Topics

Topics of interest for submission include any topics related to:

1. Core Chemical Engineering (ChE)

Focuses on transforming raw materials into valuable products through chemical and physical processes.

• Transport Phenomena

  • Fluid Mechanics (how fluids move)

  • Heat Transfer (conduction, convection, radiation)

  • Mass Transfer (diffusion and separation)

• Thermodynamics

  • Phase Equilibria and Chemical Equilibria

  • Equations of State

  • Power and Refrigeration Cycles

• Chemical Reaction Engineering

  • Kinetics and Catalyst Design

  • Reactor Design (Batch, CSTR, Plug Flow)

  • Yield and Selectivity Optimization

• Separation Processes

  • Distillation and Absorption

  • Extraction and Leaching

  • Membrane Separations

2. Core Biological Engineering (BioE)

Applies engineering principles to biological systems to create technologies and products.

• Bioprocess Engineering

  • Fermentation Technology

  • Bioreactor Design (controlling pH, temperature, and agitation for living cells)

  • Upstream and Downstream Processing

• Cellular and Molecular Engineering

  • Genetic Engineering and Recombinant DNA

  • Metabolic Engineering (rewiring cells to produce specific chemicals)

  • Synthetic Biology

• Biomedical & Tissue Engineering

  • Biomaterials (implants, scaffolds)

  • Stem Cell Engineering

  • Drug Delivery Systems

3. Core Environmental Engineering (EnvE)

Focuses on protecting human health and the environment by reducing pollution and managing resources.

• Water and Wastewater Treatment

  • Physical/Chemical Treatment (sedimentation, filtration, disinfection)

  • Biological Treatment (activated sludge, anaerobic digestion)

  • Desalination and Water Reuse

• Air Quality Engineering

  • Particulate Matter and Gas Emission Control

  • Atmospheric Chemistry and Dispersion Modeling

  • Indoor Air Quality

• Solid and Hazardous Waste Management

  • Landfill Engineering and Containment

  • Hazardous Waste Remediation

  • Recycling and Resource Recovery

• Hydrology and Water Resources

  • Surface Water and Groundwater Flow

  • Stormwater Management

4. Interrelated & Overlapping Topics (The Nexus)

This is where the real magic happens. CBEE is highly interdisciplinary, and most modern research happens at these intersections.

Chemical + Biological Engineering (Biochemical Engineering)

• Biocatalysis: Using natural catalysts (enzymes) instead of harsh chemicals to speed up industrial reactions.

• Biofuels and Bioenergy: Turning biomass (like algae or agricultural waste) into ethanol, biodiesel, or biogas.

• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Scaling up the production of vaccines, antibiotics, and therapeutic proteins.

Chemical + Environmental Engineering

• Green Chemistry & Engineering: Designing chemical processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.

• Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS): Using chemical solvents to capture $CO_2$ from industrial plants and finding ways to store or reuse it.

• Pollution Control Technology: Designing scrubbers and catalytic converters for industrial plants.

Biological + Environmental Engineering

• Bioremediation: Using microbes or plants (phytoremediation) to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater.

• Waste-to-Energy: Using anaerobic bacteria to break down organic waste and produce methane gas for energy.

• Ecological Engineering: Designing sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment.

The Ultimate Intersection: Chem + Bio + Env

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) & Sustainability: Evaluating the total environmental impact of a chemical or biological product from "cradle to grave."

• Circular Economy Systems: Designing zero-waste industrial parks where the waste of one process (biological or chemical) becomes the raw material for another.