Adam Ferrari (BS 05) didn’t transfer into ChBE with a perfect academic record, but with the support of his family and a strong work ethic, he graduated magna cum laude. Two decades later, he founded Phoenix Energy, a successful private oil and gas company. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE prof Hyunjoon Kong led a team of researchers who uncovered a new crystallization and microgel technology: the CROSS system provides a simple and versatile method for creating improved drug delivery carriers that can be tailored for various biological products. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Lithium is great at storing and releasing energy, which is why it's at the core of most rechargeable battery systems. 🔋 A ChBE Illinois team has created a process that uses organic solvent and a special electrode that recaptures only lithium from a solution of disassembled spent batteries.

In a new study, ChBE professor Diwaker Shukla shows how deep learning and large-scale computer simulations can help lead the search for safe synthetic cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE professor Ying Diao led a multi-institutional study that positions synthetic polymers as a potential alternative to expensive, unsustainable minerals for use in semiconductors and other electronic devices. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE Illinois is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Bickel Rogers to the department as an assistant professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering! Read more about our newest faculty member: chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign unveil a new modeling approach that could transform how scientists predict energies of chemical reactions, offering faster, more affordable quantum calculations without sacrificing precision. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE prof Huimin Zhao was named to the 2025 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list, which recognizes scientists who have demonstrated exceptional influence, as reflected through multiple papers frequently cited by their peers during the last decade. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

A new study led by ChBE professor Xiao Su demonstrates a commercially viable method for extracting lithium from used battery waste, using an electrochemically driven recovery process. news.illinois.edu/study-shows-...

Join us on Monday, November 17, at 3 pm in 217 Noyes for an alumni lecture presented by John Bartels. Bartels earned his BS from the department in 1989 and joined BP following his graduation. After 35 years with BP, he went on to launch Potential Energy LLC, his own consulting and coaching company.

In this Q&A, ChBE assistant professor Theresa Schoetz discusses her research, a published article that has been recently recognized as the most cited in Electrochimica Acta and the challenges that she has faced in the field. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

A new AI-powered tool called EZSpecificity combines enzyme-substrate docking data and a machine learning algorithm to predict the best pairing for making a desired product, with up to 91.7% accuracy. ChBE professor Huimin Zhao led the study. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Meet LassoESM, a lasso peptide-tailored protein language model developed by a team from the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. ChBE professor Diwakar Shukla, project co-leader, has provided valuable insights into machine learning knowledge. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Illinois researchers Alexa Kuenstler, Simon Rogers, Damien Guironnet and Antonia Statt are part of a four-year project selected for funding by the NSF DMREF program, to design polymers critical for next-gen computer chips.

Professors Charles Sing (ChBE) and Cecilia Lea (MatSE) are part of a multi-institutional team working to create new, biological-based membranes that can be made without the use of toxins. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE professor Deborah Leckband has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Biophysical Society for her "pathbreaking research in biophysics that has transformed our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of biomolecular mechanics and force transduction". Congratulations! chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Congratulations to ChBE grad student Afia Subhani and Chemistry grad student Micah Robinson, recipients of the Gender Equity in the Chemical Sciences Inclusive Leadership Award. We couldn't be prouder of these students for modeling inclusive excellence on campus!

ChBE professor Ying Diao will lead a team of researchers who have received a $2M grant to revolutionize electronic and energy materials by advancing knowledge in the fields of semiconducting polymers, chirality-induced spin selectivity and electrocatalysis. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE professor Alexa Kuenstler has been recognized by the College of LAS as a Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar for her contributions in research and teaching. She is one of six professors who received the honor. Congratulations! chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

New Opinion out today in @chicagotribune.com "The Bio10 is an academic powerhouse." "The health of our society depends on generations of young students equipped to embrace, and succeed in the face of, uncertainty." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/o...

ChBE Illinois researchers have unveiled a new framework for understanding and controlling the behavior of granular hydrogels — microscopic gel particles that mimic living tissue — paving the way for designing better biomaterials. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE Illinois is seeking an Office Support Associate to assist in the department's business and student services offices and provide backup to other positions. Come join our friendly, dedicated team! Deadline to apply: September 10, 2025. illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...

