Career Workshops
We are pleased to announce the Workshop Schedule for the 2021 Annual Student Conference.
Make sure to not miss: The AIChE Board of Directors will be hosting a special Town Hall event, which will take place from 10:05am-10:50am before the Saturday Workshops. All are welcome to attend. More information available here.
Checklist for Life After Graduation
10:50 AM — 11:35 AM
Hynes Convention Center, 304
Taylor Daniels Williams, Greg Gavazzi Bechtel
So you’ve been a student for the last 16 years of your life. Crazy, right? Graduating from college is a very important, exciting, and sometimes daunting transition period. In this session, you will hear from two recent ChemE grads who will share their tips on how to make the transition to adult work life as seamless as possible.
Getting your PE License
10:50 AM — 11:35 AM
Hynes Convention Center, 302
Joseph Cramer, AIChE, William Parrish Licensing and Professional Development
This presentation discusses how becoming a Professional Engineer (PE) can enhance a chemical engineer’s career. Students learn about the PE licensure process and the two exams required to become licensed. The Computer Based Testing (CBT) exam content for both the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams are described. The presentation utilizes embedded videos of young PEs and stresses the value of taking the FE exam before, or shortly after, graduation. It aims to demystify the FE/PE process. The workshop leaders are Joe Cramer and Bill Parrish who are chemical engineering PE’s and active members of the AIChE’s Licensing and Professional Development Committee as well as the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying’s Chemical PE Exam Committee. Both have also served on AIChE’s Career and Educational Operating Council which oversees licensing for AIChE. The workshop encourages Q&A and interaction with attendees.
Finding the Right Company through the Questions You Ask
10:50 AM — 11:35 AM
Hynes Convention Center, 312
Ryan Morrison, Evonik Corporation
Interviewing for a full-time job opportunity after graduation can be a challenging experience for a number of reasons. Most often it is challenging because companies invest a good bit of time into finding the right candidates through specific interview processes. But it is just as important for you as an interviewee to invest a good bit of time into finding the right opportunity for you. One way to do this is through the questions you ask the interviewers. Come listen to some highlights on Evonik’s interview process as well as some tips on how to find the right company for you.
World of Particle Technology
10:50 AM — 11:35 AM
Hynes Convention Center, 311
Ben Freireich, Origin Materials
More than 80% of gasoline, 70% of polyolefins and a plethora of other products are made using fluidized bed (FB) technology. From gasification to drying, FBs and circulating FBs 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. 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 some of the more common particle-based technologies examining both the important role they play in society today along with the associated technical challenges. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth a thousand pictures and a live demonstration is worth a thousand videos. This session will illustrate some of the awe-inspiring and unique features in the field of particle technology through hands-on demonstrations on fluidization, hopper design, segregation, etc.
Non-Traditional ChemE Careers
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 304
Taylor Daniels Williams
Why did you become a ChemE? Many students say they liked chemistry in high school, were good at math or science, or saw that ChemE was one of the highest paid engineering disciplines. But what CAN you do with your degree? In this session, you will hear from a panel of ChemEs that chose an unconventional route after graduation and what led them down the path that they chose.
