Chem-E-Car
Put your Chem-E-Car to the test by competing with teams from universities across the Mid-Atlantic region! Below are a few important details for this year’s regional conference:
Teams participating in Chem-E-Car must complete two separate registrations:
- National AIChE Chem-E-Car Team Registration
- Deadline: February 8, 2026
- VCU Regional Conference Chem-E-Car Registration
- Deadline: February 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM
- Fee: $120 per team
Additional requirements:
- Engineering Design Papers (EDPs) must be submitted to AIChE by February 20, 2026.
- Chemicals will be shipped directly to the VCU campus based on materials listed in your registration. Please specify required chemicals from Thermo Fisher Scientific or Sigma-Aldrich, including catalog numbers, to ensure timely processing.
For complete Chem-E-Car guidelines and policies, refer to the AIChE website.
ChemE Jeopardy
Step into the spotlight and put your chemical engineering skills to work in ChemE Jeopardy! Teams will face a dynamic, fast-moving competition that rewards sharp knowledge and quick reactions.
Ethical Play: All participants are expected to uphold the AIChE Code of Ethics and compete with integrity to ensure a fair and honest game
Eligibility: Each university may register one team of four students to compete. Colleges may enter a secondary team if additional spaces are available.
Registration Deadline: All teams must be registered no later than March 1 at 11:59 pm. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by March 6th.
ChemE-Sports
New this year!
ChemE-Sports is a competitive process-engineering simulation where teams operate a virtual chemical plant using both an online simulator and a VR outside-operator interface. In groups of four, students work against the clock to maintain safe operations, troubleshoot issues, and optimize plant performance based on mission objectives. It’s an engaging way to gain hands-on process engineering experience while collaborating with peers in a high-pressure, realistic environment.
Ethical Play: All participants are expected to uphold the AIChE Code of Ethics and compete with integrity to ensure a fair and honest game.
Eligibility: Each university may register one team of four students to compete.
Registration Deadline: All teams must be registered no later than March 1 at 11:59 pm. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by March 6th.
Research Poster Competition
The AIChE Undergraduate Student Poster Competition offers students a platform to showcase their research through a combination of visual display and brief oral explanation. Participants will present their work to peers, industry representatives, and judges in a professional academic environment.
Eligibility: This competition is open to undergraduate students who are active members of AIChE student chapters.
Registration and Abstract Submission Deadline: All participants must complete the registration form linked in this section and submit an abstract by March 1 at 11:59 PM.
Poster Expectations: Posters should communicate information clearly and cohesively, using legible text and well-designed visuals. Submissions should clearly convey the motivation behind the research, summarize key findings, and demonstrate meaningful analysis.
Design Guidelines: Content should be logically organized and easy to navigate. Graphs, figures, and images should enhance the presentation and be understandable without extensive verbal explanation.
Oral Presentation Component: Each participant should be prepared to give a brief oral summary of their poster. Presenters should effectively explain their research, highlight major takeaways, and respond confidently to questions or interruptions.
Technical Presentation Competition
The AIChE Regional Technical Presentation Competition gives undergraduate students the opportunity to present research findings or technical innovations in chemical engineering to a panel of academic and industry experts.
Eligibility: This competition is open to undergraduate students who are active members of AIChE student chapters.
Presentation Topics: Presentations should cover original research, advances in chemical engineering applications, or plant design projects.
Judging Panel: Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of faculty members, industry professionals, and representatives from local AIChE sections.
Registration and Abstract Submission Deadline: All participants must complete the registration form linked in this section and submit an abstract by March 1 at 11:59 PM.
Presentation Format and Guidelines: Each presenter will be allotted 15 minutes to deliver their presentation, followed by a 3–5 minute question-and-answer session. Presenters must have made a significant contribution to the work being presented and are expected to use clear, concise, and professional visual aids.