GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Department of Chemical Engineering

August 2007

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Handbook For

Chemical Engineering Graduate Students

Department of Chemical Engineering The University of Texas at Austin

August 2007

Contents

1. Department of Chemical Engineering .........................................................................1

1.1 Location and Size........................................................................................1 1.2 Office and Laboratory Space ......................................................................1 1.3 Keys and Access Control Card Information.................................................1 1.4 Libraries .....................................................................................................2 1.5 Department Chair........................................................................................3 1.6 Graduate Advisor........................................................................................3 1.7 Graduate Coordinator .................................................................................3 1.8 Laser Printer Facilities.................................................................................3 1.9 Copier Facilities..........................................................................................4 1.10 Fax Facilities...............................................................................................4

2. Selection of the Supervising Professor .......................................................................4 3. Financial Support......................................................................................................4

3.1 Departmental Financial Aid..........................................................................4 3.2 Fellowships.................................................................................................4 3.3 Graduate Research Assistantships................................................................5 3.4 Teaching Assistantships...............................................................................5 3.5 Graduate Student Loans..............................................................................7

4. M. S. Candidates......................................................................................................8 4.1 Time Utilization and Course Load................................................................8 4.2 Thesis .........................................................................................................9 4.3 Form of Thesis............................................................................................9 4.4 Graduate School Deadlines .........................................................................9 4.5 Department Checkout .................................................................................9 4.6 Useful Hints ................................................................................................9

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5. Ph.D. Candidates....................................................................................................10 5.1 Steps to Earn the PhD Degree...................................................................10 5.2 Dissertation...............................................................................................12 5.3 Graduate School Deadlines .......................................................................12 5.4 Form of Dissertation..................................................................................13 5.5 Qualifying Examination..............................................................................13 5.6 Research Proposal and Prelimary Oral Examination...................................14 5.7 Final Oral Examination..............................................................................16 5.8 Department Checkout ...............................................................................16

6. Coursework and Seminars ......................................................................................18 6.1 Quality of Work........................................................................................18 6.2 The Graduate School Catalog....................................................................18 6.3 Course Registration...................................................................................18 6.4 Seminars...................................................................................................19

7. Equipment and Services..........................................................................................19 7.1 Stockroom................................................................................................19 7.2 Purchasing and Procurement......................................................................19 7.3 Instrumentation and Repair Shop...............................................................19 7.4 Computer Facilities ...................................................................................20 7.5 Natural Sciences Department Facilities ......................................................21 7.6 Other Service and Supply Centers.............................................................22

8. Project Design Guidelines .......................................................................................22 9. Safety - Laboratory and Building.............................................................................23

9.1 Laboratory Safety Guidelines.....................................................................23 9.2 Building Safety..........................................................................................27 9.3 Procedures Which Are Not Allowed Under Any Circumstances ................29

10. Professional Organizations for Chemical Engineers at the University..........................30 10.1 American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Student Chapter ........................30 10.2 Omega Chi Epsilon, Epsilon Chapter .........................................................30 10.3 Tau Beta Pi, Alpha Chapter of Texas.........................................................30 10.4 Sigma Xi, Texas Chapter...........................................................................30 10.5 American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Balcones Fault Section..............30 10.6 American Chemical Society, Central Texas Section....................................31 10.7 American Society of Chemical Engineering Education, UT Chapter ............31 10.8 Society of Women Engineers.....................................................................31

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11. Graduate Student Councils ......................................................................................31 11.1 Graduate Engineering Council....................................................................31 11.2 Council of Graduate Students ....................................................................32 11.3 Graduate Student Executive Committee.....................................................33

12. Guidelines for University Travel ..............................................................................33 13. Career Development Activities................................................................................34

13.1 Curriculum Vitae……………………………………………………….35 13.2 Gaining Experience in Academia…………………………………...….35 13.3 Gaining Industrial Experience………………………………………….35

14. Conference Room Scheduling.................................................................................36 15. Department Truck ..................................................................................................36 16. Appendix ...............................................................................................................37

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1. DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

1.1 Location and Size The Department is housed in the east half of the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Building (CPE). This area contains the undergraduate laboratories, three floors of graduate research laboratories, office and clerical space, a machine shop, Support Services Center, and two computer terminal rooms. Additional research space for several faculty in the Department is located in other campus buildings as well as the J. J. Pickle Research Center. An idea of the size of the Department is illustrated by the following approximate enrollment figures in 2006: Undergraduates – 580; Graduates-M.S. candidates -74 (includes many first and second year students who seek a Ph.D); Ph.D. candidates -120. There are 25 faculty.

1.2 Office and Laboratory Space The Department provides office and/or laboratory space for each full-time graduate student. When a student selects a supervisor, his or her research supervisor in cooperation with the Graduate Advisor will assign laboratory or office space. The Chairman of the Department assigns office space to teaching assistants and graders who do not have space otherwise provided.

