Message From Chair

Welcome to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) at UC Irvine!

With 16 full-time faculty, and around 300 undergraduates and 80 graduate students, we offer a vibrant academic community for those seeking educational opportunities in chemical and biomolecular engineering. Our faculty expertise is broad, and we have active research programs spanning a wide range of investigation -- from the development of novel systems to produce biofuels and commodity chemicals for synthesis of materials and pharmaceuticals; to processes and systems that enable sustainable energy storage and conversion; to the development of nano- and biotechnologies for discovery and design of novel molecules, materials, and devices with applications in sustainable energy, sensing, and human health. This breadth of expertise enables us to expose our undergraduates to a full spectrum of opportunities available to chemical engineers. It also provides the basis for graduate and postdoctoral scholars to pursue lines of inquiry at the cutting edge of discovery in the molecular sciences and engineering.

Our faculty takes great care to ensure that our students obtain a quality educational experience, and our professors receive among the best teaching evaluations in the Samueli School of Engineering. The faculty also provides research opportunities to interested and committed undergraduate students. We have an outstanding student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) that provides opportunities for our undergraduates to network with each other, develop their professional skills, and connect with industry. The active CBE Graduate Student Association is dedicated to fostering a dynamic community by providing professional development and social events to graduate students during their academic pursuits. Our department is committed to cultivating a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for all, and we strive to build a community that inspires collaboration and shared success.

I invite you to explore our website and to visit the beautiful UCI campus to interact with our students, staff, and faculty. If you are considering undergraduate or graduate study in chemical and biomolecular engineering, please contact us at (949) 824-3426 or chbe@uci.edu.  We look forward to engaging with you. 

Sincerely, 

Szu-Wen Wang, 
Professor and Interim Chair