Career in Chemical Engineering
The working area of chemical engineers is broader in comparison to other engineering professionals like civil or computers, for this reason, sometimes chemical engineers are also called as universal engineers. A chemical engineer applies knowledge of chemistry, physics, mathematics, materials and engineering to solve a problem. The study of chemical engineering involves design, builds and machines operations where loads of chemical reactions occur to produce new products.
Role of a Chemical Engineer
Chemical Engineers are responsible for building designs, formulating new processes, developing new instruments and facilities etc. for an environment where loads of chemical reactions occurs at a time. The chemical engineers help in industrial activities of atomic sciences, polymers, paper, dyes, drugs, plastics, fertilizers, foods, petrochemicals etc. They formulate new methods to produce new materials from raw natural and artificial materials both cost effective as well as environment friendly. A chemical engineer can contribute to any scientific or engineering field.
Skills Required for Chemical Engineers
Academic Requirement: Academically you need minimum bachelor’s degree i.e. B.E/B.Tech/B.S or equivalent from a recognized institute to start career as a chemical engineer. The bachelor’s degree in engineering is a 4 year program offered to those candidates who have completed K-12 standard of education with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Working with rigorous mathematical and computational formula and understanding the complex chemical reactions are some necessary trait to enroll in a bachelor’s program in chemical engineering.
To join postgraduate degree programs like MS, M.Tech and Ph.D etc. universities ask for score in standardized test followed by essay test and personality interview. Minimum qualification to join masters level program and higher is bachelor's degree qualification in chemical engineering and related discipline.
Personal Skills
To be successful in career one needs to possess the following personality traits:
Analytical Skill Requirements- Chemical Engineer must possess sound analytical skills to understand the working circumstances of the chemical production industries.
Business Skill Requirements- Chemical Engineer should be good in numbers to predetermine what a project i.e., production of a substance will cost and how a company or government will benefit from it.
Critical Thinking Abilities- Chemical Engineer should be able to think under what circumstances designs, materials and end product or project may fail and what should be alternative options in case of a glitch or failure.
Team Worker- Chemical Engineer works in team, he / she must need to be a good team worker, able to learn and make others learn in work environment.
Writing Skills- Chemical Engineer works in a team with fellow engineers and other coworkers. They should have good writing skills to write clear papers which other team workers could fully understand.