1.3 Keys and Access Control Card Information All graduate students are eligible for proximity access I.D. cards for the Chemical Engineering building. See Kevin Haynes (CPE 1.450) or Jim Smitherman (CPE 1.402) to activate your I.D. card. Your EID is required to activate the card. When a student selects an advisor, he or she must obtain a key memorandum or email from the supervising professor or Graduate Advisor to be issued keys to the appropriate labs (some group labs or offices are set up with a common key). The student then takes this form to Kevin Haynnes (CPE 1.450B) or Jim Smitherman (CPE 1.402). The initialed and filled-out form is then taken to the Service Building (Lock and Key Services) where keys are issued. The Service Building is located on the north side of 24th Street between Speedway and San Jacinto. All keys must be returned in person to Kevin or Jim when the need for them is terminated, otherwise a bar on transcripts from UT may result. Proximity Card access control is used to control the passage of authorized individuals into and/or out of the building after 6 PM and during weekends. After hours, you will be able to enter through the door on the east side of the building and you must exit through that door. If you exit through any other door, the alarm is tripped at the UT Police Department indicating that an unauthorized exit has taken place. Access into this area can be approved or denied by the electric lock.

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Your Proximity I.D. card activates the lock when it is waved near the pressure pad. At that time the green light will flash a few times, and then come on steady. It is during that time while the light is constant that you need to enter. If the door is left open for any reason for more than 15 seconds, an alarm will sound at the Police Department. Proximity I.D. cards should not be hole-punched. This will cause damage to the card and render it useless. Students should not allow “tailgating” when entering the building. Unknown persons should not be allowed in by you. If you are on the upper levels and are preparing to leave, you need to return to the lobby. The most direct methods are via the elevator or Stair 4 (south stairway); if you use Stair 3 (by the Coke machine), use your Proximity Card to get to the main lobby. Once you are in the lobby area, you must exit from the access door. → YOU MUST PRESS THE LARGE RED BUTTON ON THE RIGHT BEFORE YOU OPEN THE DOOR. ← You will again have a few seconds to clear the doorway. Failure to press the red button will set off the alarm, and you may have the opportunity to meet the University Police firsthand. A historical record is created by the card usage, which can be examined at a later date if a security question arises concerning activity in the protected area. Lost or stolen I.D. cards or keys should be reported to Kevin or Jim so that replacements can be accounted for and reported. Invalidation of the card can be immediate and does not depend upon recovery of the card. There will be a replacement charge for the Proximity I.D. card.

1.4 Libraries The Mallet (Chemistry) Library is in Welch Hall 2.132. Other branch libraries frequently used by graduate students are the Engineering (ECJ 1.300), Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (RLM 4.200), Pharmacy (MAI 220), Life Sciences (MAI 220), and Geology (GEO 4.202). All of these libraries are located within a few blocks of the Chemical Engineering Department. Most journal articles are available electronically from UT Net CAT. Xeroxing privileges (copy cards) are available to ChE graduate students in these libraries. Copy cards may be obtained at the Perry-Castaneda Library (PCL 1.1020) Copier Service; they accept cash and University account numbers obtained from your supervising professor. The Department also maintains a special library collection, the Kobe Collection, in honor of Professor Kenneth A. Kobe, a former chairman in the 1950's. The collection is in the Himmelblau Graduate Research Reference Room (CPE 4.446). Theses and dissertations of former chemical engineering graduate students are available there (keys for the cabinets which contain the thesis and dissertations may be obtained from the Graduate Coordinator). The Reference Room is not an official UT library but is maintained as a convenience for faculty and graduate students. Books are only to be used in the library room itself. This room is also used frequently for seminars and research group meetings. You should not interrupt such meetings. The schedule for this room is kept by Kay Costales-Swift (or Jody Lester) in CPE 2.802.

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1.5 Department Chair The Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department (Roger Bonnecaze) is responsible to the University Administration for the administration of the building and of the equipment and supplies contained within it. The Chair also sets policies on a variety of academic and research issues and administers the Department’s budget. The Department Executive Assistant reports to the Chair. 1.6 Graduate Advisor The Graduate Advisor (Isaac C. Sanchez) is the representative of the Dean of the Graduate School in the Department of Chemical Engineering in all matters pertaining to the advising of graduate students who intend to obtain a degree in Chemical Engineering. The Graduate Advisor is appointed by the Department Chair. The Graduate Advisor is also the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee and is responsible for the graduate program in the Department. He/she registers each graduate student and acts on adds, drops, section changes and special examinations. You should contact the Graduate Advisor concerning information about graduate work, financial aid, and course scheduling. 1.7 Graduate Coordinator The Graduate Coordinator (“T” Stockman) is responsible for many of the administrative duties that involve official university forms, e.g., student appointments, adds/drops during class registration, and departmental correspondence regarding graduate students. The Coordinator also handles waivers for out-of-state tuition and payment of tuition by departmental and research accounts. The Coordinator maintains a file for each graduate student containing a record of each student's work, both for previous degrees and for work in progress. Copies of all official documents regarding graduate study should be given to the Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator is in charge of answering inquiries about admission or financial aid from prospective students. The Coordinator reports to the Graduate Advisor. 1.8 Laser Printer Facilities The Department has laser printers available for use by graduate students in the Graduate Office located in CPE 3.408 and also in some research groups. A color laser printer is located in CPE 3.408. Each printer is maintained by grant/contract funds of the faculty. The following guidelines have been established for their use.

