©  Copyright 2013 Chemical engineers are employed by almost all companies in the chemical process industry. Their  work also extends to processes in nuclear energy, materials science, food production, the  development of new sources of energy, and even medicine. In addition to process and product  development and design, chemical engineers work in areas such as production, research,  environmental studies, market analysis, data processing, sales, and management. They affect or  control at some stage the materials or production of almost every article manufactured on an industrial  scale. Chemical engineering is broader in scope than the other branches of engineering because it draws on  the three main engineering foundations: math, physics, and chemistry-whereas the other branches are  based on only the first two. A specific interest in chemistry combined an aptitude for math and science  attracts individuals to the profession. The curriculum of study for chemical engineering is similar to that  for chemistry but includes course work in engineering-related areas such as thermodynamics, fluid  dynamics, process design, and control and electronics.  Patrick Dickerson, a chemical engineer at Solutia, Inc., works in an area that produces hexamethylene  diamine-a molecule used in the production of nylon. Dickerson explains that his work involves applying  chemists findings to large-scale production. "We take what a chemist does-they synthesize a small  amount of a material-and we scale it up to making several hundred tons per day. This process includes  determining how to separate the desired product from its impurities." Dickerson continues, "We focus  on kinetics more, and we're concerned with things such as fluid flow and heat transfer on a large  scale-things that you don’t necessarily have to worry about with smaller reactions in beakers. We  design equipment that will accommodate these concerns."  Once processes and equipment are designed, chemical engineers remain on hand at a production  facility to solve problems that occur as the processes continue. When changes occur that upset a  running system, chemical engineers analyze samples from the system, looking at parameters such as  temperatures, pressures, and flow rates to determine where the problem exists. They also work on  expanding projects, evaluating new equipment, and improving existing equipment and processes.  Meeting safety, health, and environmental regulations is also a large part of a chemical engineer's  work life.  Provides Education on the Job Chemical engineers say that work experience is an extension of their education in the field. Dickerson  explains, "In school, you learn about the theory. On the job, you learn real-world applications." He  adds, "At work, I focus on manufacturing and the problems that arise, the real nuts and bolts of  engineering; I have to find out how to make a process work." Scott Harvey, a chemical engineer for  Lonza, Inc., a specialty chemical producer, says, "Your degree is the key to starting your career, but  on-the-job training is what make you good at the job."  Gaining experience while still in school helps many individuals decide on their career paths. Both  Dickerson and Harvey say that internships with their present employer led them to a career in their  respective areas. Undergraduate work experience helped them decide what areas they were most  interested in.  Michele van Krieken, chemical engineering consultant for DuPont businesses, is responsible for  making suggestions about new process ideas developed by DuPont's research departments. She  performs economic analyses and recommends whether researchers should pursue development of  the new process. Van Krieken says her position has traditionally been filled by experienced chemical  engineers. However, her co-op work experience with the company gave her the edge and background  needed to move into this position relatively quickly.  Is a Satisfying Career Chemical engineers enjoy considerable variety in their work. "I work in the R&D labs", says  Harvey. "In my work, I don’t believe there's a typical project. The work can vary greatly  depending on the type of project and its stage of development-for example, bench-top  experimental work, report writing, technical presentations, or production-scale trial batches. I  really enjoy the variety of the job." Harvey focuses on reaction engineering and describes his  work as process or technology transfer-the transfer of new or improved chemical processes  from the bench scale to commercial-scale equipment. Another satisfying part of his job, is  seeing an idea through from the lab to the commercial plant. Dickerson agrees that chemical  engineering is a satisfying career. "It's always nice to see that a process you worked on works.  You work on improving a process and then you see those improvements in the end in the final  product, and it's better than what you started with. That's a very satisfying feeling."  Work Description Chemical engineers design and operate plants and processes for large-scale production of chemical products. They use chemistry, physics, and mathematical equations to solve real problems and design ways to produce products safely and economically. Chemical Engineering & Gas Processing