Career Workshops
We are pleased to announce the Workshop Schedule for the 2025 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.
Please find information on each of the workshops below.
- Track I: Find Your ChemE Niche
- Track II: Society, Sustainability, and Impact
- Track III: Life and Learning Beyond Undergrad
- Track IV: Discipline Deep Dive
- Track V: What They Don't Teach in Thermo
- Track VI: Graduate Program & Partner Insights
- Track VII: Industry Partner Insights
Track I: Find Your ChemE Niche
10:05am - 10:50am: Management Careers and the Chemical Engineer
Presented by: Management Division (MGMT)
This interactive student workshop, "Management Careers and the Chemical Engineer," is designed to illuminate the diverse management pathways available to chemical engineering graduates in both industry and academia. Participants will engage with the panelists to understand the transition from technical roles to leadership positions, gaining insight into the responsibilities, skill sets, and career trajectories associated with management in chemical engineering contexts. Panelists will share their experiences and methods to develop essential skills for Success.
11:00am - 11:45am: Materials Engineering and Sciences in AIChE
Presented by: Materials Engineering & Sciences Division (MESD)
The MESD workshop will feature speakers across all areas of the Materials and Engineering Sciences Division, including polymers, biomaterials, inorganic materials, electronics and photonics, and composites. Representatives from each area will present representative research to give students an overview of research programs in MESD. Speakers will also present advice to students as they pursue and consider different PhD graduate programs or other career options. After the presentations, speakers will be available for a social “meet and greet” with students.
12:45pm - 1:30pm: Navigating Dynamic Careers in Catalysis and Reaction Engineering
Presented by: Area 20 (CRE Division)
Panelists will discuss their careers in the field of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering, offer perspectives on how AICHE and the Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division has played a role in their professional development, and provide advice on graduate education as well as navigating fulling careers in industry, academia, and national laboratories. This panel is designed to foster audience engagement, and we provide ample opportunities for Q&A and interactions with panelists.
1:40pm - 2:25pm: Food, Pharmaceutical & Bioengineering Division Student Workshop
Presented by: Division 15: Food, Pharmaceutical, and Bioengineering
The Food, Pharmaceutical & Bioengineering (FP&BE) Division Student Workshop will feature speakers representing all areas of FP&BE, including food, pharmaceuticals, bioengineering, and investigation of fundamental questions in life sciences using the tools and principles of engineering. Researchers from each area will present a short series of talks to give students an overview of current and emerging research directions in FP&BE. Speakers will also lead panel discussions on a variety of topics including graduate school, job tracks in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and food, and how to get involved with FP&BE at AIChE. Following the presentations, speakers will be available for a casual networking “meet and greet” with students.
Track II: Society, Sustainability, and Impact
10:05am - 10:50am: Town Hall with AIChE Leadership
Presented by: AIChE
Where do you see the profession going? Why did you major in chemical engineering and how do you think you will contribute to the future of the profession? All AIChE Student Members are invited and encouraged to attend and share your thoughts about the future of chemical engineering with the AIChE Board of Directors. This panel discussion will provide an open forum for the board to share their insights, and for students to voice their own thoughts about where they see the profession headed and how AIChE can continue to support its members at all stages of their career. For more information on panelists when they are announced, visit here.
11:00am - 12:15pm: LGBTQ+ & Allies Panel and Social
Presented by: LGBTQ + Allies Community
Please join us for the LGBTQ + Allies Panel and Ice Cream Social at this year's Annual Student Conference! A panel of young professionals from industry and academy will share insights into issues faced by newly hired LGBTQ+ hired engineers. After the panel discussion concludes, mingle and network with friends and colleagues while enjoying a scoop or two. THIS IS A FREE TICKETED EVENT.