1. It is permissible to use departmental PC’s or workstations to write a thesis or dissertation.

2. The laser printer may be used to print one copy of a dissertation, thesis, or resume. Multiple copies should be reproduced, at the student's expense, onto the proper paper at commercial printing/copy locations.

3. The laser printer should not be used to print multiple copies of any document. The copier in the Stockroom is capable of high quality reproductions at lower cost.

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1.9 Copier Facilities

There is a copy machine available to graduate students. One such machine, built for bulk copying, is located in CPE 1.450B. These copiers require a pass code (provided by your advisor) for access. A smaller copier is located in CPE 3.408.

1.10 Fax Facilities

There is a fax machine available to graduate students located in CPE 3.408. The number for the fax machine is (512) 475-7824.

2. SELECTION OF THE SUPERVISING PROFESSOR Departmental rules require that all graduate students who enter in the Fall semester attend a series of presentations by the professors in the Department to become familiar with the research being carried out. This is usually held during the first and second week of classes. If a student's financial support consists of a research assistantship, follow-up interviews with those professors having appointments (i.e., a funded project) available are encouraged. Every effort is made to give students their first choice for supervisor. Students with fellowship support such as National Science Foundation may select a supervisor/project that does not have current funding. Supervisor selection is finalized at the end of September each year so that a research problem can be selected and a formal appointment made as soon as possible.

3. FINANCIAL SUPPORT

3.1 Departmental Financial Aid All students who receive part or all of their financial support from fellowships, assistantships or grants are expected to make every attempt to guarantee the continuance of such support by discussing aid options with the supervising professor and by making application for all fellowships for which they are qualified. Generally, student support is provided by a variety of types of aid (fellowship, GRA, TA, grader). Every attempt is made to provide continuing financial support to students who are making satisfactory progress in their course work and research. 3.2 Fellowships Outside fellowships (i.e., NSF, Homeland Security, etc.) are granted on a competitive basis, and qualified students are encouraged to apply. These fellowships usually cover tuition and fees, and provide a stipend for the fellow. Fellows do not receive employee benefits such as health insurance because they are not considered State of Texas employees. However, fellows may arrange to purchase a health insurance policy through the university and should speak to their advisors about it. Fellowship stipends are taxable and fellowship recipients must arrange to pay their taxes

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quarterly since their stipends are not subject to withholding tax. The proper tax form is the 1040-ES/V, which can be downloaded from the IRS web page (www.irs.gov). In addition to outside fellowships, there are also supplemental fellowships provided to qualified students by the College of Engineering. These fellowships range from $1000 to $9000 and may or may not be renewable on an annual basis. 3.3 Graduate Research Assistantships Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs)have a nominal appointment of 20 hours/week (half-time) and the rate of pay (per month) is based on your previous degree and years of experience, and is determined by your supervising professor. GRAs are normally funded through faculty research projects sponsored by government or industry. GRA appointees also receive health insurance benefits. The stipend is taxable and subject to withholding. Tuition and fees of GRAs are paid by faculty research accounts. The stipend amount for continuing students is reviewed by the faculty every year, and policies on raising the stipend each year are determined in consultation with the Dean of Engineering and the Provost, subject to availability of funds. 3.4 Teaching Assistantships All graduate students will participate in teaching. Most students will serve as teaching assistants during the second semester of their first year and the first semester of their third year. However, students will have the option of serving as a teaching assistant at other times if so desired. The Graduate Advisor will administer the policy described below.

1. Students may volunteer for specific teaching assignments in any semester with the mutual agreement of their faculty supervisor and the faculty instructor. Any TA positions not staffed will be filled using the priority students remaining in the “selection pool,” which is the group of students who are eligible to serve as TAs. See the form in Table 1.

2. M.S. and Ph.D. students are placed in the selection pool before the start of the second semester of their first year. MS students will be removed from the pool after they have served once. Ph.D. students will be placed in the pool again during the first semester of their third year. Highest priority for selection is given to the students with the least amount of cumulative service (based on the number hours of their TA appointment).

