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Instructional and Operations Laboratories

Our chemical engineering students are prepared for careers in industry, academia and beyond.

With over 8,000 square feet and six fume hoods, you’ll receive hands-on experience in our modular instructional laboratory, food-safe lab, and open-bay pilot-scale lab, including a 2-story distillation column. As your primary laboratory learning space, you’ll gain practical skills to seamlessly transition to your career path.

Engineering top talent

We support our students success in and outside of the classroom. Our goal is to prime students with the knowledge and skills to thrive after graduation. Companies value our well-rounded, hard-working graduates and more than 4,500 employers recruit students from UW-Madison.
Career services

Integrated teamwork

With tailored group projects and experiments, we replicate real-world organizational structures and prepare you for productive collaboration in the workplace.

Students change pipe in lab equipment.

Instrumentation

Equip yourself with operational knowledge of laboratory instruments and tools, including a 3D printer, Spray Dryer and Membrane Gas separation units.

Two students stand in front of a computer in a lab working on a report.

Technical & soft skills

Write technical reports and procedures while executing your own projects, fostering innovation and a deep understanding of chemical engineering.

Student kneels to adjust pipe on upper level of the distillation column.

Real-world equipment

Apply your classroom knowledge on pilot-scale equipment, learn the ins-and-outs of equipment setup and maintenance, and practice plant safety.

Learn more about our undergraduate program, and the opportunities that await you in Madison.
Chemical Engineering, BS

World-class education and operations laboratories

Operate our distillation column, reactor, fermentation equipment and more, all while practicing industry standard process safety. With dedicated classrooms within the lab and directly adjacent common space, you’ll have a seamless learning experience.
Two students work on experiment at the lab bench.
Senior Capstone

Summer Lab

Nicknamed “Summer Lab,” our Unit Operations course consists of five full weeks of full-time lab work, replicating your standard work day, and preparing you for after graduation. With a student to instructor ratio of eight or less, you’ll have dedicated, expert support and work creatively to design your own experiments to solve a chosen chemical engineering problem.

Summer lab information

Your learning. Your Space.

Our modular instructional laboratories hold multiple lab classes year round, including your core, foundational curriculum. You can explore more through electives, such as fermentation and instrument analysis. Student organizations can also access the space for approved activities.

Why should you choose UW-Madison for engineering? Find out what its like in Summer Lab.

Fermentation feat: Extra special edition

Last year, four seniors drafted and set up a pilot fermentation lab. Led by Brian Pfleger, Karen and William Monfre…

Read the Full Story

The revival of Chem-E-Car at UW-Madison

cheese experiment samples

Cheeseheads at CBE

Cutting recycled 3D printer filament

Summer science: Rethinking 3D printing with recycled filament

Meet your instructors

Profile photo of Brendan Blackwell in the lab. He is wearing a dark polo and glasses.

Brendan Blackwell

Profile photo of Eric Codner. He has dark brown hair and is wearing safety glasses.

Eric Codner

Profile photo of Kate Dahlke in front of lab equipment. She has long brown hair and is wearing safety glasses.

Kate Dahlke

Profile photo of Arturo Jimenez. He is wearing glasses and a checkered button down shirt.

Arturo Jimenez

Profile photo of Natasha Mallette in front of lab bench with student. She has short hair and is wearing a patterned blouse.

Natasha Mallette

Thatcher Root

Profile photo of Steven Schumacher. He has a beard and glasses.

Steven Schumacher

Building the lab

As engineers, we are always innovating. Our space didn’t always look this way. Named the John C. Kuetemeyer Instructional Laboratories, the project is a culmination of years of hard work, fundraising and construction to transform our space in the basement of Engineering Hall into a modern instructional laboratory.
Learn more about the construction and re-opening of our instructional laboratories