Sibani Lisa Biswal
Sibani Lisa Biswal, Department Chair

Welcome to the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University!

It is my privilege to serve as Chair of a department that has been integral to Rice University since its earliest days. Rice awarded its first chemical engineering degrees in 1916, formally established the Department of Chemical Engineering in 1938, and, in 2005, renamed it the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering to reflect its broadened scope and vision. Since then, our faculty, students, and alumni have advanced education and research in ways that have shaped Houston and influenced the profession globally. Today, we continue that tradition of impact, driving innovation in science and technology, while preparing the next generation of leaders.

We are proud to be home to a close-knit community of outstanding faculty, more than 100 PhD students, and the dedicated teaching, research, and administrative staff who make our educational mission possible. Our programs provide rigorous training in chemical engineering fundamentals while also encouraging students to explore interdisciplinary opportunities across biology, advanced materials, energy and sustainability, and data science. With Rice’s unique size and culture, our students work side-by-side with faculty on cutting-edge research, gaining the knowledge and creativity to lead in industry, academia, and beyond.

Our faculty’s research spans materials and nanotechnology, energy and sustainability, and biomolecular engineering—all areas central to the challenges of the 21st century. Their excellence is recognized worldwide, with recent honors including:

  • Matteo Pasquali, 2025 AIChE Braskem Award for Excellence in Materials Engineering and Science, and election as a 2025 Fellow of The Society of Rheology
  • Michael Wong, 2025 AIChE Nanoscale Science and Engineering Award
  • Haotian Wang, ACS Marks-Ipatieff Award in Catalysis
  • Sibani Lisa Biswal, 2025 AIChE Fellow

We are also delighted to welcome Arlene Zhang and Everett Zofchak as new members of our faculty. Their expertise strengthens our department’s intellectual breadth and expands opportunities for students and collaborators alike.

As part of Rice Engineering and Computing, our department thrives in Houston’s uniquely rich ecosystem for innovation, energy, and medicine. Here, our students and faculty partner with leading chemical engineering industries, launch entrepreneurial ventures, and collaborate with the Texas Medical Center, to address pressing global challenges. Our culture of openness and collaboration ensures that discoveries made in our labs improve lives and shape the future.

I invite you to explore our department, connect with our faculty and students, and join us in pushing the boundaries of chemical and biomolecular engineering.

- Lisa Biswal, Chair