About Us

The William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, situated in the heart of campus, is one of the oldest chemical engineering programs in the United States and is marked by a tradition of excellence.  With The Ohio State University being one of the largest universities in the world, vast opportunities abound -- yet within the program itself, many students experience a small, home-town or even family feel, and faculty report an environment of exceptional collegiality.

The program is one of the first ten programs nationwide to be accredited by AIChE (1902) and was the first named department in the country (2015). 
 
Ohio State Chemical Engineering was also the first in the nation to graduate a woman PhD (Ruth Feng ’28 MS, ’31 PhD), and first in the nation to graduate an African American PhD (Harry Green, ’32 BS, ‘43 PhD).
 

We invite you learn more about what makes the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering a top-rated program by exploring these pages, and getting in touch should you need further information.


 

Photo of CBE faculty

OUR FACULTY

  • 24 tenure-track faculty, three emeritus faculty, three clinical professors, and one research professor.
  • Faculty are known internationally, with some being the leading experts in their fields worldwide.
  • Many of our faculty have won teaching awards, with five faculty receiving Ohio State's highest teaching award. The CBE Department also won one of the first university-wide teaching awards at Ohio State.
  • 3 National Academy of Engineering members.
  • 8 National Science Foundation CAREER Awards.

    OUR STUDENTS 

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    The average freshman ACT Composite score for incoming freshmen is 30.1 and the overall percentage of students participating in the honors program is 42%. Student retention in the freshman engineering honors program is high – 92.6%. These are exceptional numbers, and the number of awards our students have received reflects this. 

    Students have abundant opportunities to participate in research under the tutelage of some of the finest faculty in the profession, and have won numerous local and national awards. In the past 15 years, our students have won the following prestigious honors.

    Fellowships:

    • 15 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
    • NASA Fellowship
    • National Cancer Institute Fellowship
    • NIH 
    • Prevent Blindness

    National Scholarships

    • 6 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships
    • 3 Fulbright Scholarships
    • 1 Department of Nuclear Energy Scholarship
    • 1 Department of Defense SMART Scholarship

     


       

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      OUR ALUMNI

      Times Higher Education — which compiles data to rank higher education institutions internationally — recently recognized Ohio State graduates among the 20 "most employable" in the United States and in the top 60 in the world.

      Wall Street Journal has listed the university No. 12 in the nation for sought-after graduates.

      Graduates are recruited by industry giants such as Intel, Shell, DuPont, General Mills, and many others, while other students continue on into academia at such institutions as Georgia Tech, University of Wisconsin, Carnegie Mellon, and Northwestern University. Three of our alumni are now chemical engineering department chairs.

      With a global network of more than 550,000 living alumni, there are countless opportunities to connect with fellow Ohio State Buckeyes after graduation.


      ABOUT COLUMBUS, OHIO

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      The Ohio State University is located in Columbus, the capitol of Ohio and the 14th largest city in the nation. Columbus is home to the highest metropolitan concentration of Fortune 1000 companies in America.

      As a thriving, multicultural Smart City, Columbus offers:

      • a vibrant quality of life
      • a low cost of living (8% below the national average, and housing costs are the ninth-lowest in the country)
      • vast opportunities for professional growth, from internships and co-ops to professional collaborations and full-time careers 
      • economic prosperity within a healthy, stable economy
      • diverse neighborhoods
      • outstanding medical facilities
      • and a multitude of recreational, cultural, and intellectual opportunities. 

      In 2018, Columbus was named one of the best cities in the U.S. for new college grads by Business Insider.

      Columbus was named the “Most Intelligent City in the World” by the Intelligent Community Forum in 2015, as well as Forbes Magazines’ “World’s Top 7 Smart Cities. In naming Columbus the “Most Intelligent City in the World,” the think tank Intelligent Community Forum cited the city’s “rebirth of hope” and “revolutionary community” approach and relentless pursuit of new ideas. Columbus was selected after a year-long evaluation that included a quantitative analysis of extensive data, site inspections, and votes from an international jury made up of experts from around the world.

      In 2016, Columbus, Ohio won the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Smart City" designation. The city received $40 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop smart technology, with another $10 million from Vulcan Inc., a company founded by Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen.

      Columbus and the Ohio State campus offer a multitude of green spaces such as parks and botanical gardens. Recreational activities include water and boating activities, rock climbing, museums, music, art, cultural events, and, of course, some of the best football competitions in the world. There are numerous nearby attractions, including national landmark Hocking Hills State Park, theme parks, and much more. 

      Ohio State plays a unique role in both the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio. It is the largest employer in Columbus and a top producer of skilled alumni, intellectual property, and technical expertise which has been tapped to form companies in Ohio and beyond. Discover why David Williams, previously dean of the College of Engineering, believes that Ohio State Engineering is a driver of economic development and what attracts companies to partner with or invest in Ohio.

       

      Program Educational Objectives and Accreditation

      Visit the College of Engineering page to find Accreditation information.

      The Ohio State University

       

      Aerial view of campus

      As Ohio's best and one of the nation's top-20 public universities, Ohio State is home to a diverse group of the best and brightest people in the world.

      Ohio State is further distinguished by a top-rated academic medical center and a premier cancer hospital and research center.

      The university's main campus is one of America's largest and most comprehensive, reaching into the state at large with various campuses and research centers throughout Ohio.  

      Ohio State prides itself on establishing a culturally and intellectually diverse environment, encouraging all members of our learning community to reach their full potential. 

       

      RANKINGS

      Ohio State

      The Ohio State University at large consistently ranks in the top 20 public U.S. universities listed by U.S. News & World Report.

      College of Engineering

      The Ohio State University College of Engineering undergraduate program is ranked No. 1 among all Ohio universities and 16th among public universities nationwide (U.S. News & World Report.) The College of Engineering ranks 3rd in the country for industry research and development expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation. 

      Chemical Engineering

      Graduate Program - The William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical & Biomolecular graduate program is currently ranked #1 in the state of Ohio, #16 among the nation's public institutions, and #27 among all schools nationwide (2023 U.S. News & World Report).

      Undergraduate Program - The William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical & Biomolecular undergraduate program is currently ranked #1 in the state and #21 among all schools nationwide (2024 U.S. News & World Report).