Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 SDSM&T Academic Catalog 
    
2017-2018 SDSM&T Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Chemical and Biological Engineering, Ph.D.


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Contact Information

Dr. Todd Menkhaus
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
(605) 394-2422 Dept: (605) 394-2421
E-mail: Todd.Menkhaus@sdsmt.edu
http://www.sdsmt.edu/CBE/

Faculty

Professors Dixon, Gilcrease, Menkhaus (CBE Graduate Program Coordinator), Puszynski, Salem and Winter; Associate Professors Benjamin, Sani, and Shende; Assistant Professors Brenza, Groven, and Hadley; Lecturer Pinkelman.

CBE Ph.D. Program Advisory Council

Professors Dixon, Gilcrease, Menkhaus (Program Coordinator) and Winter; Associate Professor Benjamin, Sani, and Shende; Assistant Professor Brenza, Groven, and Hadley.

Chemical and Biological Engineering

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) offers, in addition to B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemical engineering, a Ph.D. degree in chemical and biological engineering. The Ph.D. program provides the chemical and biological engineering Ph.D. graduate a core educational experience in transport phenomena, chemical kinetics, biochemical engineering, chemical thermodynamics, and biotechnology. This knowledge base, along with key electives, provides CBE graduate students the training to participate in biochemical and petrochemical processing, bio-based energy technologies, including biomass and biofuels; catalysis; bio-based and bio-compatible materials; biomedicine; bioremediation; emerging energy technologies; synthesis and functionalization of nanomaterials, and processing of polymers and composite materials. These areas are aligned with the expertise of our faculty members. The current research interest of the faculty can be found on the departmental website http://www.sdsmt.edu/CBE/research/. The modern Chemical and Biological Engineering and Chemistry (CBEC) building houses the CBE research laboratories.

The CBE Faculty maintain a a vibrant research enterprise with over $9m of funded research from the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, NASA, other state and federal agencies, and industry. The State of South Dakota is recognized as a leader and major producer of ethanol from starch in the United States. Hence the State of South Dakota is well positioned to play an important role in development of new bio-based technologies and value-added agricultural products. The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering was instrumental in establishing the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (NSF I/UCRC) for BioEnergy Research and Development (CBeRD) and the State of South Dakota Supported Center for Bioenergy Research (CBRD). The unique national NSF I/UCRC center was focused on bio-based energy and chemical feedstocks, was comprised of four universities, including the SDSM&T, North Carolina State University, State University of New York - Stony Brook, University of Hawaii, and more than 20 industries and state and federal laboratories.

The CBE Ph.D. program is also a strong supporter of the State-focused research area in materials and advanced manufacturing, which include advanced materials, polymers, composites, and nanotechnology. The Composites and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE) is a key resource utilized by our students http://cape.sdsmt.edu/. The CBE research laboratories along with CAPE provide CBE Ph.D. students a wealth of modern resources to participate in cutting-edge research funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, NASA, and industrial collaborators.

The Ph.D. Program in chemical and biological engineering is administered by the CBE Graduate Program Coordinator and the Program Advisory Council. The Program Advisory Council is responsible for the curriculum and program policies.

Curriculum


The curriculum is designed to provide the CBE Ph.D. graduate with the depth and breadth of engineering knowledge to become a leader in their chosen focus area. To facilitate this, each student is asked to complete a program of study plan that will provide the framework for the student’s coursework and research. This should be filed with the Program Coordinator before the midterm of the second semester in residence. The CBE Ph.D. Advisory Council must approve all programs of study. Detailed information on examination policy, admission to candidacy, and defense of dissertation are included in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Ph.D. Program Handbook.

Students entering the program with B.S. or M.S. degrees from disciplines other than Chemical or Biochemical Engineering will be required to take several selected courses in Chemical Engineering at the undergraduate level, to provide a firm understanding of fundamental chemical engineering principles.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE), three letters of recommendation, and a GPA of 3.00 or better are required of all applicants for the Ph.D. program. The TOEFL exam is required for students whose native language is not English.

All CBE Ph.D. candidates are required to successfully complete the required minimum credits and earn a grade of “C” or better, except for a final grade of “S” in CBE 898. However a 3.00 GPA must be maintained to receive graduate research assistantships (GRA).

Below is the summary of the basic required courses:

Category Credits  
Required courses1 (minimum 6 credits from Chemical Engineering and 6 credits from Biological Engineering focus areas) selected from the two focus area lists 24    
Required seminar 4    
Minimum required research credits 32    
Minimum electives1,2 12    
TOTAL 72    

Curriculum Notes


1 Students entering with a M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline may apply a maximum of twenty-four (24) course credit hours toward the required and elective course requirements subject to approval of the CBE Ph.D. Program Advisory Council.

2  Elective courses may be selected from the two focus area lists, from the example elective list, or from other SDSM&T courses as a part of a student’s program of study, subject to approval of his/her major professor and graduate committee.

Focus Area — Chemical Engineering


Students pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering must take the 500 and above level courses, not the 400 level courses.

Focus area — Biological Engineering


Students pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering must take the 500 and above level courses, not the 400 level courses.

Required courses (Seminar and Research)


Four (4) credits of CBE 890 Seminar and a minimum of thirty-two (32) credits of CBE 898D Dissertation are required.

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