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Table 1 Chemical Engineering Teaching Assistant Appointment Form

Return completed form to Graduate Coordinator

1. Name: ______________________ UTEID: ____________________

2. Course:______________________________________

3. TA Appointment Information: (a) If you are an international student, have you passed the TA Assessment Test and attended orientation? ____Yes ____NO

(c) Do you currently have primary fellowship support such as NSF, NIH, SRC? ____ NO ____ Yes, Indicate fellowship source and list any TA restrictions _________________________________________ _________________________________________

4. Does your TA Assignment include grading: Yes: ____ NO: ____

Signed _________________ Date: _____ Graduate Student

Signed _________________ Date: _____ TA Supervisor

Signed _________________ Date: _____ Major Professor To be filled out by “T” Signed _________________ Date: _____ Graduate Advisor

* UT requires that International students be authorized for language skills

A. TA Hours: ____________

B. GRA Hours: ____________

C. Fellowship: ____________ Grey Note: ______

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3. Ph.D. students will be removed from the pool when they have completed TA

assignments totaling at least 10 credit hours. Students will not be selected to serve in consecutive semesters, in the semester in which they plan to graduate, or after their fourth year. M.S. students with full-time outside employment will not be selected to serve. Students with special problems that prevent service in available positions will be assigned alternate service, including grading, course development, or other tasks.

4. When selected for a teaching assistantship, the student’s GRA appointment will be adjusted such that the TA appointment and GRA appointment total to 20 hours/week. For example, if your TA appointment is for 8 hours/week, your GRA appointment will be reduced to 12 hours/week. There is no additional financial compensation for TA service until you have fulfilled the 10-credit hour requirement. If the TA appointment exceeds 10 credit hours, financial compensation may occur only with the agreement of your faculty advisor and the course instructor.

5. The department strives to make an hour of effort equal to an hour of appointment time and will work with TAs and instructors so that the hourly appointment is equal to time spent each week. This is an ongoing process that may require re-adjustment each semester using feedback from TAs and instructors. Typical TA assignments are as follows:

a. TA for a course with one section – 3 hrs/wk

b. TA for a course with two sections – 6hrs/wk c. TA for a laboratory course 6 – 10 hrs/wk d. Class size may also affect the hours of appointment.

Note: If your TA appointment is for 10 hours/wk or more you will receive an additional one-time stipend of approximately $1000 from the Graduate School (as long as they continue it).

All international students must have their English language skills assessed and certain courses of workshops must be completed before working as a TA. See http://itacert.cte.utexas.edu. 3.5 Graduate Student Loans Several loan funds are administered through the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, ECJ 10.326. Application forms and information regarding loan criteria may be obtained from that office. The Graduate Advisor must approve all loan applications. Loans are available to U.S. citizens from funds supplied by U.S. Steel, the Ford Foundation, and the General Electric Loan Program. These various loan programs have different stipulations. Contact the Dean’s Office at 471-1519, ECJ 10.326, for details. In addition, an Emergency Engineering Loan (maximum of $300) is available to all students in the College of Engineering. This is handled through the Dean of Students office, ECJ 2.200.

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4. M.S. CANDIDATES

4.1 Time Utilization and Course Load While no fixed rule can be generally applied to scheduling of courses and research, the following can be used as a guide. For the M.S. ChE degree:

1. First Semester - Register for 9 to 12 hours of course work. 2. Second Semester - Register for 9 to 12 hours of course work and ChE 698A. 3. Third and subsequent semesters - Complete any remaining course work, if any.

Students must be registered in ChE 698B during the semester in which their thesis is filed with the Graduate School.

The course requirements for the Master of Science in Engineering program are: 24 formal course credit hours plus 6 hours of thesis research in chemical engineering making a total of 30 hours. Of the 24 hours, a minimum of 12 hours must be graduate level work in chemical engineering and include a minimum of 6 hours of graduate level work in another department as a minor. The remaining 6 hours may be taken either in chemical engineering or in other departments; only graduate level courses may be used in chemical engineering. Up to two graduate courses can be transferred from another institution and used for M.S. credit. Most graduate courses in ChE are offered every year, but some specialized courses are offered less frequently; see the Graduate Advisor for details. A student can finish the M.S. degree requirement in 12 to 15 months if he/she initiates research early and works actively on it during subsequent semesters. Another M.S. degree option is a Master’s degree with report, which requires 30 hours of coursework. The project is an engineering study that requires a written report. It is also possible to enroll in a no-thesis M.S. program as a terminal degree with the approval of the Graduate Advisor. A total of 36 credit hours of coursework in organized courses (not seminars) is required. A minimum of 18 and maximum of 30 of the 36 credit hours must be in chemical engineering. Up to nine hours of upper-division coursework may be included, with from three to six of these hours in the minor area. However, M.S. students with departmental support are expected to complete the thesis. If you are working on a Ph.D. degree, it is permissible to obtain a no-thesis M.S. degree after the course requirements are fulfilled, typically after four semesters of residence. Candidacy forms are submitted to the Graduate School (but must be signed by the Graduate Advisor). Master of Science in Engineering without thesis or report. For students electing this option, thirty-six semester hours of coursework are required. From eighteen to thirty hours must be in chemical engineering in a program approved by the student’s supervising committee. Up to nine hours of upper-division coursework may be included, with from three to six of these hours in the minor area. No research is required, but the level of academic performance is the same as that required for the master’s degree with thesis. Enrollment in this option must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee in chemical engineering.