12:45pm - 1:30pm: Education and Resources Regarding Climate Policy in Chemical Engineering
Presented by: Early Career Community (ECC)
Climate change is a global challenge that chemical engineers are facing. Staying informed regarding
policy updates is how a young chemical engineer can expand their knowledge base. The Environmental Division and Sustainable Engineering Forum are both technical communities that provide sustainability-oriented conference programming activities. Join the Early Career Community (ECC) and Public Affairs & Information Committee (PAIC) as we discuss how climate change and policy is currently affecting the chemical engineering space.
1:40pm - 2:25pm: Green Collar Career Opportunities for Chemical Engineers
Presented by: Environmental Division
This workshop is designed to be an interactive discussion with experienced panelists in the environmental field for chemical engineers. The workshop will open with a presentation of opportunities in the environmental field in industry, academia, consulting and government and will conclude with a Q&A session with the panelists to field questions from prospective engineers in this field.
Track III: Life and Learning Beyond Undergrad
10:05am - 10:50am: K-12 STEM Outreach Competition Info Session & Workshop
Presented by: AIChE K-12 Community
This session provides an overview of the AIChE K-12 STEM Outreach Competition, offering practical guidance for developing effective STEM teaching modules. Participants will learn key strategies for designing engaging educational content, review successful examples from past competitions, and receive step-by-step instructions for the application process. The workshop also introduces opportunities to participate in future AIChE K-12 Outreach programs. All interested in STEM education and community engagement are encouraged to attend.
11:00am - 11:45am: Survive and Advance with Confidence: Navigating the Ph.D. Labyrinth
Presented by: Chemical Engineering Technology Operating Council (CTOC)
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
12:45pm - 1:30pm: The Path to Becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer
Presented by: LPDC and Management Division (MGMT)
This presentation discusses how becoming a Professional Engineer (PE) can enhance a chemical engineer’s career. Students learn about the PE licensure process which includes the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam and Practice of Engineering (PE) exams, and educational and work experience requirements. The presentation utilizes embedded videos of young PEs and stresses the value of taking the FE exam before, or shortly after, graduation. The workshop leaders are Bill Parrish, Linda Bergeron and Joe Cramer who are members of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying’s (NCEES) Chemical PE Exam Committee as well as AIChE's Licensing and Professional Development Committee. Together they have a broad range of technical and managerial experience in chemical engineering practice and are Fellows of AIChE.
1:40pm - 2:25pm: Finances and Your First Job – Financial Planning for ChemE Careers
Presented by: Early Career Community (ECC)
How do I start saving money? What benefits should I enroll in? How do I start planning for retirement? Join the Early Career Community (ECC) for a discussion on the benefits and rewards of financial planning when starting your first job. This session will feature ECC 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, 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.
Track IV: Discipline Deep Dive
10:05am - 10:50am: Stay Safe, Engineer Smart – A Crash Course in Process Safety
Presented by: Process Safety Division (PSD)
As members of the AIChE Process Safety Division (PSD), a key theme we hear from both academia and industry is how to help new graduates with process safety in their early career. Using real-life examples and interactive activities, we will help you prepare for how process safety interfaces with application of fundamentals of chemical engineering in industry. You’ll learn why it’s so important to spot hazards early, think through risks carefully, and ask the right questions to help create safer processes. Plus, you’ll get the chance to meet and network with experienced process safety professionals from PSD.
11:00am - 11:45am: Mixing in Aerobic Fermentation Processes
Presented by: North American Mixing Forum (NAMF)
There are several mixing processes that must be accomplished to successfully operate an aerobic fermentation process. The first is to maintain the dissolved oxygen concentration that will enable the micro-organisms to grow and produce the desired product molecule and the second is the provide oxygen at a rate that will allow the organisms to produce the molecule at a rate that is economically viable. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient, or kLa, achieved by the agitator and air flow rate determine the relationship between the dissolved oxygen concentration that can be maintained and the oxygen transfer rate.
The demand for oxygen can depend on which phase the organisms are operating. Generally, in the growth phase, where the concentration of organisms is increased, the oxygen demand is high. Once the concentration reaches the desired value the organisms are switched to production mode and their demand for oxygen is lower. The system must be designed to provide the maximum oxygen transfer rate but can be tuned to reduce the power input by the agitator and / or the air flow rate required to maintain the required dissolved oxygen concentration in each phase.