NSF has awarded $20M in Phase 2 funding to the Center for Single-Entity Nanochemistry and Nanocrystal Design. As part of the project, ChBE prof. Paul Kenis will help with experiments that highlight how individual nanocrystals behave. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

With a new five-year, $15M award, the NSF has renewed its support of the Molecule Maker Lab Institute, which develops AI tools for discovery and synthesis of molecules for uses in medicine, energy, industry and more. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories... @moleculemaker.bsky.social

A new spin on salad dressing 🥗 Researchers at Illinois have developed an innovative approach to addressing food waste and carbon emissions through the design of a catalyst for converting food waste-derived biocrude to sustainable aviation fuel. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE professor Hong Yang has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, their highest professional award. RSC Fellows are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the chemical sciences. 🏆 chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Led by ChBE professor Huimin Zhao, a team of innovative researchers combined the use of AI and automated biology to improve the performance of two important industrial enzymes. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Recycling reinvented!♻️A new study by prof. Baron Peters’ research group offers a model that addresses a key obstacle to efficient plastic recycling. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE professor Paul Kenis has received the 2025 Carl Wagner Memorial Award from the Electrochemical Society, in recognition of excellence in research and teaching. 🔷🔶 chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Researchers at ChBE Illinois have found a path to perform efficient, sustainable enantiomer separations, of importance for drug screening and manufacturing, using planar chiral polymers and electrochemistry. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories... @uofigrainger.bsky.social @lasillinois.bsky.social

Congratulations to ChBE undergrad, Anggana Yudono! 🎊Yudono is one of the Gilman scholarship recipients and will have the opportunity to study in Denmark. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Congratulations to graduate student Génesis Ríos-Adorno in @profharley.bsky.social's lab who received an Outstanding Mentor award during the C2 awards ceremony on April 28. She is a mentor to ChBE undergraduate Stephenie Merchan, who nominated her for the award.

Happy Decision Day and welcome to all of our new Illini! We can't wait for you to experience all that we have to offer. #illinois #chbe

Apply to our Masters of Engineering in Chemical Engineering Leadership program by May 1! The M.Eng is a professional master's degree for early to mid-career engineers who aspire to become industry leaders. Learn more and apply: chbe.illinois.edu/admissions/m...

Happy #EarthDay, Illini! It was great to see everyone soaking up the sun on the quad today 😎🤩

Congratulations to Professor Brendan Harley for finishing the Boston Marathon! Read about his journey from being diagnosed with leukemia to researching and raising money to fight cancer. www.wandtv.com/community/th...

On Wednesday, the Illinois chapter of OXE, the Chemical Engineering Honors Society, held their senior mixer for networking, food and fun! We hope everyone had a blast!

We 🧡love💙 grad students! Celebrate Grad Student Appreciation Week with us by sharing some of your favorite memories from your graduate years! Also, stop by the RAL atrium on Friday 4/11, 12-1 pm for a free slice of pizza!

For Grad Student Appreciation Week ChBE Illinois is proud to announce that we are ranked #11 Best Chemical Engineering Graduate Program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report 2025. 🔶🔷 #USNewsRankings #ChBEIllinois #IllinoisGraingerEngineering #LASIllinois

Check out the awesome booths at Engineering Open House! We met with students from GSAC, SWE, AIChE, and Alpha Chi Sigma! They have been working hard all year to create educational activities for the public. Which is your favorite booth?

ChBE Grad student Kyle Timmer has been chosen as a semi-finalist for the 2025 Graduate Image of Research Exhibition for his image, "If You Build It, They Will Come: Teachings our Cells to Heal Again." Learn more about his research: blogs.illinois.edu/view/9359/14...

Bobby He is an undergraduate currently completing an engineering co-op with LyondellBasell in Channelview, TX. He works on projects related to instrument installation, process optimization, and process hard analysis.

Postdoc Wangsuk Oh led research in Prof Xiao Su's lab that developed an 80% more energy efficient nanofiltration system for separating volatile fatty acids, organic molecules critical in fine chemical production, from cattle manure fermented in bioreactors chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Congratulations to ChBE professor Charles Sing who has been selected to receive the prestigious 2025 Owens Corning Early Career Award from the Materials Engineering and Sciences Division of AIChE!

Chemical and biomolecular engineering (ChBE) professors Damien S. Guironnet, Simon A. Rogers and Diwakar Shukla have been named James W. Westwater professorial scholars in recognition of their excellence in teaching and research.

Campus has been EMPTY without our students! We are looking forwards to welcoming you back for the rest of the semester! 🍃🌱

Research done under CHBE professor and Institute of Genomic Biology theme leader Huimin Zhao developed FAST NPS, a new method to accelerate the discovery and scale up of bioactive natural products which have been a model for medicine and pesticides. Learn more: chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Congratulations to all the winners of the SCS Science Image Challenge! Check out the images and learn more about them: chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

A new study led by ChBE professor Ying Diao describes a breakthrough in the field of organic solar cells, bringing the technology one step closer to commercial viability. Learn more: chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Professor Xiao Su led a study published in JACS Au detailing a method to recover platinum catalysts used in the production of valuable silicone materials by designing molecular attachments and advanced electrochemical separation technologies. Learn more: chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...