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4.2 Thesis The dates for submission of the thesis to the committee members and to the Graduate School are posted early each semester on the bulletin board. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the deadlines, which are rigid. The minimum number of copies of the thesis to be submitted are as follows: Graduate School - 2 copies bound in marble board and signed. Chemical Engineering Department - 1 copy bound in burgundy leatherette (hardback).

Submit to the Graduate Coordinator (CPE 3.408) for the Departmental collection. Supervising Professor - 1 copy bound in burgundy leatherette. Ask supervising professor if

he/she decides electronic version of the thesis and if any additional printed copies are required.

In addition, the student will usually want one or more bound copies.

4.3 Form of Thesis The Graduate School has certain requirements regarding the form of the thesis, type of paper, reproduction and some items to be included. This information is available at www.utexas.edu/grad/doctoral. Individual supervising professors may have certain additional requirements. The student should understand and comply with these requirements. Graduate students are responsible for the costs of thesis preparation and publication.

4.4 Graduate School Deadlines The application for the M.S. degree needs to be filed at the beginning of the semester in which the degree is to be received (a copy of the candidacy form should be downloaded from the Graduate School website). Other forms are also filled out by the student; contact the Graduate School.

4.5 Department Checkout Every M.S. student must be officially checked out by certain staff members of the Department and the University before leaving. The checkout form is available via the ChE web.

4.6 Useful Hints Check the web for the hints. www.utexas.edu/grad/doctoral (or masters), whichever is applicable.

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5. PH.D. CANDIDATES

5.1 Steps to Earn the PhD Degree After selection of the supervising professor (See Section 2), the sequence of steps that must be followed in studying for and obtaining the Ph.D. degree are as follows.

1. Completion of a number of courses roughly equivalent to the course requirements for the M.S. degree.

2. Selection of the doctoral research problem. 3. Passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (see Sect. 5.5). 4. Presentation of the Research Proposal (see Sect. 5.6) 5. Passing the Final Oral Examination

No fixed number of course hours are prescribed for the Ph.D. degree. Students can pursue the Ph.D. degree without having earned the M.S. degree. A student's supervisory committee, of which the supervising professor is the chair, reviews the courses taken by a candidate to ascertain whether or not they provide the proper background for the dissertation and to assure competence in other areas consistent with the student's abilities and interests. The number of formal course hours for most programs ranges from 36 to 45, although there are exceptions. Ph.D. students who have previously earned M.S. degrees at other institutions normally take fewer courses.

To gain admission to candidacy requires approval of the Graduate Studies Committee. Application for admission to candidacy can be filed when the student has completed Steps 3 and 4 above, which should be accomplished within the first two years. After admission to candidacy, any additional course work required by the supervising professor and the supervising committee is completed. At the same time, the dissertation research is carried on. After completion of the research, the draft of the dissertation is prepared, and the final step is the final oral examination on the research. It is highly desirable for the student to obtain the Ph.D. degree within a reasonable period of time, consistent with fulfilling the traditional requirements of quality and breadth of knowledge in these studies and originality and professional contribution in his or her research. The elapsed time beyond the baccalaureate degree can be as little as three years and should not be longer than five years. While there is no applicable fixed timetable, the following may serve as a guide for a four-year program starting after the B.S. and culminating with the Ph.D. Degree. First Year

1. The student should carry the maximum load of formal course work (9 hours credit) and complete 18 to 21 course hours.

2. The student should select the supervising professor and research problem. The student should initiate the research as soon as a supervising professor has been assigned.

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3. The student must take the qualifying examinations by the end of two long sessions (Fall, Spring) of residence.

Second Year

1. Additional formal course work recommended by the supervising professor should be completed. In order to register for 9 hours, graduate students can enroll in seminar (384) or individualized research (684, 385, 685) courses.

2. The student should request that the supervising committee be appointed and should give an oral presentation on the research problem to the committee (the Research Proposal; see Section 5.6).

3. All other requirements for admission to candidacy must be fulfilled during this year and the student should apply for candidacy through the Graduate School (a copy of the signed form is to be given to the Graduate Coordinator). The application is to be made via the Graduate Advisor to the Graduate School. In the semester immediately following admission to candidacy, the student will register for dissertation (ChE 399R, 699R, or 999R) and continue the research.

4. Apply for M.S. (no thesis) degree after taking 12 courses if desired; see Section 4.4). Third Year

1. The student should register for ChE 699W or 999W and complete the major portion of the research during the third year.

2. Any remaining or special course work (including research and seminar courses) should be completed.

3. The student should analyze and correlate research data and write periodic reports which become the corpus of the dissertation. Formal interim reports to the supervising professor are encouraged.

4. Student should begin to publish in conference proceedings and archival journals as first author.

Fourth Year

1. The student should continue to register for ChE 699W or 999W and should complete the research if not completed in the previous year.

