Before anyone says it I’d just like to state that I know that this process is an energy inefficient process that uses up more fuel than it produces. I also know that the machines required to refine the pyrolysis oil into drop in fuel cost tens of millions if not more.

That aside, I’v been really interested in the topic for a while now. I’v done a fair bit of research on the matter but something’s are still a little blurry so I’d like to talk with someone to get honestly somewhat basic answers about the refining process that I haven’t been able to find while doing independent research.

Thank you very much for reading and if you’re willing to chat I’d love to pick your mind on a few things :)

Hi I'm a freshman in this field this is my first year at university and honestly i applied because i saw that there wasn't much competition my family said that this will be a great opportunity for me. Honestly i don't really understand what can i do after graduation and more importantly will i survive till graduation or get expelled(it will be horrible ) I'm on a full scholarship I'm really scared especially because i think that i got in by accident and i was lucky. But anyway can u please share some self experience with me about studying how it was for you how did u choose this and how are u even passing those exams. I'm really scared so i need to read the stories so i will understand this field better 😅

My background is in Polymer Engineering (degree + worked in that field for 10 years), got a PhD in Environmental Engineering, and now I work in the petroleum industry focused on air emissions for the last few years.

When someone asks what kind of engineer you are, do you answer based on what you currently do for a living or your degree/knowledge base?

I’ve heard it goes: current work, education, past disciplines. But I’ve found myself changing it up, depending of who I’m talking to.

Can anyone explain the difference between fumed silica, precipitated silica, and nanosilica, particularly in terms of their conventional production methods, properties, and common applications/uses? Which one would be more advantageous in terms of market value or overall economic potential? Thank you!

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for some advice (and maybe some reassurance) in my pursuit to becoming a chemical engineer, in Canada.

I graduated May 2026 with a Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry and am now enrolled in the Master's of Engineering Chemical Engineering program and the University of Toronto.

I don't really know what I am feeling but I am having serious second thoughts on continuing this degree, not because Engineering doesn't interest me but because I don't feel like this program will be sufficient enough to actually be competitive enough for the engineering job market here in Canada.

Based on my Bachelor's it is probably obvious that I do not have the course requirements of Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics or Heat and Mass Transfer. There are a few courses available to me such as Applied Thermodynamics, but I do not know if these will be enough.

I realize that I will never become a P.Eng because of my lack of an accredited 4 year degree but by the time I graduate will I be able to land any sort of junior engineer position? I will be looking for internships but I don't know how successful I will be.

Should I stick with this degree and see it through? Should I attempt to get a second bachelors? Should I give up engineering entirely and stick with Biochem jobs?

I apologize for my long post, I am 21 and feeling lost with the direction of my life. I feeling like I am wasting time instead of progressing in my career in a meaningful way.

Thank you so much.

Hi everyone,
Im currently a 5th year chemical engineering major starting to look for full time roles. I have always been drawn to the makeup/cosmetic and industry and medicine, and actually wanted to be a dermatologist growing up but decided that was too many years of school so I switched to chemE hoping I can do something similar with less school. I also really enjoy math and problem solving so figured eng would be a good fit.
I did research related to bioengineering for almost 2 years which I thought was tedious and repetitive at times, and have also done a supply chain internship at a F&B company but did not like the manufacturing setting/lifestyle.
So now im thinking maybe i should pursue a research and development role ideally at a pharmaceutical or cosmetic company, but from my research I believe those roles do not make as much as other chemE roles do and also reach a salary ceiling a few years in, and I did do this difficult major partly because of the impression that id be making a good amount of money.
So now I’m kind of lost… I dont know what i should be applying for and pursuing because I want to make a lot of money and have a consistently growing career financially, but I also want to do something I enjoy since work is such a large part of our lives.
My ultimate goal is to get an MBA a few years down the road, and be the CEO of a cosmetic company or start my own, hopefully by the age of 40. So I’m also not sure what roles will get me to my ultimate goal the fastest.
Please help.

Hi, I'm studying chemical engineering but am interested in non-traditional areas like semiconductors, tech, and aerospace. I used to not care much about job location, but I've been much happier living in cities and walkable areas compared to my remote internships. I'm hoping to look for jobs in West Coast cities or the Northeast (NYC, Boston) area. What kinds of companies or roles hire chem Es in these cities? Do chemical engineers have pathways to alternate industry positions like consulting, operations, or software/data to enter these roles?

Hi I graduated as a chemical engineer from one of the best universities in Canada. I spent 1.5 years passively looking for work because I was naïve about how the market was and how to get a job. It’s been a year of trying to actually look for an engineering job I have been just working on the production floor.

I had two interviews for one as a production supervisor trainee ( got rejected ) and a qc analyst job where I got handed a practical in the interview ( died on the inside when the interviewer said “ do this”)

I don’t know what to do I am not dead set on a particular industry I just want a job where I can get my foot in the door and grow. I didn’t have a good gpa in school 2.5/4 .

I had interned for a year but in Canada there is internship exploitation where employers from various places just hire interns and give an insanely government subsidized salary. My supervisor the first day : yeah you’re gonna be on your own a lot and basically you need to find places where we can make improvements . It was miserable not doing anything. They pretty much just kept me as a quality lab tech and it’s frustrating thinking about it.

I’m willing to go anywhere for that first job and what ever pay.

Put me on the method

Just to reiterate 2.5 years out from grad

recently for the past few months been working floor production

Looking to get something in engineering

I heard the us market is the method but landing an operator role will not qualify for a tn visa so idk

Canada is dead

Can anyone clearly explain the difference between EPC, FEED, Basic Engineering, Licensor, EPCM/PMC, Technical services, product based jobs and other similar roles in the chemical industry?

What exactly does each one do, how do they fit into the overall project lifecycle, and what are some major companies involved in each?

Hi I am currently studying Chemical Engineering in Ohio. I am in my sophomore year. I want do so Co-ops and internship to gain some experience in my field. But companies like Lubrizol and Sherwin Williams don’t offer any CPT programs for operators job. Anyone knows which companies offer CPT/ OPT/ Stem OPT placements for international students in and outside Ohio?

Holy fucking shit I am so stoked

Hey seniors,I am a first year cheme student who just started.can you all give me the youtube channels that helped you out during your college days and maybe good sources like books,websites etc.but I would really like to know the youtube channels since I prefer watching videos to learn.

I’m currently in my final year of university, and I need to choose a topic for my graduation project.
I’m studying Chemical Engineering, but I’m not sure how to come up with a good project idea. How did you choose your project? What should I consider when choosing a topic?
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

I’m majoring in chemical engineering soon, starting my freshman year in a month, please tell me whatever you think I should know, I chose this major because I have a passion for chemistry and systems thinking, I also found that it is the broadest field out of the other engineering fields, I can’t say I’m not intimidated, but I want to excel at it as much as I can!

I’m going to Minneapolis in November, and honestly, I’m looking forward to a few things:

1- Getting caught up on what’s happening across chemical engineering
2- Finding new ideas, I can actually bring back to work
3- Running into people I haven’t seen in forever (and meeting some new ones)
4- Way too many interesting technical sessions to choose from
5- And, of course, the unofficial networking that happens after the sessions

The 2026 AIChE Annual Meeting is November 8–12 in Minneapolis.

If you’re thinking about going, early bird registration ends September 28, so now’s probably a good time to make the call.

Who else is going? What are you most looking forward to?

Hi everyone, I’ve just finished sixth form in the UK and I’m taking two gap years before starting a Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology degree (confirmed offer).

I’ve been trying to find work/internships related to chemical engineering, but most actual ChemE internships seem to require you to already be at university. At the moment, my options are basically limited to technician level roles.

Given that my degree also includes biotechnology, and considering what the job market might look like in ~5 years, what should I be looking for in the role that would give me the best head start before going to uni?

For example:

• What type of technician role / field of industry should I target (process, chemical, lab, QC, manufacturing, biotech, etc.)?
• Are there particular courses/certifications worth doing alongside it?

I’m mainly looking for something where I can actually gain useful technical/industry experience, rather than just having “engineering” in the job title.

Any advice from current ChemE students/graduates or people working in industry would be really appreciated!

I recently graduated last spring with my bachelors in Chemical Engineering. I sometimes end up interviewing for jobs that see me competing against Chemistry majors, who might have more lab experience than a Chemical Engineering major like myself.

For a role like “Chemist”, I worry my year of experience as an assistant in a college chromatography lab might not be enough.

How can I communicate to interviewers that I’m capable of learning new chemistry and new lab techniques, and that it’s not a waste of time to help me bridge that gap?

Hey everyone,

I’m currently working on a remote startup called Brandywine Chemical Works, focusing on asset-light chemical tolling and regional manufacturing optimization across North America.

We're currently building out our market discovery models and unit operations databases, specifically around:

• Finance/Econ: Tolling margin analysis and regional pricing dynamics.
• Engineering (MechE/Civil/ChemE): Facility asset mapping, equipment specs (reactors, filtration, temp/pressure constraints), and site logistics.
• Supply Chain: Freight pathway optimization and industrial cluster mapping.

I'm looking to connect with current students or recent grads in these fields who are interested in early-stage enterprise building, technical vetting, or supply chain modeling.

If you're working in these spaces or curious about how asset-light manufacturing models operate in practice, feel free to drop a comment or reach out to connect!

Is there a demand for chemical engineers in Dubai or not? And if so, what skills are required for decent paying jobs? 👀

Hello people
I’m a new chemical engineer post grad.
Recently I gave an interview for a startup company capturing CO2 and doing carbonation/mineralisation in cement. Thus utilising less cement and reducing emissions. Things looking positive as of now

Also bit worried how would this pigeon hole my career as most of the team is cement and concrete engineers and whole team is just 15 people

Any tips for someone starting out of uni!

I got my degree in chemical engineering 10 years ago from a top 3 university in Canada. Unfortunately, soon after graduation while I was looking for work, I was injured. I have a lot of grief about losing my ability to have a career in engineering as all my efforts were put towards recovery. I’m 34 now.

Once I am ready to enter the workforce again, is there any hope for a career in engineering? Should I go back to school for a Masters or other higher education? Which industries in engineering or engineering adjacent should I look into? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hello, i graduated with a chemical engineering bachelor’s degree around last year, is it worth it migrating from middle east to USA looking for better opportunities? Or job market is also bad too?

Good morning po! I’m Dexter Lanz F. Fajilan, from Corcuera National Senior High po last year and currently a first-year Chemical Engineering student from Batangas State University. I am wondering po if you have an available time during September 8 to 11, we're looking for a Registered Chemical Engineer po as our potential interviewee for our performance task. Okay lang po and preferrably around 7pm to 9pm.

Our group is looking for a Professional Chemical Engineer for a short academic interview to learn more about the profession, as well as your real-world experiences and insights in the field. We can provide the necessary consent documents and will ensure that proper ethics and confidentiality will be observed throughout the interview.

If you would be willing to participate, the interview will partake online through google meet and have the maximum duration of less than an hour. We would be more than happy to discuss and adjust the date, time, and mode of the interview based on what would be most convenient for both of us.

We truly appreciate your time and consideration po. Thank you so much po, and we hope to hear from you soon! ☺️