Career Workshops
We are pleased to announce the Workshop Schedule for the 2022 Annual Student Conference. This year's program has been organized into 6 subject tracks to help students decide which sessions they would like to attend.
Please find information on each of the workshops below.
- Track I: After the Bachelor
- Track II: Beginning and Building a Career
- Track III: Leadership, Licensure, and Life Skills
- Track IV: Sustainability and Policy
- Track V: ChemEs Can Do Anything
- Track VI: Industry Partner Insights
Make sure to not miss: The AIChE Board of Directors will be hosting a special Town Hall event, which will take place from 10:00am-10:45am before the Saturday Workshops. All are welcome to attend. More information available here.
Track I: After the Bachelor
10:50am - 11:35am: Innovations in Materials and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Presented by: Nastassja Lweinski and Tom Roper, VCU Engineering
The recent coronavirus pandemic opened up new opportunities for data science tools to speed up vaccine and drug development. Global shutdowns put pressure on supply chains exposing manufacturing vulnerabilities in the United States as well as its global trade partners. VCU Engineering has been investing in the advanced manufacturing space for years, and as a result, has been recognized for its innovation and expertise in pharmaceutical engineering through research and education and the establishment of the Medicines for All Institute (M4ALL), the Center for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Engineering and the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority. This workshop will discuss the innovative research being conducted to optimize materials and pharmaceutical manufacturing and opportunities to participate in these efforts to improve access to high-quality medications across the globe.
11:45am - 12:30pm: Survive and Advance with Confidence: Navigating the PhD Labyrinth
Presented by: Reginald Rogers, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum
A PhD is more than just getting three letters behind your name. It is a journey where you are learning more about yourself as you become an expert in your chosen field of study. However, no two PhD journeys are the same. From Year 1 to Year 5, there will be many crossroads one will encounter before reaching the finish line. Each crossroad may leave you asking: “Is the PhD right for me?” Such a question is common among individuals pursuing the ultimate advanced degree. In this workshop, we will walk through the PhD journey from start to finish. How do you tackle each year of your program? How you negotiate difficult advisors? What do you do when you begin to feel the “PhD Fatigue”? How do you leverage your PhD experience in developing the next phase of your career? The nuts and bolts to tackling a PhD will be the same across the board, but the end result will depend on YOU. This interactive workshop will give you the chance to think about what you need to do in order to be successful and advance to the next level…with confidence!
Learning Outcomes and Take-Aways
By the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:
1. Understand the complexities of navigating a PhD with a different mindset compared to their undergraduate degree program
2. Write out a plan of action for successfully navigating their PhD journey
3. Discuss, freely, issues they are currently facing in their PhD program and how to overcome those issues
4. Walk away confident in their efforts to complete their PhD with a high level of success
2:40pm - 3:25pm: Applying to Graduate School and Research Fellowships
Presented by: Carmen Daoud, Young Professionals Committee
Why should you pursue a graduate degree in engineering? What should you consider when applying to graduate school? How to 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.
3:35pm - 4:20pm: Exploring Graduate Opportunities at WPI
Presented by: Dr. 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.
Track II: Beginning and Building a Career
10:50am - 11:35am: Starting Your First Industry Position
Presented by: Young Professionals Committee
What do employers look for in a recent college graduate? How can you prepare to ace your industry interviews? What does the typical day of an engineer look like in various engineering positions? How can you make the most of your internship experiences to propel you into a full-time job? How can AIChE help you land a job and excel in your first few years out of college? Join the Young Professionals Committee (YPC) in a discussion on preparing to apply for industry jobs and excel in your first position. YPC members will also discuss what they wish they knew when starting their first jobs. The session will feature recent-graduate young professional engineers from various companies talking about their experiences and giving advice on making the transition from college to career.
This workshop will feature numerous YP’s in various industry positions. This session has been very successful in the past, as numerous students attending the AIChE conference are interested in industry jobs. 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 job applications and succeed once they start in their first career.
11:45am - 12:30pm: A Day in the Life of…
Presented by: Young Professionals Committee
This session will feature a panel of ChemE’s from the Young Professionals Committee (YPC) who are currently pursuing a variety of different career paths, from graduate school to industry to government jobs. Panelists will discuss what a typical day looks like in their current roles, career decisions they made to get there, and pros and cons of different careers. This panel will provide a great overview of many different career options for ChemE’s. Panelists will also discuss how AIChE engagement after graduation helps in their unique career path.
