Welcome to the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) at Illinois Tech.
Established in 1901, CHBE was among the first chemical engineering programs in the nation and continues to be recognized for its excellence, innovation, and impact on society and industry. The department comprises 15 full-time faculty and approximately 200 students. We offer a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in chemical engineering with multiple Our undergraduate program is ABET-accredited, ensuring that our students receive an education grounded in rigorous professional standards. The CHBE undergraduate teaching laboratories have been recently updated, introducing state-of-the-art, industry-relevant equipment in distillation, electrochemistry, and polymer science, a transformation made possible through the generosity of our alumni. Undergraduate students gain hands-on experience that mirrors industrial practice while also engaging in faculty-mentored research and experiential learning through Illinois Tech’s Armour R&D program. Ambitious students can further boost their education through , completing both a bachelor’s and ³¾²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù’s degree in as few as five years while deepening their technical expertise and professional readiness.
At the graduate level, the department offers three ³¾²¹²õ³Ù±ð°ù’s and four certificate programs, as well as a Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering that offers doctoral students unique opportunities to pursue independent research and innovation at the highest level.
Our recently established Master of Pharmaceutical Engineering, the only program of its kind in the Â鶹APP area, uniquely prepares students to address challenges in pharmaceutical biomanufacturing and key factors that influence FDA approval and market success of new therapeutics.
Our faculty are internationally recognized for research in energy and sustainability, pharmaceutical and biological engineering, systems engineering, and advanced materials. Their discoveries directly shape the department’s curricula, ensuring students learn from and work in research areas that define the future of chemical and biological engineering. CHBE faculty research is supported by federal agencies and industry and strengthened through collaborations with leading universities, companies, and medical centers across Â鶹APP and beyond.
Our faculty’s research distinction is reflected through lifetime honors and recognitions from the National Academy of Inventors, AIChE, and the Diabetes Technology Society.
Whether you are a prospective student, parent, industry partner, or alumnus, I invite you to connect with us. The department is home to a community dedicated to excellence in research, education, and innovation in chemical and biological engineering.
Georgia Papavasiliou
CHBE Department Chair
Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering