There are many opportunities to work in faculty research labs for pay, academic credit, or as a volunteer. If you want to do this you would elect ChE 290 (sophomores, free elective credit) or ChE 490 (Directed Study, Research and Special Problems, technical elective credit) after making arrangements with a professor to work on a specific project. Projects are available in Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer Terms. If you are looking for a lab job for the summer you should ideally start your search in February.
Explore options by visiting the department research page and the list of available ChE 490 projects. The “ChE 490 Project Descriptions” handout is also available in the Undergraduate Program Office (3146 H.H. Dow). Note that a number of professors have projects available that aren’t on this list.
Contact the professor to see if you can get a position working in their labs. When e-mailing professors, remember that enthusiasm and interest in their area count for a lot. In the email, include:
If you both agree to arrangements for a research project, you can make arrangements to get paid or sign up for that professor’s section of ChE 290 or ChE 490. A student enrolled in ChE 290 or ChE 490 for 3 credits will be expected to:
First-year or sophomore students who have not yet completed ChE 330 and 341 should sign up for ChE 290 credit, which counts for general electives. Students who have completed ChE 330 and 341, or a semester of ChE 290 research, are eligible to sign up for ChE 490, which can be used toward the 3-credit Engineering Elective requirement.
Chemical Engineering