Your degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering

Skills you’ll develop

While studying Chemical and Biological Engineering, you’re learning to integrate biological systems with engineered systems to manufacture next generation technology. You’ll develop important skills to design systems for a wide array of applications such as food production, wastewater treatment, and drug delivery.

These skills may include:

• Planning and design of a system and processes that meet production objectives and adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements
• Development and execution of purification techniques such as distillation, crystallization, sublimation, and chromatography for different substances
• Design and testing of process equipment (e.g., valves, vessels, pumps, heat exchangers, piping)
• Conducting root cause analysis to investigate and troubleshoot process control issues related to electrical, instrumentation, and control systems
• Development of improved fabrication methods and processes for commercial production
• Evaluation and assessment of technologies for reliability, production capability, consistency, and cost-effectiveness
• Technical skills in carrying out modelling and statistical analysis using MATLAB and HYSYS
• Creation and implementation of environmental control measures including the reduce, recycling, reuse of waste and by-products

Explore career possibilities

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including biotechnology, food and beverage production, manufacturing and processing, quality assurance, environmental protection, biomedical, pharmaceuticals, and more.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help clarify your values and interests.

• UBC CHBE Undergraduate Club
  Attend social events and lectures, join the peer mentorship program, and participate in the third year field trip.
• UBC Envision, UBC American Institute of Chemical Engineers Student Chapter
  Apply your knowledge and skills on a real-world project from energy research to beer brewing.
• Internationally Genetically Engineered Machine Competition
  Join a multidisciplinary team to address unique challenges in your local community using synthetic biology.
• CHBE Distinguished Speaker Seminar Series
  Learn about innovation and advancement in the field from various scholars around the globe.
• UBC WasteNauts
  Apply your technical skills to design and build products and automation systems from campus waste products.
• UBC BIOMOD
  Get involved in the design of biomolecular nanotechnology and compete against teams worldwide.
• UBC Biomedical Engineering Student Team
  Build feasible devices that have the potential to benefit the medical community while developing your technical skills.
• BC Food Web
  Access food systems research, webinars, decision tools, reports, guides, and other resources.
• Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
  Learn about the biomedical field from guest speakers or participate in a lab, hospital, or industry facility tour.
• Creative Destruction Lab Health Stream
  Get the resources and mentorship you need to take your health innovation idea to the next level.
• UBC Farm Centre for Sustainable Food Systems
  Check out opportunities related to sustainable food systems at UBC Farm.
• UBC Life Sciences Institute
  Find research opportunities, events, programs, and student competitions in life sciences.
• Departmental research opportunities
  Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• UBC Engineering Co-op
  Gain work experience in chemical and biological engineering between study terms.
• Engineering World Health
  Apply your engineering skills to improve healthcare services in developing countries.
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers Pacific Northwest Student Regional Conference
  Compete in the ChemE Jeopardy competition, or the paper or poster competition at the conference.
• Engineering job board
  Check out engineering employment opportunities.

Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and finding job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC
• Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Canada
• BC Sustainable Energy Association
• Beer Canada
• BIOTECanada
• Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
• Canadian Biomaterials Society
• Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology
• Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
• Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology
• Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society
• Canadian Society for Bioengineering
• Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
• Canadian Society for Professional Engineers
• Chemical Institute of Canada
• Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
• Consumer Health Products Canada
• Engineering Institute of Canada
• Engineers & Geoscientists BC
• Engineers Canada
• IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
• Innovative Medicines Canada
• International Society of Biomechanics
• Life Sciences BC
• Medtech Canada
• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
• Responsible Distribution Canada
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers Canada

Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering graduates on LinkedIn to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

More information

From your Applied Science degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Engineering degree.