Student Chapter & Career Workshops
Slideshow
We are pleased to announce the Workshop Schedule for the 2018 Annual Student Conference. This year's program has been organized into 7 subject tracks to help students decide which sessions they would like to attend.
New for 2018: The AIChE Board of Directors will be hosting a special Town Hall event, which will take place from 10:45am-11:30am during the Saturday Workshops. All are welcome to attend. More information available here.
View the complete technical grid here.
Please find information on each of the workshops below.
Note: There will be a special executive panel discussion happening from 1:30pm - 2:30pm during the workshop program. More information available here.
- Track I: Student Chapters
- Track II: Putting your Best Foot Forward Post-Graduation
- Track III: Preparing for a Career in Industry
- Track IV: Landing the Job
- Track V: Specialty Areas of Chemical Engineering I
- Track VI: Speciality Areas of Chemical Engineering II
- Track VII: Sponsored Workshops
Track I: Student Chapters
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 303
10:45am - 11:30am: Corporate-Chapter Collaboration
10:45am - 11:05am: Hosting a Career Fair
Presented by: Alexis Laundry and Michael Nguy, Northeastern University Student Chapter
The Northeastern University student chapter has been successfully hosting a Co-op Career Fair each semester for the past 6 years. We host 30+ employers of Chemical Engineering students in the Boston area and beyond, see 200+ students in attendance and have integrated our efforts with another student group, the Biomedical Engineering Society, to make our event even better. We want to share with you our tips for success, how the organizational changes we’ve made over the past 2 years have streamlined our planning process, and hear your suggestions for how we can continue to grow and improve.
11:10am - 11:30pm: Corporate Sponsorship
Presented by: Christina Meyer and Joseph McMullen, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Student Chapter
We plan to cover how the University of Michigan uses Corporate sponsorship and how we get it. We plan to give examples of how to build up other chapters' corporate sponsorship.
11:45am - 12:30pm: K-12 Engagement
11:45am - 12:05pm: Impactful K-12 Outreach Programming
Presented by: Executive Student Committee
In 2018, the Executive Student Committee (ESC) has helped reinvigorate interest in K-12 Outreach among Student Chapters through their spotlights featuring Student Chapters with an outstanding history of K-12 programming. The ESC, in partnership with select Student Chapters, will present on how to hold a successful K-12 event taking into consideration fundraising, advertising, safety, and understanding how to communicate effectively based on the audience’s age. In this workshop, the ESC seeks to motivate and enable Student Chapters worldwide to engage in inspiring the next generation of chemical engineers through K-12 Outreach.
12:10am - 12:30pm: Planning a Chemical Engineering Design Project for High School Students
Presented by:Shawn Lu, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Student Chapter
In order to generate interest in chemical engineering as a field of study, a variety of approaches (e.g. presentations, hands-on activities) are needed. In this workshop, we will discuss a new approach involving a cross-curricular chemical engineering design project for high school students. We will share insights from two previous design projects (Spring 2017 and Spring 2018) regarding project planning, material development, teaching, and working with sponsors. We will also share design prompts (and reports) from the Spring 2017 and 2018 projects for use by any AIChE student chapter.
2:45pm - 3:30pm: Going Global
2:45pm - 3:05pm: Engaging Across Cultures: Sister Chapter Presentation
Presented by: Ellen Khoury, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Student Chapter
This presentation will cover the benefits of cross culture engagement through the process of starting a sister chapter at your institution. Additionally, the purpose and structure of our relationship will be discussed with our very own sister chapter, AIChE Medellín!
3:10pm - 3:30pm: Leadership without Borders
Presented by: Executive Student Committee
Serving as the liaison between Student Chapters and AIChE, the Executive Student Committee (ESC) is tasked with working with ChemE students from over 40 countries. With members from 15 countries in itself, the ESC finds strength in its diversity and how it helps to bring together students from different backgrounds. In this workshop, ESC leaders will share their experiences bringing together students worldwide to build a welcoming community for all ChemE students. The ESC will discuss the skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed to navigate and succeed in an interconnected world.
3:45pm - 4:30pm: Growing Your Chapter
3:45pm - 4:05pm: Diversifying Technical Projects: The Chemical Engineering Introductory Project
Presented by: Richa Ghosh and Steven Drooz, University of California, Los Angeles Student Chapter
Since the introduction of the Chemical Engineering Introductory Project (ChIP) two years ago, AIChE at UCLA has seen an tremendous growth not only in our technical division, but other aspects of the club as well. The project allows participants to understand and apply fundamental chemical engineering principles by building a small-scale chemical engineering system in teams. In the past, students have built coffee machines, cooling towers, and soap batch reactors as their final project. Advantages of ChIP include the project’s cost-effectiveness, the fact that lab space is not required, and its appropriate level of difficulty for incoming freshmen and transfer students. Topics that will be covered in the workshop include implementing the project, connecting the project to core chemical engineering fundamentals, how the project should be advertised, and how ChIP segues into other more advanced technical projects. In addition, current technical leads of ChIP at UCLA will discuss the strategies and difficulties faced in implementing this project.