2. At the beginning of the semester in which the degree is expected, the student should request the Graduate Dean, through the Departmental Graduate Advisor, to schedule the final oral examination. All of the forms required by the Graduate School should be completed to ensure the granting of the degree at the proper time (see Sect. 5.8).

3. The written dissertation should be completed four weeks prior to the final oral examination and given to the entire supervising committee, including members outside the department.

4. The student should write journal articles based on his/her research either as the dissertation is being written or in parallel with writing the dissertation.

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5. The student makes changes in the dissertation as suggested by the supervising committee. This may entail some additional research, experiments, or calculations.

6. The expected length of time to complete the Ph.D. without a previous M.S. degree is four years. You should discuss the necessity of continuing beyond four years to complete the dissertation with your supervisor.

5.2 Dissertation These deadlines are to be considered fixed with very few exceptions. Note the rather long lead times (several months) required. Once you have completed all requirements for the Ph.D. degree and checked out from the department, you are free to take employment in the middle of the semester. All doctoral students will be required to submit a copy of their dissertation in electronic format to the Office of Graduate Studies. Students will have the choice of submitting one paper copy and one electronic copy, or submitting one electronic copy and no paper copies. Visit the Graduate Studies Electronic Dissertation website (www.utexas.edu/ogs/etd) for general information about this requirement. Chemical Engineering Department - 1 copy bound in blue leatherette (hardbound). Submit

to the Graduate Coordinator (CPE 3.408) for the Departmental collection. Supervising Professor - 1 copy, bound in blue leatherette. Ask the supervising professor

how many additional copies are required, including those for members of your doctoral committee.

In addition, the student will usually want one or more bound copies. Sometimes a research

sponsor (agency or company) will want a copy.

5.3 Graduate School Deadlines Early every term the Graduate School issues deadline sheets for candidates who expect to receive their degree at the end of that term, listing the dates and the items which require the student’s attention before the degree requirements can be completed. The Graduate School is very strict regarding these matters, and it behooves the student to comply with them in all respects. These deadline sheets are placed on the bulletin board adjacent to CPE 2.706A, and individual copies are can be obtained at the Office of Graduate Studies.

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5.4 Form of Dissertation The Graduate School has certain rather strict requirements regarding the form of the dissertation, the type of paper to be used, the type of reproduction (including word processing), and so forth. In addition, individual supervising professors usually have their own requirements with regard to the way in which the dissertation is written, the format of tables, illustrations, and so on. It is suggested that when the time comes to write the dissertation, the student confer with the supervising professor and with the Graduate School to learn of any special requirements so that the initial draft of the dissertation will be essentially what is required; a considerable saving of time will result. Dissertation templates are available on computer disk from IT Services (ITS); check with the Graduate School for price and compatibility. It is also helpful to examine previous dissertations written by UT students, which are kept in the Himmelblau Graduate Reference Room. Graduate students are responsible for the costs of dissertation preparation and publication. 5.5 Qualifying Examination One of the requirements for admission to candidacy is to pass the three individual exams, which are comprised of thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and transport phenomena. These examinations are designed to test prospective candidates on the material normally completed in an accredited undergraduate chemical engineering curricula (not on graduate level work). Notices concerning the times for the examinations and the content and textbooks covered are available from the Graduate Coordinator or Graduate Advisor but also are posted on the graduate student section of the Department website (www.che.utexas.edu/che/students/graduate/prior.cfm). Students sign up to take the examination at the Graduate Coordinator's office (CPE 3.408). The Qualifying Exams are given in early January and late May. Incoming graduate students who declare that they are going to pursue a Ph.D. should take the Qualifying Exams as soon as possible. These students are expected to take the exams after no more than two long sessions in residence. Students entering with a Master's degree, or who earn a thesis Master's degree while in residence at U.T. and wish to continue in the Ph.D. program, are expected to take the Qualifying Exams at the first opportunity. You are given two opportunities to pass the Ph.D. qualifying examination. You must take all three exams on your first attempt. If you pass two of three exams, you need only to retake the single exam failed. However, if you fail two or three individual exams, you must retake all exams. If on the second try, you fail only one exam, you may retake that exam once more. It is suggested that the prospective candidate obtain copies of the appropriate texts and study them before attempting the examination. Sometimes it is helpful to audit an undergraduate ChE class if excessive remedial work is indicated. Sample examinations are available on the ChE website. Because the examinations are based on undergraduate material, it is recommended that the student take the exams as soon as possible after completing the B.S. degree while the material is still relatively fresh in his/her mind.

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5.6 Research Proposal and Preliminary Oral Examination One of the requirements for admission to candidacy in the Chemical Engineering Department is that the student present to the supervising professor and supervising committee an oral discussion of the problem he/she intends to investigate for dissertation research. The proposal committee is comprised of faculty from UT Austin although researchers from outside UT Austin can serve on this committee. Members of this committee are chosen by you and the supervising professor. Depending on the supervising professor the presentations may be attended by other individual students and faculty.

