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The Smith School's doctoral program in chemical engineering equips you for academic and research careers. Typically spanning four to five years with full financial support, this program empowers students to make meaningful advancements in the discipline while joining an exceptional scholarly community.
Our chemical engineering department boasts renowned faculty, cutting-edge facilities with ongoing upgrades, and an unparalleled collaborative environment. As you work toward your thesis and degree, you'll join a vibrant academic community upholding Cornell University's foundational values. The program emphasizes developing fundamental and applied scientific understanding while cultivating innovation, creativity, and independent thinking. Candidates may focus their dissertation on research or specialized projects encompassing design, economics, or mathematical analysis, with no foreign language requirement for chemical engineering majors.
Chemical engineering employs systematic problem-solving methods, leveraging expertise in chemistry, kinetics, transport phenomena, reactor design, and thermodynamics. Within the Nanoscale Electronics, Photonics and Materials Processing domain, CBE research teams lead pioneering investigations into nanofiber material properties, photonic crystal-enhanced solar cell efficiency, and organic/inorganic material surface science. This research directly influences: Development of advanced electronic materials for computing components. Nanoscale fabrication for next-gen solar technology and lithium batteries. Light-emitting materials for displays and solid-state lighting. Flexible organic semiconductors for large-area electronic displays.