Careers Quick Facts
What is AIChE?
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers is a non-profit professional association of more than 40,000 members that provides leadership in advancing the chemical engineering profession. Through its many programs and services, AIChE: helps its members access and apply the latest and most accurate technical information; offers concise, targeted award-winning technical publications; conducts annual conferences to promote information sharing and the advancement of the field; provides opportunities for its members to gain leadership experience and network with their peers in industry, academia and government; and offers members attractive and affordable insurance programs.
What career benefits do I receive as an AIChE member?
AIChE offers networking opportunities via local sections, divisions, forums, and conferences. Members can also network and reach out to fellow members by searching the members-only online directory. Young professionals and graduating seniors can jump start their careers with AIChE's unparalleled member network.
AIChE's CareerEngineer is a job search for chemical engineering jobs across the country. You can post your resume and search chemical engineering positions. AIChE members also receive a discount for personalized career advice and services at ExecuPlanet.com.
Since training is essential to staying competitive, AIChE offers members discounted rates on over 300 technical training and management courses, through a partnership with American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Management Association (AMA).
Where can I find technical training courses?
AIChE Education
What companies are the top employers of chemical engineers?
Click here to search by specialty.
Where can I find salary information?
AIChE partner Salary.com
Where can I find career advice for young professionals?
AIChE Young Professionals Web page
Where can I find career advice for graduating seniors?
Student Careers Page
How can a local section help my career?
Your active participation in AIChE's local sections provides the connections, career information, networking potential and leadership opportunities that you will find nowhere else. Local sections are AIChE's home to chemical engineers in more than 110 locations across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Learn the benefits of involvement. Find the local section near you.
How can a division or forum help my career?
AIChE's divisions and forums provide state of the art information and opportunities for affiliation with top engineers in both fundamental and developing areas of the industry. These groups create the technical programs that make AIChE membership an indispensable part of an engineer’s professional development and viability. Divisions & forums provide meeting programming for AIChE and awards and recognition to outstanding chemical engineers in a particular specialty.
How can attending an AIChE meeting or conference help my career?
AIChE's meetings and conferences keep engineers up-to-date on the latest technological advances in this rapidly evolving field. Join your peers and colleagues as they gather to address the latest developments in biological engineering, nanotechnology, sustainability and safety and chemical processing. Additionally, AIChE co-sponsors a wide range of specialty meetings including instrumentation, energy, heat transfer, emerging technologies and materials. For a complete list of cosponsored conferences, including those available to AIChE members at discounted rates, click here.
What exactly does a chemical engineer do?
It is impossible to tell you what a chemical engineer does because they work in so many diverse areas. A simple answer is they use science and mathematics, especially chemistry, biochemistry, applied mathematics and engineering principles, to take laboratory or conceptual ideas and turn them into value added products in a cost effective and safe (including environmental) manner. This basic answer is probably true today as it was 75-100 years ago although the specifics are changing rapidly.
Is the pay good for chemical engineers?
On a comparable basis with other professions, chemical engineers are well compensated. Even compared with other engineering specialties chemical engineers rank high on most compensation scales (usually 1st or 2nd on starting salaries for new BS engineers).
Where can I find information accredited engineering programs?
www.abet.org
What are the different departments in chemical engineering?
There is much diversity. You could say that engineers primarily go into production/manufacturing, R&D, design, management/marketing or teaching. We work on petrochemicals, refining, specialty chemicals, biotechnologies, nanotechnologies, electronics and information technologies. Some chemical engineers even get law degrees and specialize in patent law.
Does AIChE have discounted rates for unemployed members?
Yes, AIChE offers a 50% discount for unemployed members for two consecutive years if needed.
Where can I find timely articles on chemical engineering careers?
An M.B.A Student Asks: Where Are The Women?
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