Welcome to the homepage of the University of Houston, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department. Here, you will find information relating to the Undergraduate and Graduate programs, the faculty, our mission and goals, scholarship opportunities, our campus, and the City of Houston.

The UH Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering faculty is conducting scholarly research in the areas of biomolecular, energy, envirnomental & reaction engineering, and nano-materials engineering. The faculty has developed research specialties in a broad range of areas. Many exciting research projects are underway, including biomolecular recognition using DNA array technology, fundamental studies of nucleation, growth and phase transitions during protein crystallization, development of novel polymeric blends, plasma processing of thin films, new injection methods to enhance heavy oil production, alternative energy technologies such as fuel processing for high purity hydrogen generation, membrane reactors for chemicals production, and novel reactors for diesel exhaust abatement, among many others.

The faculty are active participants in many interdisciplinary centers at the University of Houston, including the Texas Center for Superconductivity, the Institute for Molecular Design, and the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. Our laboratory facilities, dedicated to specific and general uses, afford excellent support for fundamental and novel research.

The recent changes in the chemical and oil industries affect all chemical engineers, and may require changes in the method of training of our students. While we continue to provide our graduates a sound basis in the fundamentals of chemical engineering and mastery of scientific tools, we are also preparing them to adjust to and succeed in a rapidly changing employment environment. For example, we are incorporating more biochemistry and biochemical engineering, as well as materials science and engineering into our undergraduate and graduate curricula.

The Department has a distinct advantage of being located in this dynamic City of Houston. Many of our undergraduate and graduate students find employment in the extensive industry in the Greater Houston Area. The success of the Department is ultimately determined by the success of our alumnus. Over the years, our program has produced a significant number of undergraduate and graduate students who have risen to positions of prominence in industry and academia. We also have an active Industrial Advisory Board (IAB), comprised of leaders from the industry in the South Texas area. We look forward to strengthening the interaction with our Industrial Advisory Board and the companies that they represent. The interaction and feedback are essential in helping us adjust our program to the ever-changing requirements of the industry.

We hope that you find this web page informative. For more information, feel free to contact us directly.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sincerely, 
Michael P. Harold
Dow Chair Professor and Chairman