The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has approved a doctoral degree in chemical and life science engineering to be offered by the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University beginning in the fall of 2019.

Students will be trained to conduct basic and applied research in this cross-disciplinary field. The program seeks to meet a growing demand for engineers and scientists with doctorate-level training in these areas. It will teach them the skills to improve molecular technologies and chemical processes and to design novel materials and therapeutics.

The College of Engineering previously offered a doctorate in engineering with a concentration in chemical and life science engineering. “This new standalone Ph.D. program will provide students with a degree that is internationally recognized, and which more accurately reflects the breadth of cross-disciplinary research conducted in our department and in the college,” said Vamsi K. Yadavalli, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate program director of the department. “It will produce quality graduates to fill the talent pool in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.”