Custom-Built Thin Films – A Molecular Dynamics Perspective
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 311
Patricia Taboada-Serrano, Rochester Institute of Technology
Obioma Uche, Rochester Institute of Technology
Poornima Padmanabhan, Rochester Institute of Technology
The workshop will introduce participants to multi-scale modeling, with the focus on molecular dynamics as a tool for custom-building materials for several applications including electronics, drug delivery and industrial processes. Steps necessary to develop representations of physical systems will be outlined and implemented within the LAMMPS software application for a simple example during the workshop. Students will learn how to analyze output and visualize results for the above demo. Using the demo as a framework, a more complex, industrially relevant example will be discussed to further demonstrate the breadth of capabilities of the molecular dynamics technique. The workshop will wrap up with a brief discussion on the recommended type of graduate training for a career in engineering custom-built materials using multi-scale modeling. The syllabus for the workshop is provided below:
- High-level discussion on the use of multi-scale modeling of materials
- Different methods presented in terms of their time and length scale
- Molecular dynamics background and description
- Building models – from the actual system to a model of it
- Definition of interactions – what can you simplify, what do you need to account for
- Getting it done – LAMMPS input
- Getting your results
- Visualizing results
- Demo: a small 5 minute problem (what we learn?) – live action
- Results from a problem relevant to custom-building of thin films
- Resources required to support this work: high-performance computing
- Requisite skills and graduate training
Honeywell UOP: Make your Future Here
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 306
Saadet Ulas Acikgoz, Honeywell UOP
Joe Miyamura, Honeywell UOP
Join us to learn how you can become a #FutureShaper at Honeywell UOP. Reshape refining, petrochemicals, renewable fuels, and the gas processing industry for a company with a century of experience using breakthrough chemistry and engineering to power global growth and sustainability. Your future at UOP will continue to help us solve the world’s energy challenges by creating adaptable products, future-forward, and sustainable solutions. Industry leaders will present our business and answer your questions about employment opportunities to shape the future of sustainability with Honeywell UOP.
Exploring Graduate Opportunities at WPI
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 312
Susan Roberts, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI is a technical university in the heart of Massachusetts. We are known for integration of theory and practice, interdisciplinarity, project based learning, diversity equity and inclusion practices and holistic training. This presentation will highlight our PhD and MS programs and detail the research ongoing in molecular bioengineering, sustainability, energy, computational sciences and advanced materials science, highlighting opportunities for collaboration and professional development.
The Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration
11:45 AM — 12:30 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 302
Cristina Thomas, 3M
Joseph Cramer, AIChE
We all work in teams these days, whether we work in an industrial, academic, government or non-profit organization. This session will focus on a guided discussion on the importance of teamwork and collaboration to achieve and maximize results. You will hear from managers about the importance of creating and working in an environment that encourages everyone to work together as it relates to team’s results. Finding the correct balance between autonomous work, teamwork and collaboration skills is critical for workforce engagement and for team’s performance.
Navigating Dynamic Careers in Catalysis and Reaction Engineering
2:40 PM — 3:25 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 306
Michael T. Timko, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Bihter Padak, University of California, Irvine
Panelists will discuss their careers in the field of Catalysis & Reaction Engineering; how the Catalysis & Reaction Engineering Division has played a role in their careers; and advice on how to navigate a dynamic and fulfilling career in the field. The panel will be designed to engage the audience and provide opportunities for interaction.
Applying to Graduate School and Research Fellowships
2:40 PM — 3:35 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 304
Victoria G. Muir, Young Professionals Committee
Why should you pursue a graduate degree in engineering? What should you consider when applying to graduate school? How do you ace your fellowship and graduate program applications? How can AIChE help you prepare for graduate school and excel as a graduate student as you pursue your degree? Members of AIChE’s Young Professionals Committee (YPC) will be discussing answers to all these questions and more. Join us for a great session discussing everything you need to prepare for your graduate school career.
This workshop will feature numerous YP’s either currently in graduate programs or recently graduated. This session has been very successful in the past, as numerous students attending the AIChE conference are interested in pursuing research-based graduate degrees in engineering. The session will be interactive, leaving ample time for Q&A. Furthermore, this session can be easily adapted to a virtual format if need be.
One of the society-wide goals of AIChE is to add new members and increase member retention. This session will also focus on how AIChE can help students prepare for graduate school and succeed once they start to pursue their degree by advertising for graduate-student leadership in YPC and potentially divisions and forums.
Graduating Student Bootcamp: How to Prepare for your Next Step
2:40 PM — 3:25 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 312
Chris Cogswell Ph.D., ElSevier
So you are graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Now what? Join this session to learn tips and tricks to help make your transition to graduate school or industry easier. In this entertaining session, join Dr. Chris Cogswell as he goes through a comedic tour of his time in graduate school and industry. We will showcase tools that can support your next steps and answer any questions you may have.
