@lehigh.edu
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
19 Memorial Drive West
Bethlehem, PA 18015
engineering@lehigh.edu
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