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UT Tyler’s ChemE Program Thriving as Lab Construction Continues

By Dr. Fernando Resende, Associate Professor and Chair

UT Tyler Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering

Resende The Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler was established in the fall of 2019, becoming the first chemical engineering program within a 175-mile radius of Dallas. The program was established with a gift from Jasper Ventures, which highlights its strong connection with the East Texas oil industry, and points to a promising future as it develops with a practice-based, student-focused approach to education.

Local industry leaders, such as John Jasper from Jasper Ventures (founder and chairman) and Michael Thomas from VME (president and CEO), are involved with the program and have recently given presentations to the chemical engineering students about their experiences and life in industry. The access that students have to industry leaders early-on in their studies, and the soft skills they acquire in the courses make chemical engineering at UT Tyler a unique program to experience.

Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering lab space construction There are several ongoing activities that are strengthening the program as a valuable resource for students and for East Texas. Two laboratory spaces in Ratliff Building North are undergoing full renovation. The extensive list of upgrades includes chemically resistant floors, newly painted walls; new lightning, expanded electrical and ventilation systems; cabinets and casework; camera and tv monitor; an advanced manifold system for supply and control of gases; and a 16-foot, walk-in hood that will safely house advanced chemical engineering equipment, such as a distillation column and high-pressure chemical reactors.

Once the construction phase is complete, the spaces will be populated with more than 20 pieces of equipment for teaching in all areas of chemical engineering; including fluid mechanics; heat and mass transfer; catalysis and reaction engineering and unit operations. This will make the teaching laboratory at UT Tyler one of the most comprehensive in the nation. In addition, the lab will feature world-class equipment for research in areas such as energy, fuels and biochemical engineering. Research projects include the conversion of kelp into gasoline and diesel, with support from the Sea Grant Washington, and the use of carbon dioxide for extraction of petroleum.

Joining me on the faculty is Dr. Aaditya Khanal, assistant professor, who came to UT Tyler after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Houston and conducting doctoral work at Texas A&M. A national search is currently underway to select and recruit a third professor who will join the program in fall 2021 and complete the team, which will pursue ABET accreditation in the spring of 2022, when the first senior class graduates.

To learn more about the program here at UT Tyler, check out uttyler.edu/chemical-engineering/.

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