Career Planning and Job Searching for Entrepreneurial-Focused Science and Engineering Fundamentals
2:40 PM — 3:25 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 302
Alaina G. Levine, Quantum Success Solutions
Thinking of starting your own business or consultancy? Or perhaps you are interested in working in or with an entrepreneurial venture? This presentation will address careers in entrepreneurship, of which there are many. We will discuss the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and how to prepare for and find and land jobs in this ecosystem. And for those of you interested in being the entrepreneur, we will address how to design a career plan that will incorporate your goals with your interests, passions, and skills. Learn about the basics of launching your own company, developing your brand, and finding and solidifying customers.
Mixing of Viscous, Non-Newtonian Fluids
2:40 PM — 3:25 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 311
Richard K. Grenville, Philadelphia Mixing Solutions Ltd.
Many viscous fluids processed in industry exhibit non-Newtonian rheology. These industries include paints, personal products such as shampoo and detergents and food products such as ketchup and mayonnaise. All at some stage in their production require mixing. Most of these fluids are shear-thinning which means that the apparent viscosity of the fluid will be low near the impeller, where velocity gradients are high, and high near the vessel wall where velocity gradients are low. This presentation will discuss how to select the impeller type that is appropriate for a particular operating regime (Reynolds number). Then correlations for estimating blend times in Newtonian fluids will be discussed and how they can be modified to take account of non-Newtonian fluid behavior. There is a class of fluids which exhibit a yield stress, meaning that a minimum level of shear must be applied before the fluid will move. Examples include toothpaste and high solids loading slurries. The rules used to size mixing equipment for these fluids will be discussed.
Exploring the Wild World of Nanoscale Science and Engineering: From School to Industry
3:35 PM — 4:20 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 311
Reginald Rogers Jr., University of Missouri-Columbia
The world of nanoscale materials has become vast and overly complex. Numerous avenues for research, development, and application have made understanding the impacts of the world of nano more complicated. Whether it is nanobiotechnology or energy-related fields, nanoscale materials have become an important thrust for future growth of science and technology. In this workshop, we will delve deep into the world of nanoscale science and engineering. Examples from nanobiotechnology, carbon nanomaterials, and nanomaterials for energy-related applications will showcase how you can be a part of this ever-growing world. An interactive discussion panel will help audience members understand the different career paths available for pursuing work involving nanoscale materials. It is expected participants will leave with a broader and fuller understanding of nanoscale science and engineering and the importance of their contributions to its continual evolution.
How to Champion Yourself – in the Lab, at Work, in your Career
3:35 PM — 4:20 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 302
Alaina G. Levine, Quantum Success Solutions
Marketing is everything, and that includes communicating your own value to individuals who will invest resources, such as a salary, in you. To land the job and to be successful in this role, you must articulate what you can do for the other party and their team. In this session, we will discuss the why and how of appropriately championing yourself at work and in the employment marketplace. You will learn tactics and strategies that are relevant and practical no matter what culture you are operating.
Everything You Always Wanted to know about Being a STEM Ambassador
3:35 PM — 4:20 PM
Hynes Convention Center, 304
Elizabeth Ostadali, Ohio State University
Lillian Vagedes, Ohio State University
Tori Ostrow, Ohio State University
Join The Ohio State University (OSU) AIChE student chapter to learn about their pilot of the Dow K-12 STEM Ambassador program at Edison Intermediate / Larry Larson Middle School! Weekly you can find us in 4th & 8th grade classrooms doing interactive science experiments thanks to Larry Sernyk and the generosity of AIChE Foundation Trustee, Dan Coombs, and his wife Ellen. Learn how you can plan to implement and perform the K-12 STEM Ambassador Program with your student chapter to promote science, technology, engineering, and math to the next generation.