As part of Canada's largest engineering school and most innovative university, the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo is home to approximately 1,000 students, faculty and staff, and has thousands of alumni worldwide.
Our Department consistently ranks among the top two universities in Canada and the number one university in Ontario in Chemical Engineering according to the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.
In addition to offering undergraduate and graduate programs in chemical engineering, the Department provides academic expertise and support to Waterloo's collaborative nanotechnology and biomedical engineering programs.
The department's collaborative research culture, engaging teaching practices and state-of-the-art facilities create a vibrant learning environment where students are empowered to solve the problems our world faces.
Do you know about our IP policy?
Students own what they invent at the University of Waterloo. This makes University of Waterloo an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Here support is available to commercialize innovations and nurture new start-ups. Learn more.
Interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering?
- Our curriculum is highly relevant to industry, with flexibility so you can specialize in areas of interest.
- Smallest class sizes of all the engineering programs, you will experience individualized support from your instructors and a tight-knit community.
- A large faculty complement including nine Research Chairs, with a wide variety of expertise ranging from biotechnology, nanotechnology, polymers and materials science, to environmental and energy topics like global climate change and fuel cells. See our research areas for an overview.
- Access to Chemical Engineering experts for career suggestions, research experience or guidance during senior-level design projects.
- Paid co-op work experience in a wide variety of Chemical Engineering-related jobs.
Interested in pursuing a Master of Engineering, Master of Applied Science or PhD in Chemical Engineering
Thinking about using your chemical engineering knowledge to advance your career, satisfy your intellectual curiosity and build upon your passions? Investigate the opportunities available to you in the Department of Chemical Engineerin
Did you know that you get paid to do a research-based degree?
Did you know that domestic graduate students pay less for tuition than undergraduate students?
Did you know that if you did not get accepted into the University of Waterloo's undergraduate engineering programs, you have a good chance of being accepted into our graduate program?
A graduate degree in Chemical Engineering will allow you to have a career in a multitude of employment sectors. From developing next-generation batteries and fuel cells, to biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, to mitigating climate change through carbon capture.
Learn about Professor Milad Kamkar’s research in chemical engineering and materials science, synthesizing nanomaterials, polymers, and soft matter to create multifunctional advanced materials.
Are you wondering what Chemical Engineering is? Check out our new animation!
Chemical Engineering Lab Tour
Join us for a tour of the Chemical Engineering undergraduate labs in the Douglas Wright Engineering Building at the University of Waterloo.
Find out more by exploring the programs, research and news stories on this site.
News
Programmable droplets create next-generation materials
A research group led by Chemical Engineering Professor Milad Kamkar has developed a method to make it possible to have stable liquid droplets filled with different nanomaterials in another liquid.
This breakthrough research has created completely new categories of “programmable" droplet-based soft materials containing a range of nanomaterials. These droplets can be dried and turned into aerogel beads (highly porous materials) that can be deployed in many applications, such as carbon capture and wastewater treatment.
In complex environments, like wastewater streams with multiple contaminants, the aerogel beads can be layered or mixed to target specific pollutants.
“Each bead can absorb a specific type of pollution,” says Kamkar. “Making the material not just multifunctional, but strategically programmable.”
David A. Liñán Romero wins the Chemical Engineering Medal for Proficiency in Research-Park and Veva Reilly Medal
David Liñán Romero has won the Chemical Engineering Medal for Proficiency in Research Park and Veva Reilly Medal. The award recognizes skill in solving a research problem and efficiency in finding solutions. The award consists of a silver medal and a cash award.
"Winning this award makes me feel gratitude towards those who have encouraged and supported my research and academic development—not only my advisor and colleagues, but also my family and friends,”says Liñán Romero. "My PhD research was in numerical optimization, so I feel this award also recognizes the relevance of computational tools in aiding chemical engineering to shape a more efficient and sustainable future.”
Liñán Romero was a PhD student in the Department of Chemical Engineering supervised by Professor Luis Ricardez-Sandoval. He completed his doctoral studies in September 2024.
Liñán Romero’s main takeaways from studying with Ricardez-Sandoval were the importance of critical thinking and reasoning, as well as effective oral and written communication.
Michael Tam wins the R.S. Jane Memorial Award
Professor Michael Tam has been named the 2025 recipient of the R.S. Jane Memorial Award by the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering (CSChE). The award is presented to a person who has made exceptional achievements in the field of chemical engineering or chemistry.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award, which reflects the hard work and contributions of the many talented students and researchers who have been part of my group since I began my academic journey in 1992,” Tam says.
Tam, a University Research Chair, is regarded as a pioneer and international leader in the fields of polymer colloids, surfactant-polymer interactions, nanomaterials, nanocellulose applications, and functional material science.
His research advances the development of sustainable nanomaterials for engineering applications in sectors such as cosmetics, personal & home care, agriculture, environmental remediation, and more.
Events
Graduate Seminar| Designing New Enzymes for Sustainable Fertilizer, by Dr. Bajaj & Dr. Scott
The Chemical Engineering Department is hosting a special graduate lecture on Designing New Enzymes for Sustainable Fertilizer.
Employer Session: Jenike & Johanson
Event