Penn Engineering
At the intersection of innovation and discovery, Penn’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) redefines what’s possible in science and technology. Our programs are designed to empower students to tackle global challenges—from sustainable energy solutions to groundbreaking biomedical advancements. Here, transformative research and interdisciplinary collaboration spark solutions that shape the future.
How can molecular-level innovations drive sustainability and global health? What breakthroughs in biomolecular engineering will transform medicine and energy systems? Our department challenges the status quo, empowering students to explore bold questions and redefine the possible.
Whether it’s developing renewable energy technologies or engineering life-saving therapeutics, we solve critical problems that affect the world at every scale. By bridging foundational research with real-world applications, we create solutions that advance healthcare, energy, and sustainability.
CBE researchers and alumni pioneer advancements in biotechnology, sustainable manufacturing, and clean energy. From designing innovative materials to revolutionizing pharmaceutical processes, our work sets the standard for the technologies shaping tomorrow.
With access to cutting-edge laboratories, collaborative initiatives across disciplines, and connections to industry leaders, our students are positioned to lead. At Penn, innovation is not just encouraged—it’s expected, offering students the tools to shape the future.
Students will understand, evaluate, and apply different equations of state relating pressure, temperature, and volume for both ideal and non-ideal systems. The course will focus on calculating and applying residual properties and departure functions for thermodynamic analysis of non-ideal gases. Students will apply and describe simple models of vapor-liquid equilibrium in multi-component systems (e.g. Raoult’s Law, modified Raoult’s Law, Henry’s Law). Additionally, the class will analyze and describe properties of non-ideal mixtures and their component species. We will also model and predict reaction equilibria (including non-ideal fluid systems), as well as solve problems related to complex phase equilibria of multi-component systems (find equilibrium compositions for non-ideal phases). Prerequisite required: CBE 2300 Material and Energy Balances of Chemical Processes.
This course introduces the principles of material and energy balances and their applications to the analysis of single- and multiple-phase processes used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental industries. The course focuses on the conceptual understanding of properties of pure fluids, equations of state, and heat effects accompanying phase changes and chemical reactions, and problem-solving skills needed to solve a wide range of realistic, process-related problems.
The design of industrial methods for separating mixtures. Distillation; liquid-liquid extraction; membranes; absorption. Computer simulations of the processes.
Design of chemical, biochemical, and materials products and processes based on recent advances in chemical and bioengineering technology. Design group weekly meetings with faculty advisor and industrial consultants. Comprehensive design report and formal oral presentation. Heat exchanger design and profitability analysis. Prerequisite required: CBE 4000 Intro to Product and Process Design.
Penn CBE faculty are trailblazers in sustainable energy, biopharmaceuticals, and advanced materials. Through groundbreaking research and dedicated mentorship, they empower students to address global challenges and excel in shaping the future of science and technology.
Area of expertise: Gene Regulation, Imaging, Chemical Kinetics, Quantitative Biology
Students know me for: Being supportive, passionate about science, and committed to education
I want to make an impact in: Probing the regulatory logic of gene expression kinetics that lead to normal development
Area of expertise: The study of soft materials, with a focus on their interfaces and their assembly into functional structures for healthcare and sustainability applications
Students know me for: Promoting a collaborative and inclusive environment
I want to make an impact in: Advancing scientific knowledge in soft matter systems and translating that into practical solutions for energy, environmental, and healthcare challenges