In order to make satisfactory progress toward a Ph.D. degree, the student shall complete this research proposal in the first 24 months of residence. The purpose of this examination is to determine the student's grasp of the research problem and to assess future plans and goals. It is not necessary to have made significant progress toward solution of the research problem in order to present the research proposal. Rather, the scope and the originality of the planned research are to be evaluated. During the exam, committee members will suggest courses of action and make known their own expectations. The student must prepare a short written summary (about 10 double-spaced pages exclusive of appendices) and submit copies to members of the committee at least one week before the oral presentation is made. You need to schedule a room for the presentation. You also need to complete a departmental form (See Table 2) which lists coursework taken and planned in future semesters. The topics generally covered by the summary are as follows:

1. A description of the problem. 2. The objectives of the research. 3. The proposed method of conducting the research. 4. The method of analyzing the data resulting from the research. 5. Any preliminary results.

You should consult with your supervising professor about the detailed content of the proposal. The research proposal does not require detail concerning every aspect of the proposed program. The presentation should not take more than 30 minutes at the most, and should be clear, concise, and well thought out. Usually 30 minutes to 1 hour are taken up by questions posed by the members of the committee to the student. The supervising professor and committee decide if the student has presented an acceptable proposal and make recommendations to the student regarding additional coursework, if any, that should be taken. If the research proposal, is judged unacceptable, it may be presented again within a reasonable period of time. The signed original departmental form (see Table 2) must be returned to the Graduate Office so it can be kept on file. In order to be “advanced to candidacy,” the Ph.D. student must also complete additional paperwork to be submitted to the Graduate School. There is also a form to be filled out for the Preliminary Oral Examination. This form is on the web under Graduate Forms. Please see the Graduate Coordinator for details.

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Table 2 ORAL DEFENSE EXAMINATION

____________________________ Graduate Advisor Approval of Committee (Must be approved before Oral Defense) Student _____________________________________________ Date Entered Grad School _____________ Date Passed Qualifying Exam _____ B.S. Degree and Date __________________ M.S. Degree and Date ____________

Meeting of Student and Advisory Committee Place: _________________ Date: _____________ Action* Chairman _______________________ _______________________ Graduate Faculty _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ *Sign if you concur that the above student has successfully completed his/her oral examination. Write letter to the Graduate Advisor if you do not concur.

Proposed PhD Program Proposed Title of Dissertation: _____________________________________________

Graduate Course Work (This Committee should insert additional courses recommended to be taken.)

ChE Course No. Title Grade Date Completed** _____________ ____________________________ _____ _______________ _____________ ____________________________ _____ _______________ (use attached sheets if necessary) Other _____________ ____________________________ _____ _______________ ++ Insert semester to be taken if not completed or in progress. RETURN ORIGINAL (WITH SIGNATURES) TO GRADUATE COORDINATOR AFTER COMPLETION OF THE ORAL EXAMINATION.

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5.7 Final Oral Examination After the dissertation has been written and a draft read by members of the committee, the final oral exam is scheduled to complete the student's work towards the Doctorate. The candidate for the degree meets with the entire committee and discusses the dissertation research This may be done in the form of a public seminar. Subsequently in a closed session the committee members ask questions of the candidate covering subjects primarily connected directly with the dissertation. Because the candidate for the degree has spent years on the experimental and theoretical study connected with his research, he/she usually wishes to give an extended discussion at the time of the final oral exam. This is unnecessary because the committee has already read the dissertation; details of analytical methods or mathematical manipulations are not the important aspects of the work that the committee seeks to judge. Therefore, the student should carefully prepare a presentation for the oral exam that will take not more than 40 minutes (exclusive of questions that may be asked). You should also discuss the planned presentation with your supervising professor. During the exam the student should convince the committee members of the importance and originality of his or her work and that it is a contribution to chemical engineering science or technology. There is also a form to be filled out for the Final Oral Examination. This form is on the web under Graduate Forms. Please see the Graduate Coordinator for details.

5.8 Department Checkout Every Ph.D. student must be officially “checked out” by certain staff members of the Department and the University before leaving. The checkout form is available on the web. The checkout must be completed before the Graduate Advisor will sign the “GOLDENROD” form required by the Graduate School with the final copy of the dissertation. Table 3 shows the form to be completed.

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Table 3 YOUR FINAL DISSERTATION SHEET WILL NOT BE SIGNED, UNLESS THIS FORM IS ATTACHED….

