Bachelors in Chemical and Biological Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Princeton University

Program Overview

Princeton’s B.S.E. in Chemical and Biological Engineering combines engineering, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and experimentation to prepare students to address problems in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, manufacturing, and other industries. It suits students interested in applying scientific and engineering principles to complex real-world challenges, with six concentration areas and a year-long independent senior thesis providing opportunities to specialize and conduct research.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students build the mathematical and scientific foundation required for engineering through MAT 103 Calculus, PHY 103 Physics, and CHM 201 Chemistry, while also completing humanities/social science, computing, and writing requirements. The year establishes the core knowledge needed to progress into chemical and biological engineering coursework.

Second Year: Students move into the discipline with CBE 245: Introduction to Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Principles and CBE 246: Thermodynamics, alongside MOL 214: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology. CHM 301: Organic Chemistry I: Biological Emphasis, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations strengthen the chemistry, biology, mathematics, and engineering foundations.

Third Year: Students develop deeper engineering expertise through CBE 250: Separations in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, CBE 341: Mass, Momentum, and Energy Transport, and CBE 346: Chemical and Biological Engineering Laboratory. CBE 441: Chemical Reaction Engineering and program electives then allow students to apply engineering principles through laboratory work and begin developing expertise within their chosen concentration.

Fourth Year: The final year emphasizes advanced design, independent research, and specialization through CBE 442: Process and Energy Systems Design and the year-long CBE 498: Senior Thesis I and CBE 499: Senior Thesis II. Students complete their chosen concentration and use advanced engineering and design methods to undertake an independent research project culminating in the senior thesis.

Focus Areas: Bioengineering & Biotechnology; Entrepreneurship & Management; Energy, Sustainability & Environmental Technologies; Materials & Molecular Engineering; Computation, Data Science & AI/ML; Applied Engineering Sciences.

Learning Outcomes: Engineering foundations: develop strong knowledge of engineering, mathematics, chemistry, and biology; technical application: analyze thermodynamics, transport, separations, reaction engineering, and process systems; research and design: conduct experimentation, analyze data, apply engineering judgment, and complete an independent senior thesis.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): ABET-accredited: Princeton’s Chemical and Biological Engineering program of study is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for chemical, biochemical, biomolecular, and similarly named engineering programs.

Reputation (Employability): Official Princeton CBE outcomes: the department reports that 29% of students go directly into graduate school, 18% enter management and technical consulting, and 10% enter healthcare and biotechnology industries; Princeton Engineering also identifies employers of its engineering graduates including Microsoft, Google, Merck, Boeing, Intel, SpaceX, Tesla, and Ford.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Princeton’s Chemical and Biological Engineering program gain substantial hands-on experience through laboratory courses, research mentorship, engineering design, computational work, and independent projects. The program includes the Chemical and Biological Engineering Laboratory (CBE 346), where students work experimentally with separations, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, process dynamics and control, materials processing and characterization, and chemical reactors. Students can also begin research as sophomores, undertake junior independent work, and complete a year-long senior thesis involving experimental, computational, or theoretical research with a faculty adviser.

The program also provides structured opportunities to apply engineering concepts through advanced design and research:

Core Laboratory: CBE 346 provides intensive hands-on engineering practice involving separations, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, process dynamics and control, materials processing and characterization, and chemical reactors.
Engineering Design: CBE 442, Process and Energy Systems Design, gives students an in-depth design experience using state-of-the-art design and optimization tools.
Computational Tools: Students can study Molecular Modeling Methods (CBE 422) and Computational Materials Design and Discovery (CBE 423/MSE 423), developing computational approaches for engineering and materials problems.
Sophomore Research: CBE 298–299 provides a two-semester research experience with a CBE faculty mentor, including technical-data analysis and a formal scientific presentation to the research group.
Junior Independent Research: Students can pursue CBE 398–399 with a faculty mentor, typically dedicating 15–20 hours per week to their research project and producing a written report and potentially an oral presentation.
Senior Thesis: CBE 498–499 is a year-long research project supervised by a Princeton faculty member. Projects can be experimental, computational, or theoretical, with students completing a thesis, poster presentation, and oral examination.
Research Facilities: The department moved into a new Chemical and Biological Engineering building in January 2026, with state-of-the-art research facilities connected to the Sarofim Pavilion and the Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute.
Interdisciplinary Facilities: Students can benefit from Princeton research resources including the PRISM Imaging and Analysis Center, Department of Chemistry Research Facilities, Department of Molecular Biology Core Facilities, Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton Materials Institute, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering.
Summer Research & Internships: Princeton’s Office of Undergraduate Research supports opportunities such as OURSIP, which provides grants for eligible students who secure faculty-mentored summer research internships, as well as other hands-on research programs.
Research Topics: Recent CBE undergraduate projects have included avian lung development, novel peptides, polymer crystallization, CO₂ capture, and metal-organic-framework catalysis, giving students opportunities to work on current chemical and biological engineering problems.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Princeton’s Chemical and Biological Engineering B.S.E. prepares graduates for careers across chemical engineering, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, research, consulting, and healthcare. The department reports that 29% of students go directly into graduate school, 18% enter management and technical consulting, and 10% enter healthcare and biotechnology industries.

Typical Job Roles: Chemical Engineer, Bioprocess Engineer, Research Engineer, Technical Consultant.

Career Support & Employment Opportunities:

Career Development: Princeton’s Center for Career Development provides career advising, resume and cover-letter guidance, interview preparation, professional networking, and graduate/professional-school resources.
Employer Connections: Princeton Engineering organizes an annual Science and Technology Job Fair, connecting students directly with employers seeking engineering talent.
Alumni Networking: Students can connect with Princeton alumni for mentoring, networking, internship, and job opportunities through the Center for Career Development.
Employment Destinations: Princeton Engineering graduates have joined organizations including Microsoft, Google, Merck, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Intel, SpaceX, Tesla, and Ford.

Employment & Salary Outcomes:

University-Wide Outcomes: For the Class of 2024, Princeton reported post-graduation outcomes for 99.5% of graduates; 61.6% accepted employment and 24.8% confirmed admission to graduate or professional school by December 31, 2024.
Long-Term Salary: Princeton’s 2025 institutional report estimated a $127,646 median salary for engineering alumni 3–12 years after completing their bachelor’s degree, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational and state-of-employment data.
First-Destination Data: Princeton’s Career Development office maintains annual first-destination information covering employment by industry, employer, job title, and other post-graduation pathways.

University–Industry Connections: Princeton CBE has provided students opportunities to engage with companies including Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MilliporeSigma, and GlaxoSmithKline through its Industry Day activities, while the university's engineering career programs connect students with a wider range of major technology, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and engineering employers.

Accreditation Value: ABET Accreditation: The undergraduate program of study in Chemical Engineering within Princeton’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for chemical, biochemical, biomolecular, and similarly named engineering programs. This provides an externally recognized quality framework for the engineering curriculum and its student outcomes.

Graduation Outcomes: CBE students complete a year-long senior thesis, giving them experience integrating engineering and scientific knowledge through independent research. The department reports that graduates move into graduate study, industrial research and development, business, entrepreneurship, medicine, government, and other professional fields.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S.E., students can continue into Princeton’s M.S.E., M.Eng., or Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering, or pursue graduate and professional programs in related areas such as bioengineering, biotechnology, materials science, medicine, and other engineering disciplines. Princeton’s CBE graduate program specifically prepares students for research, teaching, entrepreneurship, management, academia, government, and industry.