Master's in chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Johns Hopkins University

Program Overview

The MSE in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University gives students the flexibility to build advanced expertise through coursework, original research, product design, or industry experience, making it well suited to students targeting careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, sustainability, and related engineering fields. Students develop advanced knowledge across areas such as thermodynamics, transport, kinetics, biomolecular engineering, molecular modeling, data science, and AI while tailoring their studies through specialized courses and one of four MSE pathways.

Curriculum Structure:

First Year:

Students begin by establishing advanced Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering foundations through required core subjects. Depending on their chosen pathway, these include EN.540.671 Advanced Thermodynamics in Practice, EN.540.604 Transport Phenomena in Practice, and a kinetics course such as EN.540.673 Advanced Chemical Reaction Engineering in Practice, EN.540.602 Metabolic Systems Biotechnology, or EN.540.681 Molecular Kinetics and Catalysis; students also complete EN.500.601 Lab Safety in their first semester.

Students then build specialization through graduate electives that connect chemical engineering with biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology, computational science, and advanced materials. Popular options highlighted by Johns Hopkins include Computational Protein Structure Prediction and Design, Micro/Nanotechnology: The Science and Engineering of Small Structures, Cancer Metabolism, and Future Food Manufacturing, allowing students to align their coursework with their professional interests.

Second Year:

The second-year experience depends strongly on the selected MSE pathway. Research-based students undertake original research with a faculty adviser and complete an MSE essay and department presentation, while design-based students combine graduate coursework with Product Design and finish with a written report and presentation; the research pathway typically takes four semesters.

For students pursuing the course-based MSE, the program consists of ten 3-credit graduate-level courses and can typically be completed in three semesters. Students seeking industry exposure can instead pursue the Institute for NanoBioTechnology Master's Co-op Program, which combines graduate study with paid industry experience and academic credit.

Focus Areas:

Cellular, Molecular, and Biopharmaceutical Engineering, Chemical and Sustainability Engineering, Molecular Modeling, Data Science and AI, metabolic systems biotechnology, computational protein design, pharmacokinetics, molecular kinetics and catalysis, micro/nanotechnology, biomaterials, drug delivery, energy, sustainability, materials, food manufacturing.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop advanced chemical and biomolecular engineering knowledge, quantitative and computational problem-solving skills, expertise in thermodynamics, transport and reaction engineering, biomolecular and biopharmaceutical systems knowledge, research and experimental skills, product-design capabilities, and the ability to apply engineering principles to challenges in human health, sustainability, energy and advanced technology.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Johns Hopkins MSE is a graduate program and is not separately identified as ABET-accredited; the department's B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. For MSE students, professional preparation comes through advanced graduate coursework, research, product design, and industry experience, with the program specifically designed to deepen technical knowledge and professional preparation.

Reputation (Employability & Academic Standing):

Johns Hopkins reports that its Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering MSE is No. 21 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report graduate rankings. The department also reports a strong employment outlook for graduates, with opportunities spanning pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biologics manufacturing, drug delivery, cell and gene therapy, vaccines, diagnostics, biomaterials, energy, food production, environmental systems, and materials.

The department further highlights a 5% projected job growth and approximately 1,100 openings per year, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and reports a $125,040 median salary figure across the relevant chemical and biomolecular engineering field; these figures are field-level statistics rather than guaranteed salaries for Johns Hopkins MSE graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Johns Hopkins MSE in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is designed to move students beyond classroom theory through original research, product development, computational work, and industry experience. Students can choose a research-based pathway with faculty-supervised laboratory work, a design pathway where small teams develop and prototype products, or the Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) Master's Co-op Program, where eligible students gain paid, credited industry experience. The department also provides access to state-of-the-art laboratories, supercomputing resources, nanotechnology facilities, and interdisciplinary research through Johns Hopkins Medicine, INBT, and the Applied Physics Laboratory.

Students can build practical skills through these specific opportunities:

