Contact Information
Dr. Patrick Gilcrease
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
(605) 394-2421
E-mail: Patrick.Gilcrease@sdsmt.edu
Web: http://cbe.sdsmt.edu/
Biochemical Engineering
The potential workforce demand for chemical engineering graduates with biochemical engineering training in South Dakota, the region, and nationwide is expected to grow, based on both historical and national trends. Nationally, job openings in biochemical engineering related areas of chemical engineering are estimated to grow by 2% to 4% annually through 2024. The median national annual salary for such positions is $95,900. In addition, state investments and potential for growth in technology areas such as value-added agriculture and agribusinesses, bioenergy and biofuels, and human health and nutrition further solidifies the need for chemical engineering graduates with this specialization.Courses within the chemical engineering degree and the biochemical engineering specialization are tailored to fill the needs of not only such industries and governmental organizations, but reach out to the broader global community. The intent of this emphasis is to prepare students for careers in areas where the biochemical engineering specialization (within the parent chemical engineering degree) is beneficial, such as bioprocessing, bioenergy, pharmaceutical, and biomedical/life science industries.Graduates of the CBE department routinely are recruited and go to work in chemical/biochemical engineering positions at such firms as; Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Cargill, Kimberly Clark, General Mills, Poet, ICM, Dow Chemical, General Mills, 3M, Tate & Lyle, and ConAgra. This specialization will provide students and companies that hire SDSMT students a formal recognition of the skill set and knowledge that they received in securing in biochemical engineering on their final transcript.
