Nation's only known college student-run consulting company prepares future engineers

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

RICHMOND, Va. – The next generation of chemical engineers will graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University this month with a diploma and valuable industry experience, thanks to their participation in ChemEngine – the nation’s only known engineering consulting firm run by undergraduate students.

The company, headquartered in VCU’s School of Engineering, was founded in 1999 by two VCU sophomores who felt they already had marketable chemical engineering skills and wanted to put them to good use.

Six more ChemEngine seniors will graduate May 17 and leave the company for jobs in the high-tech sector or to pursue a graduate degree. One of them is Beau Waldrup of Midlothian, Va., who was hired in his sophomore year through ChemEngine by Infilco – an international wastewater treatment company – to research water treatment using ultrafiltration membranes. “I gained a lot of research knowledge and experience in how to keep a good lab notebook,” he said. “ChemEngine helped me get that experience, which I will apply towards graduate school.” Waldrup is headed to the University of South Carolina for a doctorate in Chemical Engineering.  He plans to do research in the areas of chemical reaction engineering and catalysis.

Senior Jason Noel of Richmond was hired last summer by Philadelphia-based Rohm and Haas – a major manufacturer of specialty chemicals – to develop a computer program that can estimate the operating cost of chemical plants. “The job improved my programming and organizational skills, and my understanding of technical reference books.” Noel is going to the University of Florida for a doctorate in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology.

ChemEngine was formed as a subsidiary of a consulting company owned by Gary S. Huvard, Ph.D., associate professor and assistant chair of VCU’s chemical engineering department. It functions as a non-profit organization. About 80 percent of the company’s earnings cover student salaries and overhead. The remainder is used to fund numerous student activities, such as travel to conventions and an annual junior/senior awards banquet. “Since 1999, ChemEngine has contributed well over $20,000 to the School of Engineering, including the purchase of four new computer systems,” said Huvard.

At a rate of $20-$30 per hour, the student engineers have logged about 10,000 billable hours since the inception of ChemEngine. Much of the work was carried out during the summer and many of the students were able to complete their internship requirement through their ChemEngine projects.

Students manage every aspect of the business. The company’s management team has a president, vice president, chief financial officer and a director of marketing. Each position is typically held by a junior or senior in chemical engineering.

To-date, ChemEngine has completed projects for more than 25 regional, national, and international companies, including a number of Fortune 500 firms such as duPont and Philip Morris.  More than 40 chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering students from VCU's School of Engineering have worked for the firm making the venture one of the nation's most successful problem-based learning experiences.  For more information on this unique company, see www.chemengine.net.