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Research, grad students increase
Chemical engineering gains prestigious fellowship
Monday, Dec. 10, 2012
By Tina Hilding, College of Engineering and Architecture
PULLMAN, Wash. – An engineering school at Washington State University has become eligible for the nationally acclaimed Achievement Rewards for College Sciences (ARCS) Foundation fellowship program, which will make the school more competitive in recruiting top graduate students.
The ARCS Foundation, founded in 1958, addresses the growing need for U.S. scientists and engineers by offering doctoral fellowships to students pursuing science, engineering and medical research.
The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering has seen dramatic growth in the past five years in the number of graduate students and in research support.
"The WSU chemical engineering program was selected in recognition of the high quality Ph.D. education conducted by the faculty of the Voiland School and their ability to attract and educate the best students from around the nation,” said James Petersen, director of the school.
Focused research areas in the school include chemical and biological catalysis for clean energy, protein engineering and engineering education.
The school has seen an 18-point increase in US News and World Report’s Best Engineering Schools ranking. It recently received a top 10 ranking from Shaw Lesser of Sustainable World Capital. The list included MIT, UC Berkeley and, at number 10, WSU.
Nancy Magnuson, interim vice president of research and dean of the Graduate School, attributes the program’s growth to a recent change in leadership and the generous donation from alumni Gene and Linda Voiland.
"As a result, sponsored research funding and Ph.D. student numbers are dramatically rising, and the chemical engineering program is gaining in prominence,” wrote Magnuson in a cover letter for the proposal submitted to the foundation.
Other WSU graduate programs eligible for the ARCS fellowships (Seattle chapter) are in the College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences.
"We are pleased to be counted among WSU’s most highly recognized graduate programs,” Petersen said.
Contact:
Tina Hilding, WSU College of Engineering communications, 509-335-5095, thilding@wsu.edu
Tina Hilding, WSU College of Engineering communications, 509-335-5095, thilding@wsu.edu
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