At the same time, carbon dioxide is produced through the organisms’ respiration and this must be stripped from the broth into the air that is leaving the fermenter. Also, since the organisms are oxidizing sugars to provide energy, fermentations are exothermic and the relationship between the oxygen consumption and the heat transfer capability of the system must be considered during the design of new fermentation equipment or retrofits to existing ones.
In this presentation the general rules describing the selection of equipment configuration for gas-liquid reactions will be discussed and for 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 analysis of data from an existing pilot or full-scale fermenter in order to confidently size and design an agitator for a new fermenter.
12:45pm - 1:30pm: The World of Particle Technology
Presented by: 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.
1:40pm - 3:40pm: Career Circuit Express: Fast-track your future
Presented by: AIChE Fellows Council
Ready to jumpstart your ChemE career journey in just one afternoon? At this fast-paced career exploration event, you'll rotate through quick conversations with professionals across a variety of chemical engineering industries—from biotech to energy, and everything in between. Whether you're curious about a specific field or don’t know where to start, this is your chance to ask questions, make connections, and get real insights from the people who’ve been there. It’s a dynamic, personal way to get a feel for all of your post-graduation options. Come for the entire event or just drop in when you can for a couple quick conversations -we’ve designed it to be casual and flexible. THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT.
Track V: What They Don't Teach in Thermo
10:05am - 10:50am: Living Out Inclusivity in Chemical Engineering and Doing a World of Good in Society
Presented by: Chemical Engineering Technology Operating Council (CTOC) & DORIC
This will be a moderator-led discussion where students and professionals, who identify with DORIC, share personal stories of how they seek inclusion in the Chemical Engineering profession. Participants will understand IDEAL to embrace its grassroot meaning in their daily personal and professional lives. The aim will be for audience members to develop ideas for taking back to their home institutions and carry forward into their graduate school or professional careers. Breakouts will allow participants to share their personal stories with one another to gain perspective on the challenges they face as rising engineers. The open discussion portion of the workshop will be structured to allow students to get into small groups to come up with ideas for promoting inclusivity at their universities and within the community. In the end, the primary goal will be for participants to leave the session with a firmer grounding on AIChE’s IDEAL statement and how to apply its principles in the near and long terms.
11:00am - 11:45am: AI in the Workplace
Presented by: Early Career Community (ECC) & Computing and Systems Technology Division (CAST)
What is AI? And how does AI affect the work the Chemical Engineers do? As AI is becoming a highly utilized or even an essential technology in recent years, companies are looking for ways to leverage the AI technology in their day-to-day operations to increase efficiency of currently used methods. For example, by utilizing AI, companies can now expand their knowledge base resulting in more refined method development and product testing. Generative AI, such as large language models (LLM), further opens the opportunities to create new text and image contents. Join the Early Career Community (ECC) as we discuss how AI is currently emerging in the Chemical Engineering space. The potential challenges posed by AI will also be explored, such as data bias, job displacement, and overreliance on automated systems.
12:45pm - 1:30pm: 45-Minute Guide to Better Writing
Presented by: Fulcrum Connection
In this workshop, participants will practice writing an email to a hiring manager in pursuit of a job interview. Participants will:
• Search for Job Openings on LinkedIn
• Create a Persona for Improved Writing
• Anticipate Questions to Outline Writing
• Develop a Call to Action for Reader
• Draft, Edit, and Get Feedback on an Email
1:40pm - 2:25pm: Differentiate Yourself with Top Teamwork Skills
Presented by: Fulcrum Connection
In this workshop, participants will improve teamwork skills by identifying ways to address the top teamwork challenges of groupthink, poor collective performance, and low engagement in remote meetings: Participants will:
• Assess Their Core Teamwork Skills
• Develop Actions to improve Their Core Teamwork Skills
• Identify Thinking Talents to Use in Teamwork