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The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) at Iowa State University brings together faculty, staff, and students engaged in cutting-edge chemical and biological research with national and global recognition. Established in 1913, it stands among the nation's pioneering chemical engineering departments.
Develop thorough comprehension of academic literature within your research domain.
Create verifiable hypotheses and define research goals that will advance knowledge in your field when achieved.
Perform quantitative investigations through proper data collection, examination, and presentation.
Analyze research outcomes correctly, connecting them to existing disciplinary knowledge.
Effectively convey research results through both spoken and written communication with clarity and precision.
Pursue independent academic work while maintaining ethical standards and professional conduct.
Organic compounds serve as the fundamental building blocks for society's fuels, chemicals, and materials. The emergence of chemical engineering paralleled technological advancements in processing carbon from petroleum, natural gas, and coal into useful products. Biorenewable research is creating similar processes using plant-based carbon sources. Although traditional chemical engineering principles apply, biomass feedstocks demand innovative approaches in protein engineering, synthetic biology, microbial metabolism, systems biology, separation techniques, reaction engineering, and catalysis to fully harness their potential.