Chemical Engineering Scholars Program (CHESP)
WPI chemical engineering faculty and students are working together to develop novel interdisciplinary solutions to the world’s most pressing global challenges in medicine, agriculture, energy and the environment. As chemical engineers, we not only perform discovery work but think about how this scholarship can be applied at scale to positively affect the bulk of society. Our research efforts are regularly highlighted in the news and include using synthetic biology to advance drug biomanufacturing, AI to facilitate process discovery and improvements, new approaches to capture carbon in waste for clean energy, and novel materials to accelerate solutions in women’s health. Our faculty oversee vigorous and well-funded programs that integrate undergraduate students with our graduate and post-graduate students to perform authentic and impactful research. Approximately 25% of our undergraduate students pursue doctoral research post-graduation.
To help better prepare you to go out and make an impact on these global problems we have developed the Chemical Engineering Scholars Program (CHESP).
Students selected for the CHESP will receive:
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Special academic advising.
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Early research opportunities.
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Opportunities to attend on-campus chemical engineering colloquia and special meetings with the guest speakers, who are leaders in the field.
- A CHESP scholarship, which will vary in amount but typically ranges between $10,000 and $25,000 and is renewable for four years.
WPI's Chemical Engineering Department exposes all its students to authentic research. Our course and project offerings help students become acquainted with cutting-edge techniques and sophisticated equipment. Students may begin working in faculty-directed research labs as early as their first year. We work to help you match with the lab that best aligns with your passions.
Admission
Applicants indicating Chemical Engineering as their intended area of study will automatically be considered for the program. Selection by the Scholarship Committee will be based upon the applicant's academic performance in high school, leadership, extracurricular involvement and community service. In addition to the Scholars program, each CHESP Scholar receives an academic merit-based scholarship.
Academic Scholarship
Regardless of financial circumstances, each CHESP participant will be guaranteed a CHESP scholarship, which will vary in amounts, but typically ranges between $10,000 and $25,000, and are renewable for four years. Families may be eligible for much more aid, based on financial need. To be considered for the scholarship, simply apply as a chemical engineering major. No special application is required. To apply for need-based aid, please file the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE. See your guidance counselor or check in with Financial Aid at WPI (finaid@wpi.edu for details).
The Best Speakers
We think it's important for students to have exposure to leaders and current topics in the field. That's why the Chemical Engineering Department enhances its curriculum by sponsoring invited lectures on diverse topics in chemical engineering. Please check out our website for some of the most recent speakers. CHESP scholars will get the chance to have a small group meeting with each external speaker. These meetings are excellent networking opportunities for students interested in graduate research.
Facilities
All CHESP research is conducted on campus where we provide our students with easy access to our laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment. As a CHESP Scholar, you may find yourself using state-of-the-art equipment in our newly renovated labs in Goddard Hall or the Life Science and Bioengineering Center or even at UMass Medical School, where our researchers use their advanced facilities. You will gain experience in a broad array of imaging, analytical chemistry, materials characterization and molecular and cell biology equipment including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, qPCR, cell culture, and 3D printing of cells and materials. We just opened the CERES facility with $1M grant from the Mass Life Sciences Center: Cell Engineering Research Equipment Suite - CERES | Worcester Polytechnic Institute!