Research activities in the department vary widely, covering most pressing areas in the chemical engineering field today.

Research areas include nanotechnology, spin-based electronics, targeted drug delivery, molecular-level simulations for studying chemical reactions, separations using membranes, solvents and composite materials, metals casting, magnetic-tape technology, synthesis of electronic materials, interfacial and transport phenomena, ionic liquids, fluid mechanics, polymer science, pharmaceutical engineering, environmental remediation, biomass conversion, and simulation of the streams and bays of Alabama’s coastal zone.

Research efforts are concentrated in biotechnology; computational; polymers and soft materials; electronic materials and devices; and energy and the environment.