4:10pm - 4:30pm: Mentorship Program: Encouraging Underclassmen Involvement
Presented by: Elaine Parkanzky, Elias Tavarez, and Fritz Hyde, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Student Chapter
Mentorship is a great way to involve underclassmen in your chapter and create a tight-knit community within your department. Come check out the mentorship program with the University of Michigan AIChE chapter!
Track II: Putting Your Best Foot Forward Post-Graduation
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 310/311
10:45am - 11:30am: Why Experience is as Valuable as Your College Degree
Presented by: Lucas Wylie, North Carolina State University Student Chapter
This session will be used to describe the many compelling benefits of having an internship or a co-op. Beginning with the importance of gaining experience before entering the workforce full time, the presentation will then describe how to maximize the chances of being offered an internship/Co-op, how to get the most out of your work experience, different lessons learned while working, and critical things everyone should do before leaving the company.
11:45am - 12:30pm: Washington Internships for Students of Engineering
Presented by: Jami Summey-Rice, WISE Intern
Since 1980, the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering program has prepared future leaders of the engineering profession in the United States for the increasingly important issues at the intersection of science, technology, and public policy. Every year AIChE’s WISE program selects outstanding engineering students to conduct research on a public policy issue and learn how engineers can contribute to public policy decisions in complex technological matters. This session will feature AIChE WISE program alumni, who will be sharing stories about their experience and will talk about career opportunities for chemical engineers in public policy. The deadline to apply for the 2018 AIChE WISE Program is December 31, 2017. All students who are interested in applying are encouraged to attend.
2:45pm - 3:30pm: Thinking Outside the Box with your Career
Presented by: Young Professionals Committee
A chemical engineering degree prepares you for many types of careers. Chemical engineers succeed at critical thinking, analyzing, innovating, and getting results. These skills are applicable to any career path. What are other options besides working at a plant or going to graduate school? This session will focus on careers beyond one mentioned in the textbooks such as business, law, or technical writing, and how a chemical engineering degree prepares you for it. Hear about some unique jobs professionals have found and the paths they took to get to their dream job.
3:45pm - 4:30pm: Tips for Succeeding at Your First Job
Presented by: Young Professionals Committee
Transitioning from college to the workforce is an exciting time but can also be challenging. Come prepare by hearing advice about how to make it an easier process by finding out about the biggest hurdles to the small ones encountered. Young Professionals from across industry will answer the question, “What do you wish you would have known when starting your first job?” Students will learn what it is like to be working in industry as well as expectations of them while on the job. A Q&A session will follow the panel, allowing students to interact with the speakers.
Track III: Preparing for a Career in Industry
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 317/318
10:45am - 11:30am: Pathway to Licensure: The FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) and PE Exams
Presented by: Joseph Cramer and William Parrish, Licensing and Professional Development Committee
This session gives an overview of how to become a Professional Engineer and emphasizes the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam which is the first of the two exams needed for licensure. The new Computer Based Testing (CBT) exam for both the FE and PE Exams is illustrated. The presentation reviews why many might want to become a PE. It demystifies the licensure process and tells about the two required exams. The presentation explains the benefits of taking the FE Exam for students about to obtain their first professional degree and how this increases the young professional’s career opportunities. The presenters are Joe Cramer and Bill Parrish who are PE's. Both are active members of the AIChE’s Licensing and Professional Development Committee and have served on the Career and Educational Operating Council of AIChE. They are members of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying’s ChE PE Exam Committee.
11:45am - 12:30pm: What Does my Future Employer Really Want? Knowledge in the Fundamentals of Process Safety
Presented by: Ronald Willey, SACHE
This 45 minute session will cover the products available from AICHE-CCPS-SACHE that help students obtain a background in process safety. When you walk through the door of your employer, there will be a strong chance that your safety and the safety of others that you work with will be their major emphasis. Surprisingly, they will not be concerned if you can solve a Laplace transform, or even if you understand a catalytic reaction. But being able to go home at the end of day, without injury, and without harming anyone else, matters immensely to employers. This workshop shows you how to obtain background information that should give you a tailwind in process safety as you start your industrial career.
