Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical & Biochemical Engineering

Alison Loughran - Graduate

In school, my favourite subject was maths, with chemistry and biology a close second. This course seemed to incorporate everything that I liked so I got in contact with the lecturer I had spoken with at the UL Open Day and met with him about the course. He really simplified what a chemical engineer does; "A chemist creates a recipe for something on lab scale, while a chemical engineer takes this recipe, and must make the same compound on large scale".

The course itself is quite challenging but that was something that attracted me from the beginning. We cover some general areas like engineering maths, physics and chemistry while the more specialised topics include fluid mechanics and heat transfer, phase equilibria, mass transfer separations, pharmaceutical formulation etc. The final year then has an individual research project and a group design project.

I completed my Co-Op work placement in Analog Devices, Limerick for 8 months. I worked on a team in the diffusion/strip work centre. I was also given individual tasks and projects which included carrying out checks on new tools, data collection for tools not yet automated and working with the manufacturing staff in a cleanroom environment. I realised how versatile my degree is as I gained great manufacturing experience and greatly developed communication, teamwork and troubleshooting skills.

I now work in MSD (Merck) in Cork as a technical specialist in operations in the Biologics Department. MSD plan to manufacture upstream biopharmaceutical products so I am involved in the commissioning and qualification of new equipment. My role will then transition to technical support of the manufacturing process which will involve being on the floor to assist operators through the manufacturing process, report to my leads on progress and investigate any process deviations.

UL’s 8 month Co-Op experience in UL prepared me very well for industry life. My degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering enabled me to secure a job before course completion.

Why not check out www.icheme.org and www.whynotchemeng.org and find out if chemical engineering is the career for you?

Graduate - Mark Fitzpatrick

In school, I enjoyed Maths, Physics and Design, Communication Graphics subjects so I wanted a numerical-based degree that would test my problem-solving abilities while also having good job prospects.

UL’s degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering provides a good mix of core engineering modules such as thermodynamics, process technology and process safety with other modules such as plant & process management and energy sustainability that ensures students have a well-rounded degree. The course is structured to bring all students to the same level of chemistry, biology and physics knowledge, even if you didn’t take those subjects for Leaving Cert. Modern chemical process software programs are taught, illustrating how all the different aspects of chemical engineering must come together and be in unison for a production process to work in a simulated large-scale plant.

Co-Op placement was the best part of my degree. I was working in the clean utilities department of Eli Lilly Kinsale's new biological drug production process. I was able to apply the knowledge I learned in lectures to real-world production problems. I gained an in-depth knowledge of the different types of processing equipment used in industry, the benefits of each type and how to spot developing faults before they become an issue. UL’s chemical engineering degree qualifies me for a wide range of careers across Ireland and abroad.

Graduate - Jenna Bromell

Chemical engineering graduates have many career pathways to choose from. Here at UL, the management and analytical skills we develop while doing this course are sought after in so many industries. With such a variety of modules, we gain knowledge and develop skills which are applicable to many sectors.

Maths, Chemistry and problem-solving really appealed to me in school and this course seemed to incorporate all these areas. The biochemical element makes the course unique to chemical engineering-related courses offered in other Irish universities.

My Co-Op in Analog Devices benefitted me in many different ways- not just in terms of enriching my knowledge of engineering, but also in terms of interacting and networking with others. I have been involved in many projects within the company and this has helped me to develop communication, leadership and management skills. The experience has also helped my ability to plan, organize, evaluate options and implement solutions.

Co-Op experience is unique to UL and has given me a great insight into what working in industry will be like. By surrounding myself with other experienced engineers, I learned more about what is required of oneself as an employee, the importance of discipline and good work ethics, and what it takes to be the best engineer you can be.

Graduate - Edmond Kennedy 

As a Chemical Engineer, I basically take what is created on a lab scale and upscale it to a larger, industrial level. In my role in Eli Lilly in Kinsale, I am responsible for the day to day running of a manufacturing rig. I work as part of a cross-functional team to deliver medicine. My degree in UL has prepared me very well for this role, as it has provided me with a broad knowledge to allow me to interact with colleagues from areas like chemistry, maintenance and automation.

1st year of this course mainly covers general science and maths to give a basis for students to understand the more advanced topics. 2nd - 4th year covers more of the core engineering areas such as heat transfer, fluid mechanics and process control, as well as specific Chemical Engineering topics, such as reaction engineering and chemical engineering thermodynamics. In 4th year students complete a design project. Here they work together as a team to design a virtual industrial plant to manufacture a given chemical.

Co-op work experience is unique to UL. For my placement, I worked in Ipsen Pharmaceuticals in Dublin as a Chemical Engineer. I worked mainly on a freeze-drying process for purifying a protein, along with managing any day to day activities on the production floor. Along with the opportunity to apply the technical knowledge I gained in college, I also gained valuable experience of working as part of a team, such as communication and teamwork. UL has provided me with all I need to achieve my potential.

Graduate - Jake Flannery

I chose UL because of the fantastic campus, and this course really appealed to me. Chemistry and Applied Maths were my favourite subjects for the Leaving Cert, so when researching my options, I felt my strengths were suited to a degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. The course is somewhat challenging but very interesting. The engineering maths particularly appeals to me and I enjoy studying organic chemistry too because we get to do a lot of interactive lab projects and work with various chemicals. We also had the opportunity to visit a large chemical engineering facility and see first-hand how their various processes operate.

As an incoming first-year UL student, Jake received the UL40 Entrance Scholarship for achieving 625 points in the Leaving Certificate. He was also awarded the Naughton Foundation (Tipperary) scholarship for STEM studies at university. As out-half/full-back for the Irish U20s rugby team, Jake earned a Six Nations medal in 2019 when he helped his team to the Grand Slam title. Having played in this year’s U20 World Cup in Argentina, Jack has recently been recruited to the Munster Rugby Academy.