Department Profile: The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Abstract

The Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (CBE) at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, founded in 1984 through a unique collaboration between two state universities, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) and Florida State University (FSU), currently educates 532 undergraduate and 60 graduate students with 17 tenured/tenure track faculty and 4 teaching faculty members.  Combining the strengths of FAMU—the top rated public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) according to the 2021 college rankings of the US News & World Report, and FSU—a Carnegie Classified R1: Very High Research Activity university, the department and college serve a diverse population of students that reflects the composition of the United States. Students enroll at one of the two universities (their home institution), where they complete their pre-requisite and non-engineering courses. In the sophomore year, all students begin taking engineering courses together at the joint college campus with faculty from both institutions. Students graduate with degrees from their home institution. Faculty members teach and supervise students in research from both institutions in common classes and laboratories, thus providing all students with experience working in diverse groups and access to state-of-the-art research opportunities.  The department has produced outstanding students who have gone on to be leaders in industry and academia.  CBE offers two undergraduate degrees: chemical engineering (ChE) and biomedical engineering (BME). Within these degrees are five majors: chemical engineering, chemical-materials engineering, biomedical (cell and bioprocess engineering), biomedical (biomaterials and biopolymers), and biomedical(imaging and signals processing). Master of Science and Doctorate degrees and a 5-year BS-MS degree are offered in both chemical and biomedical engineering.  Faculty research spans both biomedical and chemical engineering with emphasis on  polymeric materials, biomaterials, inorganic materials, complex fluids and rheology, cell/tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. CBE has made major advances in the education of a diverse population of students while conducting research and educational efforts that span and connect the two disciplines at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.