Chemical Engineers are people who help us in our every day life.  They create and design things like plastic and air fresheners, metals, and printer cartridges.  They are very smart, creative, and cooperative people.

Kinds Of Engineers
There are more then 20 different kinds of engineers. Chemical engineers work on creating, producing and improving products. Civil engineers work on buildings, bridges and roads. Electrical engineers work on electrical problems. Mechanical engineers work on things like space ships, cranes, road graders and other big pieces of machinery. Nuclear engineers work on hazardous things like bombs, and nuclear power plants that produce electricity.  There are many different kinds of engineers.

Training and Education
If you think you want to be a Chemical engineer there are many classes you should take. These include algebra, geometry, calculus, chemistry, math, science and biology. When you go to college for most Businesses you must attend college for more than 4 years. Some colleges offer a 5 year program for Chemical engineering. It is hard to go out looking for a Chemical engineering job, because most Chemical engineers are recruited from college. Employers look for smart and creative students.

Earnings
Chemical Engineer’s make lots of money. If you were looking for one of the highest paying engineering jobs, Chemical Engineers would be up there. The average Chemical Engineer makes $77,000 a year. In comparison if you were a teacher you would make about $46,000 a year. If you were a Nurse you would make about $48,000 a year.

On the Job
Chemical Engineers work in many different environments. Some work in
plants which are big factories. Some work in offices or laboratories.
It just depends on who they work for, or what they are creating.

History
In 1888 the first Chemical engineering course was taught. For nearly a 100 years there was a myth that women did not belong in the engineering feild. This job was supposedly only for men. Soon that changed. Now some of the most famous Engineers are women.

Pro’s and Con’s
There are many different pro’s and con’s related to Engineering.
One con is the undergraduate school. Many people say it might be the hardest part in becoming an Engineer. Then people say they like the amount they get paid.

Who I Interviewed And What I Learned On Friday, December 16th I interviewed Rick Sader by e-mail. Rick said currently, he is a “Digital Imaging Specialist”. He owns Lone Eagle Digital Imaging. This is a service bureau that offers large-format inkjet prints, high-resolution scanning, graphic design, and photography services to artists, photographers, architects, ad agencies, etc. Rick said he worked, as an engineer from 1987 to 2002, almost 15 years. He is currently not working in the engineering field, because he started his own business in 2003, Rick said “In high school and college, I knew he wanted a career in something that would allow me to earn a good living.” He liked math and science.  In the mid 1980’s chemical and petroleum engineering were both hot fields due to high demand and price for oil. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buffalo (1985).  This can typically get you a good job.  However, with more schooling, there are a lot more options open to you.  Between 1985 and 1987, he earned an MBA in Marketing from St. Bonaventure University in NY.  After that, he worked in NJ for a scientific instrument manufacturer and west to Rutgers University part time.  He earned an MS in Material Science & Polymers. Rick told me he enjoyed the type of work that he did.  “From 1993 until 2002, I did R&D for inks for Hewlett-Packard’s inkjet printers.  It was very interesting developing dyes, pigments, dispersions (polymers), solvents, and surfactants in order to make a successful product.  It was great being able to design experiments, have the technicians that worked for me carry out the experiments, and then I would analyze the results.  This is typical for an engineer in a research setting. He would definitely encourage anyone who likes math & science and who is getting good grades to go on for engineering in college.  The undergrad program is difficult but if you have good study habits, you can do it. Rick said “Generally, chemical engineers developed the industrial-scale process and equipment used to make a product developed by chemists in the lab.  This is changing a little though because now chemical engineers can work in a huge variety of fields due to their knowledge of science, engineering, and chemistry. “His own career is a good example of that.  I never designed equipment for an oil refinery, for example. His work at HP was more typical of a chemist in that, he did R&D in the lab. Rick said, ”Chemical engineers can work in a variety of industries, not just petroleum.  Chemical engineers are needed for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, rubber, plastics, etc. He also said Material science probably has the most potential right now.  Nano materials, electro-rheological materials, and composites all have great potential for amazing new products. Rick thinks Computers are obviously an integral part of any engineer’s typical workday.  Material science work may need stress-strain analyzing equipment called rheometers.  People working more directly in chemistry would need chemical analyzers (AA, GPC, pH, GC, etc.) Rick said undergrad schooling is difficult.  Typically, you would work for a large corporation, which means you lose a little freedom – if the company isn’t doing well, you might get laid off.  You might have trouble finding the kind of job you want in the location you want.  It depends on how specialized you are, what skills and training you have, and what the supply and demand for your skills are. Rick predicts that in the future there will be more work in material science (rheology, nano). I think Rick was a great interviewee, he was full of knowledge.

Bibliography “Chemical Engineers” Career of Discovery Encyclopedia  2000 Cosgrove, Holli  “Chemical Engineers”  The Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance  2000. Dabney, Mark, and Sherri “Engineering” Carrers for the 21st Century   2003. “Engineering” Encarta library 2005 “Future City Competition” National Engineers Week 2005. Jets “Engineering is for you”12-8-05 Sader, Rick “personal interview” 12-16-05

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