Chemical Engineering, Ph.D.

Florida Tech’s chemical engineering Ph.D. program offers a personalized research environment built around close faculty mentorship and focused research groups. Students work alongside experienced researchers while developing expertise in state-of-the-art experimental and computational techniques.

Faculty research spans core areas of chemical engineering, including thermodynamics, transport and reaction modeling, separations, biomass and waste valorization, and sustainable energy and circular bioeconomy systems. Many faculty members also conduct research in bioengineering and regenerative medicine, including tissue engineering, scaffolds and 3D and 4D bioprinting.

Chemical engineering Ph.D. students at Florida Tech have access to research facilities and instrumentation that support process, materials and separations research.

Resources include chromatography and mass spectrometry systems for gas and liquid analysis, UV-vis and IR spectrometers for adsorption and surface chemistry studies, and electron and scanning-probe microscopes for imaging porous materials and coatings.

High-temperature furnaces and ovens support thermal processing and pyrolysis, while machine and electronics shops enable the fabrication of custom reactors and flow systems. Computational tools further support thermodynamic and molecular modeling.

Together, these facilities support advanced experimental design, process optimization and materials characterization, enabling doctoral research that reflects real-world chemical engineering challenges.

Florida Tech’s location in the heart of the Space Coast places chemical engineering Ph.D. students within a dynamic hub of high-tech and research-driven industries. NASA-Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral are just to the north.

Students are near aerospace and energy companies, government laboratories, environmental organizations and specialty manufacturing facilities, creating opportunities for collaborative research and applied projects.

Academic units at Florida Tech may offer graduate student assistantships to full-time, degree-seeking graduate students on a competitive basis.

Teaching Assistants (TAs) support faculty in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including tasks such as grading, tutoring and conducting office hours. First-time TAs attend a teaching assistant seminar to prepare for their responsibilities.

Research Assistants (RAs) collaborate with faculty on projects funded by government agencies, private sponsors and university research funds.

For current information about assistantships, please contact the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.

Florida Tech offers a safe and welcoming campus environment that supports advanced research alongside personal well-being. The campus includes extensive green spaces, such as the Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden, along with facilities like the Holzer Health Center and Clemente Center for health, fitness and stress management.

Located minutes from the Indian River Lagoon and 72 miles of Atlantic beaches, the university combines access to outdoor recreation with proximity to industry and government organizations that contribute to research collaboration and career development.

Graduate students from around the world come together at Florida Tech in a campus community that fosters international collaboration and innovation. This environment encourages students to work across cultures and perspectives, preparing them for research and professional settings around the globe.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports international students throughout their academic journey, providing guidance on immigration matters, serving as a liaison with sponsoring agencies and foreign governments, and sharing information about campus and community resources.