This workshop will feature numerous YP’s in various job positions. This session is aimed towards undergraduate looking for an overview of many different ChemE careers. 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 job applications and succeed once they start in their first career.
2:40pm - 3:25pm: Create Your Unicorn Career!
Presented by: Alaina Levine, Quantum Success Solutions, LLC
In this session, we will discuss how to leverage your talents and loves, as well as networking to create a unique, customized career, which we call Your Unicorn Career. A Unicorn Career honors your authenticity and allows you to solve the problems that bring you meaning, use the skills that bring you joy, and get paid! We will address how to understand your unique value, skills and interests and how to align that with employers who will hire you. We will discuss a data-driven and process engineering approach to create opportunities for Your Unicorn Career to come to fruition.
3:35pm - 4:20pm: It's Not Bragging: The Art of Self-Promotion in the Job Search and Career Plan
Presented by: Alaina Levine, Quantum Success Solutions, LLC
Self-promotion is not bragging- as long as you share truthful information about how you can help another party, at the appropriate time and place. In this session, we will discuss the necessity of self-promotion and how to do it effectively, professionally, and appropriately across cultures, communities, and sectors. Communicating and promoting your value is an essential component of advancing your career - and advancing the careers and missions of your partners. Learn how to do it the right way!
Track III: Leadership, Licensure, and Life Skills
10:50am - 11:35am: Everyday Leadership and Influencing Others
Presented by: Liz Jensen, Process Engineering Team Leader, El Segundo Refinery, Chevron, and Alex Jiang, Process Engineer, El Segundo Refinery, Chevron
What qualities make a leader? How do you translate your personal leadership skills into the workplace? How can you leverage these skills even if you are not a supervisor? If you are interested in learning about different leadership styles and how you can practice leadership at all levels in your organization, this is the workshop for you!
11:45am - 12:30pm: The Path to Becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer
Presented by: Joseph Cramer and William Parrish, Licensing and Professional Development Committee and Management Division
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.
2:40pm - 3:25pm: Careers in Management and Leadership
Presented by: Gayle J. Gibson, Mark Swientoniewski (Strata-G), Amanda Scalza (SC Johnson), Joe Cramer (AIChE, retired), Management Division
This session features perspectives from a panel of experienced engineers that have had significant careers in management or leadership. Those from industry built on a solid foundation as engineers and progressed in to team or project leadership as well as in to supervisory roles. The panelists will address audience Q&A illustrating different career paths. The session should be of great interest to any student who is considering the possibility of leadership positions at some time in his/her career.
3:35pm - 4:20pm: Finances and Your First Job – Financial Planning for ChemE Careers
Presented by: Carmen Daoud, Young Professionals Committee
How do I start saving money? What benefits should I enroll in? How do I start planning for retirement? Join the Young Professionals Committee (YPC) for a discussion on the benefits and rewards of financial planning when starting your first job. This session will feature YPC members in a variety of careers (graduate school, industry, government, etc.) and discuss tips for money management and planning for retirement. YPC members will discuss topics such as investing in 401Ks, budgeting, benefits packages, student debt, and planning for retirement. YPC members will also discuss topics that they wish they knew when starting their first jobs.
This workshop will feature numerous YP’s currently in industry positions. This session has been very successful in the past, as numerous students attending the AIChE conference are interested in learning about financial planning as they look towards graduation and entering the workforce. 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 industry positions and financial planning by advertising for leadership in YPC and potentially divisions and forums.
Track IV: Sustainability and Policy
10:50am - 11:35am: Global Solutions and Outreach Programs: Using the Wicked Problem Approach to Resolve Global Warming
Presented by: Tom Rehm, The Climate Solutions Community
I will present a proposal to use the Wicked Problem Approach to resolve global warming. There is now no global collaboration to determine best national and regional action plans to resolve global warming. There is now no means to minimize the effects of understandable human biases that detrimentally affect decisions on climate solutions, those biases being corporate vested interests, career vested interests, public passions and political agendas. Global Solutions and Outreach Programs will establish the global collaboration and address these detrimental human biases.
11:45am - 12:30pm: Process Safety and Sustainability – Why Still Going Wrong?
