Graduate Programs

The department offers graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in both chemical and materials engineering; the combination of these disciplines in a single department fosters extensive collaboration among our faculty and a strong interdisciplinary environment. Faculty members take great pride in the development of our graduate students as critical thinkers, creative researchers and successful members of their profession. Cutting edge research and individual mentoring are the educational tools used to prepare students to be leaders in both industry and academia.
Our graduate students pursue research projects that encompass a broad range of chemical and materials engineering endeavors, including advanced materials and nanotechnology, bioengineering, energy and environmental engineering. Many of these projects are multidisciplinary in character and involve interactions with researchers in agriculture, chemistry, physics, medicine and pharmacy. All qualified full-time graduate students receive financial support that includes a stipend, tuition scholarship and graduate student health insurance.

The Department has over 60 full-time graduate students (90% of whom are Ph.D. candidates) supported by 19 research-active faculty. Strengths of the programs include advanced materials and nanotechnology, bioengineering, and environmental engineering. Our multidisciplinary collaborations involve additional outstanding programs and centers at the University of Kentucky, including Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER), The Center of Membrane Sciences, and the IGERT Program in Engineered Bioactive Interfaces and Devices.

The Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering offers the following degrees:

• Master of Chemical Engineering (M.S.)
• Master of Materials Science and Engineering (M.S.)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering (Ph.D.)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering (Ph.D.)

You also have the option to enhance your graduate education by obtaining your cross disciplinary Graduate Certificate in Bioactive Interfaces and Devices. As the field of bioactive interfaces is an inherently multidisciplinary endeavor, this curriculum will yield scientists and engineers with the ability to transcend traditional boundaries in their professional careers. Graduate certificates increase your marketability and show potential employers that in addition to your degree, you have special skills and competency in the subject area.

As you make the important decision to pursue an advanced degree, we welcome the opportunity to show you that our department is the right academic home for you.  We provide the broad fundamental understanding, strong faculty support, and innovative and collaborative research to ensure your success.

For detailed information on our graduate application process, please click here.

Co-Director of Graduate Studies (CME):
Stephen Rankin, Ph.D.
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
University of Kentucky
159 F. Paul Anderson Tower
Lexington, KY 40506-0046

Co-Director of Graduate Studies (MSE):
Fuqian Yang, Ph.D.
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
University of Kentucky
161 F. Paul Anderson Tower
Lexington, KY 40506-0046