Careers and Challenges for Engineers

1

• Careers and Challenges for Engineers
• Keith Hohn
• Associate Professor
• Department of Chemical Engineering
• Kansas State University

2

• TTYP (Turn to Your Partner)
• Define, in your own words, what an engineer does?

3

• My definition of what engineers do
• Engineers apply math and science to design
  devices, processes, and systems

4
Albert Einstein

• Scientists investigate that which already is
  Engineers create that which has never been

5

• Engineers must deal with
• Technical requirements
• Technical communication
• Economics
• Environmental concerns
• Health and safety issues
• Sustainability

6

• TTYP What coursework do you think you need to
  become an engineer?

7

• Engineering students take
• English (Comp, Written Comm. for Engineers)
• Speech
• Calculus, Differential Equations
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Economics
• Technical Electives
• Humanities and Social Science Electives
• Discipline-Specific Engineering Science
• Discipline-Specific Laboratory Course
• Discipline-Specific Design

8

• To prepare to study and practice engineering, you
  should be taking
• Math (all the math you can!)
• Science (particularly chemistry and physics)
• English and Speech
• You can do it!

9
B.S. Engineering Degrees Job Outlook
Data from Kansas State University, compiled by
Career and Employment Services
10
M.S. Engineering Degrees Job Outlook
Generally hired into a similar position as a B.S.
degree at a slightly higher salary.
Ph.D. Engineering Degrees Job Outlook
Generally hired for research/teaching positions.
Starting is considerably higher than B.S.
starting salary (new Assistant Prof. in Chemical
Engineering 75,000)
11

• My career path-
• B.S. Chemical Engineering, KU, 1995
• Ph.D. Chem. Engineering, Univ. of Minnesota, 1999
• Assistant Prof., Chem. Engg., KSU, 1999-2004
• Associate Prof., Chem., 2004-present

12

• What I do
• Teaching
• Teach 3 courses a year
• Teach courses in reactor design, comp.
  techniques
• Research
• Write research proposals to government agencies
• Supervise graduate students who do research
• Communicate results in publications and at
  conferences
• Service
• Supervise student groups (Open House), talk to
  community groups, volunteer at ESSI, EXCITE!,
  serve on committees

13

• Engineering Future Challenges
• TTYP What do you think are the most important
  issues facing the world in the next 10-50 years?

14

• Energy
• There is growing interest in developing
  renewable, non-polluting energy technologies
• TTYP What energy technologies have you heard
  about for clean, renewable energy?

15

• Engineers will be responsible for discovering,
  developing, and implementing new sources of
  energy

16
There is great interest in fueling cars with
hydrogen
17
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
18

• If cars are to be powered by hydrogen, there are
  two significant issues
• Where will the hydrogen come from?
• How will the hydrogen be stored?

19

• Hydrogen Storage
• TTYP Why is hydrogen storage an issue
• (Hint think about what you know about phases of
  matter)

20
Crabtree, G.W., Dresselhaus, M.S., and Buchanon,
M.V., Physics Today 57(2004), 39-56.
21

• Adsorptive Gas Storage

22
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Figure from O. M. Yaghi et al. Nature 2003, 423,
705.
23
Molecular Tinker Toys
Which pieces should we choose and how should we
assemble them?
24
IsoReticular Metal-Organic Frameworks
IRMOFs
25
Fuel Reforming
Catalytic Partial Oxidation CxHyOz O2 g CO2
CO H2
Water-gas shift CO H2O g CO2 H2
Liquid Fuel
Selective Oxidation CO O2 g CO2
Fuel Cell
H2
Active catalysts are needed for all these
reactions
26

• Catalysts for Catalytic Partial Oxidation

Pt/Al2O3 Catalyst
27

• Additional Information on Engineering
• Website
• http//www.engineeringk12.org/default.cfm
• Opportunities at K-State
• KSU Open House April 13th and 14th
• Engineering Science and Summer Institute May
  28-June 1
• http//www.engg.ksu.edu/info/2007essi/2007essi_int
  ro.htm
• Exploring Science Technology and Engineering
  (EXCITE!) July 16-19
• http//www.k-state.edu/excite/

28

• Questions?