2:45pm - 3:30pm: How the Energy Industry Works: An Energy Industry Overview
Presented by: Cynthia Murphy-Ortega, Chevron
The world population is continuing to grow and this growth results in a rising demand for energy. Chevron, as one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, is working to meet this demand by supporting all facets of the energy value chain (exploration, production, transportation, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, renewables, and future energy resources). This Energy Industry Overview workshop will explain how the energy industry works and how chemical engineers contribute to this industry.
3:45pm - 4:30pm: Careers in Management
Presented by: Joe Cramer, Mark Swientoniewski, Richard Siegel, and Rosemarie Wesson, Management Division
This session provides a short presentation on careers in management for chemical engineers, followed by a panel discussion with questions and answers from a group of experienced managers with backgrounds in industry, government, consulting, and academia. The session should be of great interest to any student who may consider the possibility of seeking a management position at some time in his or her career.
Track IV: Landing the Job
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 315/316
11:45am - 12:30pm: Effective Interviewing for Industrial Positions
Presented by: Greg Yeo, Chief Engineer at ExxonMobil Chemical
Successful interviewing isn't a matter of tricks and techniques - it's about principles and preparation. It's about knowing the company you're speaking to, knowing what you have to offer and being able engage in a professional discussion with a potential colleague. Greg has interviewed hundreds of chemical engineering students for jobs in industry and will share insights and approaches you can use to make your job interviews more effective.
2:45pm - 3:30pm: Networking for Nerds
Presented by: Alaina Levine, Quantum Success Solutions
Wanna land your dream job? Get ready to network! Most jobs and other game-changing career opportunities are not advertised, and even if they are, there is usually a short-list of candidates already in mind. So how do you find out about and access the 90% of jobs and other opportunities that are "hidden"? In this workshop, we will focus on proven networking strategies and tactics to identify new opportunities, locate decision-makers within organizations, solidify your reputation and brand in the minds of those who hire, and gain access to hidden jobs and game-changing opportunities. Discover how networking and self-promotion can enable you to land or even create your dream job from scratch!
3:45pm - 4:30pm: Negotiation for Nerds
Presented by: Alaina Levine, Quantum Success Solutions
Did you know that the salary of your very first job after graduation determines your salaries for the rest of your life? Learn how to create a win-win situation and negotiate right from start to finish in the job decision process. Clarifying your needs and wants, and those of the other party are key. We will discuss how to address common negotiation concerns and questions to ensure that you feel confident in your next negotiation.
Track V: Specialty Areas of Chemical Engineering I
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 304/305
11:45am - 12:30pm: The Role of Mixing in Fast, Competitive Chemical Reactions
Presented by: Richard Grenville, North American Mixing Forum
The workshop will cover the role of mixing in the outcome of fast, competitive chemical reactions. It will cover experiments that should be carried out at lab-scale to identify mixing sensitivity and then how to scale-up. Examples or real case studies will be included.
2:45pm - 3:30pm: Bridging Bright Future in Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology with Chemical Engineers
Presented by: Supathorn Phongikaroon, Nuclear Engineering Division
Needs of chemical engineers in nuclear science, engineering and technology (NSE&T) in a sustainable energy era have grown significantly due to the need for energy source alternatives to fossil fuels, energy independence, and environmental restoration of former plutonium production sites. The main goal of this workshop is to highlight possible roles and contributions of chemical engineers to NSE&T research, development, and operations as well as nuclear energy policy and economics. Students will have an opportunity to learn, explore and understand how to apply chemical engineering skills and concepts into systems and applications of nuclear processes and projects (for examples, fuel reprocessing technology, advanced fuel materials, fuel cells, nuclear reactor design, and nuclear safeguards) occurring in top national laboratories, industries, and associated universities.
3:45pm - 4:30pm: World of Particle Technology – Fluidization and Solids Handling
Presented by: Mayank Kashyap, Reddy Karri, and Ben Freireich, Particle Technology Forum
More than 80% of your gasoline, 70% of your polyolefins and a plethora of other products are made using fluidized bed technology. From gasification to drying, fluidized beds and circulating fluidized beds provide the distinct advantage of high heat transfer and solids mobility. These features have resulted in several breakthrough technologies with better temperature control and the ability to move solids from a reduction to an oxidation environment. This workshop will focus on some of these breakthrough technologies.
Billions of pounds of bulk solids are processed and handled every year by the US process industries, yet most chemical engineers are ill-equipped to deal with the complexities of engineering science of solids processing. Hence, plants and products suffer with lost production, inability to achieve design production rates, off grade or off specification products. During this session, we will take a look at the fun and exciting world of solids processing. Specifically, we will look at some of the more common particle-based technologies examining both the important role they play in society today along with the associated technical challenges.
