Doctoral Program (PhD)

Three UB CBE PhD students working on special stem cell training program sit at lab bench viewing images on screen.

Opportunities for research collaborations abound at the University at Buffalo.

Cultivating the next generation of leaders in chemical and biological engineering. 

As a Chemical Engineering PhD candidate, you will engage in independent research guided by our award-winning faculty and build a deep expertise in a chosen area of specialization. Success in this program hinges on cultivating critical and independent thinking, scientific rigor, and creativity.

Program Metrics  External link to Tableau Dashboard.

PhD requirements

  • A curriculum of required coursework
  • Two qualifying examinations (literature survey and proposal defense)
  • Defense and approval of a doctoral dissertation

The PhD program consists of a minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. A maximum of 30 credit hours from previous graduate study may be credited toward the PhD degree. At least 42 credit hours beyond a former MS degree are normally required for the PhD degree, including 24 credit hours of formal courses, two semesters of teaching, and 30 credits of dissertation. The quality of research is the most important element, and the dissertation must demonstrate original contribution to the field of study, typically through publications in peer reviewed journals. In this regard, annual committee meetings are enforced after the second year of study. The selection of coursework is made by the student in consultation with his/her advisor in the first or second semester after admission to the PhD program. Core course requirements must be satisfied either through courses taken within the doctoral program or previously as part of an MS program at UB. 

Research topics are highly dependent upon the research interests of the faculty advisor. Please explore our research for more information on our current projects.

For more detail on the coursework component of the program, please see our list of graduate courses for descriptions of individual courses available within the department.

Learn more about our research areas and current projects