Research-based MSE: Students undertake original research with a faculty adviser, complete an MSE research essay, and present their findings in an open departmental presentation. Research can involve biomolecular engineering, precision medicine, materials, energy, catalysis, separations, modeling, AI, and soft matter.
Product design and prototyping: The EN.540.690 Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Design course places students in small teams to identify customer needs, develop product specifications, create a product concept, and iteratively develop prototypes. Laboratory testing and prototype construction are incorporated into the design process.
Six-month paid industry co-op: Through the INBT Master's Co-op Program, eligible ChemBE MSE students can replace laboratory research with a six-month industry research project. Students receive a company research mentor, establish project goals, work as full-time employees, maintain a faculty adviser, and present their results at the end of the placement.
Industry partners: The INBT co-op has partnered with companies including MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline, Becton Dickinson, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, giving students exposure to areas such as operations, pilot plants, safety and environmental management, and regulatory affairs.
Computational research and AI: The department has expanded expertise in computer simulation, machine learning, and nanoscience, with graduate students participating in interdisciplinary research involving computational modeling and AI.
Advanced Research Computing: Students have access to Johns Hopkins' Advanced Research Computing (ARCH) resources and supercomputing facilities, supporting computationally intensive research and modeling.
Nanotechnology facilities: Research in nanomaterials and biomolecular engineering connects students with the Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) and the Whitaker Microfabrication Laboratory, supporting research involving nanotechnology, biomaterials, molecular engineering, and microfabrication.
Specialized research areas: Students can work in areas including Biomolecular Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Engineering for Precision Medicine, Materials for Energy/Catalysis/Separations, Modeling in the Big Data Era, and Self-Assembly and Soft Matter.
Biomolecular engineering tools and methods: Research includes computational and experimental approaches for designing enzymes, therapeutic proteins, molecular switches, DNA assemblies, and other biomolecular systems, with applications in biotechnology, medicine, tissue regeneration, and materials formation.
Nanomaterials laboratory techniques: The graduate course EN.670.619 Fundamental Physics and Chemistry of Nanomaterials covers nanoparticle synthesis, functionalization, surface engineering, particle tracking, bio-microrheology, and techniques including soft lithography, optical lithography, e-beam lithography, template lithography, electron microscopy, and scanning-probe microscopy.
Interdisciplinary facilities: Departmental resources include the Johns Hopkins Integrated Imaging Center, Materials Characterization and Processing facilities, Whitaker Microfabrication Lab, Johns Hopkins Core Facilities, Maryland Advanced Research Computing Center, and supercomputing facilities.
Applied Physics Laboratory: The department has research collaborations with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, alongside collaborations with nearby government laboratories including NIH and NIST, giving students access to a wider research ecosystem beyond the ChemBE department.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Johns Hopkins MSE in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is designed to prepare graduates for technical and leadership-oriented careers across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, environmental systems, and advanced manufacturing. The department reports that its graduates work across pharmaceuticals and biotech as well as defense, energy, food production, environmental systems, materials, and related industries, with alumni employers including AstraZeneca, Regeneron, Bristol Myers Squibb, Intel, Saudi Aramco, and the FDA.

Typical career roles: Bioprocess Engineer, R&D Engineer, Formulation Scientist, Computational/Modeling Engineer

These opportunities are supported by Johns Hopkins' career resources, industry connections, and professional training:

Career and professional development: The MSE's four pathways—course-based, research-based, product design-based, and industry-based—allow students to build experience aligned with their intended career direction. The department also provides graduate students with faculty mentorship and access to the wider Johns Hopkins research ecosystem.
Employment outlook: Johns Hopkins cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 5% job growth over ten years for the relevant chemical and biomolecular engineering field, with approximately 1,100 openings per year. This is an occupational-level projection rather than a placement rate for Johns Hopkins MSE graduates.
Salary figure: The department cites a $125,040 median salary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the relevant field. This is a field-level figure across experience levels and industries, not a guaranteed or MSE-specific graduate salary.
Industry partnerships and co-op: Through the Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT) Master's Co-op Program, eligible ChemBE MSE students can complete a credited, paid six-month industry research placement, working with a company mentor while also maintaining a Johns Hopkins faculty adviser.
Industry exposure: Johns Hopkins identifies employers and organizations connected with its graduate outcomes, including AstraZeneca, Regeneron, Bristol Myers Squibb, Saudi Aramco, Intel, the Food and Drug Administration, Army Research Lab, and Macrogenics. The department also collaborates with the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, NIH, and NIST.
Practical career preparation: The design-based MSE develops product-development experience through team-based product design, while the research-based and INBT pathways give students substantial research experience that can strengthen applications for technical R&D positions.
Long-term accreditation value: The MSE itself is not separately ABET-accredited; Johns Hopkins identifies ABET accreditation for its B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The MSE instead provides advanced graduate-level specialization, research, design, and industry experience that can complement an applicant's existing engineering qualification.
Graduation outcomes: Johns Hopkins describes MSE graduates as working as industry leaders and entrepreneurs, with opportunities spanning pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biologics manufacturing, drug delivery, cell and gene therapy, vaccines, diagnostics, biomaterials, energy, food production, environmental systems, and materials.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MSE, students interested in advanced research can pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins or a related doctoral field. The department's research environment spans biomolecular engineering, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, precision medicine, materials, energy, catalysis, computational modeling, machine learning, and sustainability, providing several directions for doctoral specialization