Track VI: Specialty Areas of Chemical Engineering II
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 306/307
11:45am - 12:30pm: Refining and Gas Processing 101- An Introduction for New Graduates
Presented by: Fuels & Petrochemicals Division
This presentation provides an overview of some key refining and gas processing technologies that many new chemical engineering graduates will encounter as they start their careers. Key technologies highlights are presented along with some general guidance on starting your careers in the refining, gas, and petrochemicals sectors.
2:45pm - 3:30pm: Chemical Engineering in Pharmaceuticals
Presented by: Michael Dummeldinger and Dana Alhasson, Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing Forum
Workshop panelists, Michael Dummeldinger (BMS) and Dana Alhasson (Abbvie), will discuss various roles and responsibilities of chemical engineers in the pharmaceutical industry by presenting their work experiences to the audience. These discussions will showcase the interesting technical challenges encountered by chemical engineers in our field and highlight the roles chemical engineers play in pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing. A question and answer segment will follow the panelists' presentations to provide the audience with further information.
3:45pm - 4:30pm: Nanoscale Science & Engineering: Translating from Benchtop to Industry
Presented by: Reginald Rogers, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum
The use of nanoscale materials continues to drive many of today’s industries. From consumer products to medicine, nanomaterials play a pivotal role in how society functions on a day-to-day basis. Being able to develop such materials at the benchtop scale and scaling up to manufacturing levels is no small feat. Various parameters (e.g. equipment capabilities, safety metrics, or raw material availability in large quantities) all play critical roles in translating from bench to product. In this workshop, we will discuss the impact of nanoscale science and engineering on today’s product markets. Why has there been an explosion in the use of nanomaterials? What are the pros and cons of advancing the development of nanomaterials for consumer use? In the end, it will be shown how you can play a significant role in driving the future of nanoscale science and engineering in our society.
Track VII: Sponsored Workshops
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, 301/302
11:45am - 12:30pm: Learn About Student Versions of Engineering Software Used for Process Equipment Design and Process Engineering - ANSYS Inc.
Presented by: ANSYS
As chemical and process engineering students, you are familiar with process simulation software, for example Aspen Plus. The industry also uses other software dealing with a wide range of physics and scales including for example the design and optimization of unit operation equipment. Advancements in computing power has accelerated the adoption and has broaden the utility of detailed engineering design and analysis software. To use of these types of simulation software are accelerating in many companies in the process industries. Engineers now can deal with complex demand on product performance, production yield, energy usage, environment, and sustainability.
This workshop is designed for students and faculty interested to learn about advances in simulation and analysis in material, chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The participants will develop an understanding of the underlying modeling and simulation technology trends in the process industries and how the industry is adopting these tools. The presentations will cover technology demonstration and information on how student can access free software for educational purposes and online MOOC courses.
2:45pm - 3:30pm: AVEVA Sponsored Workshop
Presented by: Michael Donahue, AVEVA
AVEVA is a global leader in engineering and industrial software. As a result of the merger with Schneider Electric Software, 4.400 employees support the broadest and most modern Digital Transformation portfolio in the market. With limited innovation in the process simulation domain over the last two decades, AVEVA rethinks how process simulation should be done with the release of our next generation program, SimCentral. This workshop will highlight SimCentral, along with flagship simulators PRO/II and DYNSIM and introduce everyone to our first North American Academic Competition. It features a challenging and educational case and attractive prices, including paid internship in our technology center in California.
3:45pm - 4:30pm: Starting your Career with Evonik
Presented by: Peter Valdez, Evonik
We may not manufacture tires, mattresses, medications or animal feeds, but Evonik is part of all of those products—and many more. While we often contribute only small amounts of material, those contributions are precisely what make the difference. That’s because Evonik products make tires fuel efficient, mattresses more elastic, medications more effective and animal feeds healthier. That’s what specialty chemicals are all about. And when it comes to specialty chemicals, we’re among the best in the world.
Evonik stands for attractive business and innovation prowess. Our corporate culture is geared toward results, profitable growth and increasing the value of the company. Operating in over 100 countries, we benefit from close customer relationships and leading market positions. Over 36,000 employees are united by the understanding that no product is so perfect that you can’t make it better.
During this workshop, we will present the common career pathways for recently graduated engineers to develop into experts and leaders. We will also discuss international opportunities to work at any of our global locations.
See what chemistry can do for you at careers.evonik.com
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