Graduate Student Experience

Our graduate students are a thriving, dedicated community of scholars and leaders. They actively engage in continuously improving our programs and contribute to a robust and rewarding student experience.
Graduate students present dry ice experiment to kids

Whether participating in graduate student organizations, attending or organizing events, creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations and initiatives, or serving the community near and far, our students are making an impact, improving their communication skills, and encouraging diverse perspectives and scholarship.

MEng Students sit at desks Upson Hall design class with Jeff Varner.
Students stand together at Indian Creek Farms for an apple picking event hosted by CBE Women.
Three graduate students laugh while talking to each other during a Science Blender podcast broadcast in Olin Hall

Events

The following events and organizations complement your graduate student experience.

  • Graduate Research Symposium

    This annual graduate research symposium, organized by the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association, is a highly-anticipated showcase of graduate student research and presentations. Attended by all graduate students and faculty, the symposium provides a forum for students in their second and fourth years to present their work. A faculty member presents a keynote lecture.

    Students receive valuable feedback and networking opportunities from industry representatives and recruiter attendees who review student presentations. Following the symposium, student presenters receive a report that includes faculty and peer evaluations of their presentations. In recent years, representatives from Corning, Air Products, Arkema, ConocoPhillips, and 3M have attended.

    The symposium concludes with a banquet dinner celebrating the year’s achievements and student awards for outstanding teaching assistant and best paper of the year.

Awards

The following annual awards recognize the outstanding research and academic achievements in our graduate student community.

  • Austin Hooey Graduate Research Excellence Award

    The highest award given to a graduate student. It recognizes outstanding contributions to scholarship and research toward a Ph.D. and was established in 2005 in honor of the late Austin O. Hooey (1922–2004). Her father, William Hooey, earned his degree in chemical engineering in 1912. Both deeply valued higher education and Cornell University.

  • Fleming Scholar Award

    Established in 2015 by a generous gift from alumnus Samuel C. Fleming ’62 and his wife Nancy Fleming to recognize the very best graduate students working on biomolecular engineering research themes. By providing early recognition to students with exceptional talent, the long-term goal of the Fleming Scholars program is to attract, educate and graduate Cornell Ph.D.s capable of leading their fields and of pioneering new areas of study that advance biomolecular engineering science. Students receiving the recognition in any given year will hold the distinguished title Fleming Scholar for the duration of their Ph.D.

  • Best Paper of the Year Award

    Established in 2018 to honor the published research of outstanding graduate students. CBE faculty select the recipient.

  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant (TA) Award

    Annual award recognizes graduate students for excellence in teaching assistantships. Award winners are chosen by faculty and undergraduates.

Student Organizations

Our community values camaraderie and social responsibility. We encourage graduate students to spend a portion of their time participating in student-led organizations. The following school-based student organizations work toward bettering the student experience and serving in varying communities – local communities, national organizations and the chemical engineering industry.

  • Students perform an experiment with foam and funnels in Olin Hall.

    CBE Women

    Open to all graduate students, Cornell’s Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Graduate Women’s Group (CBE Women) develops and hosts programming focused on encouraging women to enter and remain in the STEM fields while thriving professionally. Since 2008 they have been a major organizer of outreach and professional development opportunities for postdocs and graduate students.

  • Susan Daniel and graduate student members of Chegsa pose wearing their group Halloween costume.

    Graduate Student Association

    The chemical and biomolecular engineering graduate student association (ChEGSA) leads fellowship events, promotes professional development, and hosts the Graduate Research Symposium. ChEGSA connects graduate students with faculty and the community, working with CBE Women on projects like the WOMEN Event and a career seminar series. The association also chooses winners for the Austin Hooey Graduate Research Excellence Awards and helps with new student orientation and recruitment events.

Student Organization Lists and Directories