Get to Know CBE’s Graduate Student Admissions Team

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a rich welcoming tradition of being a place where students from all walks of life decide to take their next academic step. Located in Engineering Hall, the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) is known for its welcoming and collaborative culture among faculty, staff and students. Two key people involved in the CBE PhD admissions process,  Kate Fanis and Professor Reid Van Lehn, share with me information about their roles, their decisions to work in the department and their love for Madison. They also share the most exciting parts of being a CBE graduate student.

Q: What are your roles in CBE?

A: Fanis: I am the Graduate Program Coordinator.

A: Van Lehn: I am an Associate Professor and the Director of Graduate Admissions.

Q: What do you do specifically for graduate students?

A: Van Lehn: As chair of the graduate admissions committee, my role is to lead the evaluation of applicants and provide information on how to apply to the program. For interested applicants, I am the contact person who can provide information on departmental research and related resources. This year, I led the graduate recruitment booth at the AIChE conference.

A: Fanis: I work on the administrative aspects of the department’s graduate program- everything from application through graduation. I am a great first point of contact for all questions related to the process and requirements of admissions for applicants, and program requirements and policy for current graduate students.

Q: What would you like interested graduate students to know about CBE?

A: Van Lehn: The department has a highly collegial environment. We aim to promote a nurturing and non-competitive atmosphere between students and faculty to provide the best education we can offer. We offer diverse areas of impactful research as well as a  wide range of career development resources to support student interests. For example, the Delta program is a popular program that offers instructional teaching for students who TA. 

Q: What made you decide to work at CBE? Come to Madison, WI?

A: Van Lehn: I grew up in Pittsburgh, and moved around to LA and Boston. I really didn’t know what to expect, but I found that Madison is a great mix of everything and I love being here!

A: Fanis: My sister went to UW and my family visited regularly. I’m originally from central Illinois and like Reid said, I found Madison a great mix of everything from scenic hikes to fun downtown life. 

Q:  What are the most popular questions you’ve received from interested students?

A: Van Lehn: We have a very informative FAQ section on our website that answers a lot of questions under how to apply. We would love for students to know the program no longer requires the GRE. There are also application fee waivers available to all students from domestic universities.

Q:  What do you think grad students will find most exciting about CBE?

A: Van Lehn: We have great opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, and numerous opportunities to enrich the graduate experience – such as on-campus programs that support entrepreneurial activities, student-led social events and access to a vast set of courses offered across campus..

A: Fanis: The people make a difference here. The collegial, teamwork attitude makes my job that much better. The campus is also great!

Both Fanis and Van Lehn are great resources for applying to the CBE PhD Program. For administrative questions and someone who is going to help you through the entire process from application to graduation, contact Kate Fanis. Contact Reid Van Lehn for all admissions questions and tips and tricks for a great application. Finally, visit the CBE website and the FAQ page, which will be linked below for more information!

How to apply to the PhD program: https://engineering.wisc.edu/blog/how-to-apply-to-the-phd-program/

Graduate Program FAQs (please scroll to the middle of the webpage):

https://engineering.wisc.edu/programs/degrees/chemical-engineering-phd/

Photo: Prof. Van Lehn and Ms. Fanis discuss the upcoming admissions program