Research Areas

Chemical engineering research at Northeastern is supported by multiple areas: Biomolecular & Biomedical Systems, Complex & Computational Systems, Energy & Sustainability, Engineering Education & Pedagogy, and Materials & Nanotechnology. Not only will you find any number of fascinating projects in these areas with which you can become involved, but Northeastern is also pushing the limits of possibility at the integration of biological and physical systems by combining expertise from both of our pillars of excellence.

Want to figure out how to grow new cartilage cells that you can use to help eliminate osteoarthritis? How about working on making plant cells produce tough-to-synthesize anti-cancer drugs? Or using fluid mechanics and mass transport theory to develop better ways of dispersing those drugs in the body? Or how to develop materials to meet unprecedented needs in energy without damaging the environment? All of that is happening now in the department.

Quantum-sized wires to make ultra-small circuitry? Stem cells to heal numerous diseases? We’re working on that too, as well as new multifunctional materials that will help usher in the next generation of faster, smaller, more capable electronic devices. And ultra-thin polymer coatings that can be functionalized for every purpose, ranging from biocompatible surfaces to semiconductor applications, to advanced radiation shielding.