Presented by: Yaneira Saud, AIChE Safety & Health Division Careers and Education Committee
Revision of "Still Going Wrong" Book by Trevor Kletz and recent process safety accidents, and extract practical learnings that young chemical engineers can apply in their starting careers.
2:40pm - 3:25pm: Shaping the Future of Chemical Engineering through AIChE
Presented by: Jessica Winter and Kim Ogden, Young Professionals Committee and Political Affairs and Information Committee
This workshop will discuss how to leverage your chemical engineering training to tackle pressing problems in the world, such as climate change and advanced manufacturing. We will discuss how you can address these issues through industry careers through panel discussions with industry leaders and recently graduated young professionals. We also want your feedback on what YOU think are the most pressing issues facing your generation. How do you plan to use your ChE skills to tackle them?
3:35pm - 4:20 pm: WISE Internship: An Opportunity to Apply Engineering to Policy in D.C.
Presented by: Kevin Donnelly, Abbey Kollar, Dr. Martin Abraham, Professor Jami Rice, AIChE's WISE Internship Program under the PAIC
The Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) program is a collaboration of several professional engineering societies who select students for a summer internship in Washington D.C. The interns research and write a public policy paper on a topical engineering-related issue and present them on Capitol Hill. The interns have remarked on the invaluable experience of learning how to develop a public policy paper, lobby for legislation, and develop a network of contacts that often lead to future endeavors.
Dr. Martin Abraham, Chair of the PAIC and a WISE Mentor, will introduce Kevin Donnelly, West Virginia University, and Abbey Kollar, Penn State University, who were the 2022 WISE Summer interns. The interns, will discuss their experiences as a WISE intern and present a short synopsis of their papers.
Track V: ChemEs Can Do Anything
10:50am - 11:35am: The World of Particle Technology
Presented by: Ben Freireich, Particle Technology Forum
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.
11:45am - 12:30pm: Navigating Dynamic Careers in Catalysis and Reaction Engineering
Presented by: Jesse Bond (Syracuse University) and Michael Timko (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Panelists will discuss their careers in the field of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering; how the Catalysis and 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 is designed to engage the audience and provide opportunities for interaction using both standard Q&A with the audience as well as Slido.
2:40pm - 3:25pm: Mixing in Aerobic Fermentation Processes
Presented by: Richard K. Grenville, SPX FLOW Mixing Solutions / North American Mixing Forum
In this presentation, the general rules describing the selection of equipment configuration for gas-liquid reactions will be discussed and for the selection of impeller operating conditions in an agitated vessel, particularly how the impeller type, diameter, and operating speed are related to the gas flow rate and mass transfer requirements.
The special considerations that must be taken into account when designing agitators for aerobic fermentations will be reviewed and finally, an example will be presented showing how the design calculations are applied to the analysis of data from an existing pilot or full-scale fermenter in order to confidently size and design an agitator for a new fermenter.
3:35pm - 4:20pm: Green Collar Career Opportunities for Chemical Engineers
Presented by: Yinlun Huang (Wayne State University), Matthew Alexander (Texas A&M University - Kingsville), Gerardo Ruiz-Mercado (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), and Kirti Maheshkumar Yenkie (Rowan University)
This workshop will engage students in an interactive discussion about challenges, advantages, and opportunities for chemical engineers in the environmental field. A brief overview presentation of opportunities in industry, academia, consulting, and government will be followed by an extensive question and answer session to help the students better understand their potential career options.
Track VI: Industry Partner Insights
10:50am - 11:35am: Building the Momentum Towards a Sustainable Future
Presented by: Mike Donahue, Bruna Giron, and Jesse Williamson, AVEVA
This is your opportunity to build your resume by learning more about a simulation platform ready for the future. As future process engineers you will need to transform the way you solve problems to become more productive, collaborative, creative, and inspired. Learn more about this in the interactive session hosted by AVEVA.
11:45am - 12:30pm: Why Networking is Important at the Start of a Career
Presented by: Ryan Morrison, Holly Bosher, and Anna Bandecca, Evonik
Networking is an essential part of the professional world, and when done the proper way it can really help shape your career. There are good and bad ways to network, and there are advantages and disadvantages to networking. Come listen to professionals from Evonik Corporation speak about their networking experiences and why it is so important to start on Day One.