Seminars and Symposia

Departmental Seminars

Every fall and spring, our department invites speakers from both industry and academia to present their research to our community. These seminars are open to all graduate students and post-doctoral students. Snacks and refreshments are usually provided at the end.

The CBE Schoenborn Research Symposium and Exhibition

The CBE Schoenborn Research Symposium and Exhibition is a showcase for the talent and accomplishments of our graduate students, and a prime indicator of the overall excellence of our graduate program.

The two-day symposium features oral presentations by Ph.D. candidates and poster presentations by mid-level students. Oral presentations are judged by a faculty jury, while the poster presentations are judged by attending graduate students. Representatives from industry, government, and academia attend the symposium, and all interested parties are welcome.

Dr. Edward M. Schoenborn Jr. was a key leader in transforming the character of our department. In 1945, he joined the department as its head. Early in his headship, he oversaw two major educational milestones: in 1948 the undergraduate program was accredited for the first time by the Engineer’s Council for Professional Development and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and in 1949 the Ph.D. program was established. The CBE Schoenborn Research Symposium and Exhibition is an on-going tribute to his longstanding service to our department.

Named Lectures

The Warren L. McCabe Lecture Series was created in 1983 to honor Dr. Warren McCabe, who was a distinguished professor in the department for 12 years after his retirement from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Widely regarded as one of the founders of the profession of chemical engineering, he died in August 1982. Founded with support from the Union Carbide Corporation, the series brings international experts to NC State.

The David F. Ollis Lecture Series celebrates the pioneering contributions of Dr. David Ollis, distinguished professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, to the field. Ollis and his colleague, Dr. James Baily, authored the first biochemical engineering textbook in 1977. A 2004 recipient of the National Science Foundation Director’s Award, he has authored more than 130 journal articles, published four books and delivered more than 200 invited lectures. Supported by the department and the Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), the Ollis series is a showcase for nationwide expertise.

The Keith E. Gubbins Lecture Series recognizes the impactful career and research contributions of Professor Keith E. Gubbins who has focused his research on statistical mechanics, molecular theory, and molecular simulation with application to problems in thermodynamics, transport, and separations. Funded by an endowment with a seminal contribution from Professor Gubbins and his wife, Pauline, the Gubbins series leaves a lasting impact on the NC State community by annually bringing global research leaders to campus.

Future Leaders in Chemical Engineering

Future Leaders in Chemical Engineering is 1.5 day, all-expenses-paid, highly-selective research symposium at NC State University that gives a platform for the finest and brightest undergraduate researchers in the United States to present their work and to be recognized for their achievements and growth as future leaders in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Held each year in October, selected students in the Materials Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioengineering students that are doing research related to Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the research symposium in Raleigh, NC where they will present their research in the form of soundbites and a poster session. It is a unique opportunity to network with faculty and peers and also to learn more about graduate school at NC State. All selected students will receive a plaque recognizing their participation.