Department of Chemical Engineering

M.S. - Ph. D. STUDENT CHECKOUT FORM Graduate Students - Please complete the following checklist prior to departure. It is the student's responsibility to make all necessary provisions. Degree: _______ Departure Date: ______ NAME: ____________________________________________________ FORWARDING ADDRESS: ___________________________________ ___________________________________ INITIAL 1. Check with supervising professor concerning disposition of research equipment, lab clean-up, research papers, desk key, copies of thesis or dissertation, etc. ____ My student’s appointment will teminate on ______________________ 5 Turn in all equipment to Stockroom (CPE 1.450B)

____ 3. Turn in all equipment to Machine Shop (CPE 1.402) ____ 4. Turn in all Thesis or Dissertations checked out from the Graduate Program (CPE 3.408) ____ 5. Furnished the Graduate Program with a copy of your ____ Dissertation or Thesis (CPE 3.408) Dissertation will be turned in by ______________________ on ______________ 6. Turn in building and room keys to Stockroom (CPE 1.450B) ____ 7. Do not forget to Close ITS Account 8. Go to www.engr.utexas.edu/coegrec/form.cfm and fill out the exit survey for the College of Engineering ____ Attach a hard copy to this form 9. See Connie Sharirli, CPE 2.802C, for required information ____ 10. Final checkout with Graduate Program (CPE 3.408) ____

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6. COURSEWORK AND SEMINARS

6.1 Quality of Work The general standards of work required for continuation from semester to semester in the Graduate School are set forth in the Graduate School Catalog (easily found on the Registrars web site). These standards prevail within this Department. In addition, it is expected that each student will regard himself/herself as a member of the profession of chemical engineering, and that personal conduct and research activities will enhance the prestige of the profession.

6.2 The Graduate School Catalog All students working toward a graduate degree are urged to consult the current Graduate School Catalog at least once a year to refresh their memories on the details of regulations which apply to them. The information given here may supplement but certainly does not supplant that catalog. A checklist of degree requirements, together with deadlines for the current semester, is available to advanced graduate students from the office of the Dean of the Graduate School and will be posted on the bulletin board.

6.3 Course Registration There are many useful and interesting courses offered at UT Austin. You are encouraged to consult with your Research Supervisor and with experienced graduate students to obtain recommendations for courses prior to registration. Most graduate courses are offered only once each year (some are offered only once every other year). Be sure to consider this when planning future enrollment. The University uses a web-based registration system which allows all students to register without supervision. Graduate students who are not yet official Ph.D. Candidates are required to discuss their registration plans with the Graduate Advisor prior to registration, whose approval is required to enable the registration process. Official Ph.D. Candidates may register without guidance from the Graduate Advisor. Full time students who receive financial support from the Department are expected to enroll for 9 hours during the Fall and Spring semesters and for 3 hours during the Summer session. Doctoral candidates who are either in their terminal semester or who have left the University prior to completing their dissertation are required to register for at least 3 hours of “W dissertation” (e.g. 399W, 699W, 999W) by the Graduate School.

6.4 Seminars

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All Departments at UT operate regular seminar programs. The ChE Department has three types of seminars:

(1) Texas Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series and the Pirkey Centennial Lectureship – Well-known Chemical Engineers are invited to participate in these (three per year). Attendance by graduate students at these special seminars is strongly encouraged.

(2) Departmental Seminars – Every Tuesday a graduate seminar with outside speakers is offered. You are encouraged to attend to broaden your perspective of chemical engineering. The Department expects students to attend at least half of these each semester. The list of seminars is posted on the department website.

(3) Research Group Seminars – Several research groups in the department run regular seminars where students discuss topics of common interest. Some research groups also make semi-annual presentations to sponsors such as companies or government agencies. See your research supervisor for details.

7. EQUIPMENT AND SERVICE 7.1 Stockroom Also known as the Support Services Center (CPE 1.450), Jim Smitherman (1-3460) and Kevin J. Haynes (1-1354) (CPE 1.450B). The Support Services Center handles receiving/shipping packages, gas cylinders, short term equipment/tool checkout, equipment inventory, copying facilities, electronic work to be contracted to another department, chemical waste disposal, and building service problems (i.e., AC, door locks, phones, lights, etc.). Safe and proper disposal of chemical waste is the responsibility of the person generating the waste. Obtain proper disposal tags and pick-up request forms from the Support Services Center (See Section 9 on Safety). 7.2 Purchasing and Procurement (Check www.che.utexas.edu, current students, graduate

form after September 1, 2007, for new reimbursement and Purhasing Forms. The Senior Procurement Officer is Eddie Ibarra (EI) (1-2023), CPE 1.450, assisted by Administrative Associate, Tammy McDade (1-0444). For accounting issues, see Amy Gilbert (1-0955). This office handles purchase of equipment, parts, materials and outside services (i.e., equipment repairs). There are specific guidelines for the types of bids required based on the cost of the equipment and the funding source. Pick up quote sheets before ordering an item and discuss it with your supervising professor. He/she will provide a research account number, typically a 10-digit number starting with 14-, 26-, or 30-. 7.3 Instrumentation and Repair Shop

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The Tech Staff Assistant, Butch Cunningham (CPE 1.402)(1-7867), or supervisor, Jim Smitherman (CPE 1.402) (13460) handles repair and construction of research equipment. You need to properly fill put a Work Order # Request form and have it signed by your supervisor. More information can be found on shop policies, job status, training to use M.E. student shop, and the work order form at www.engr.utexas.edu/che/students/instrumentrepair.cfm. 7.4 Computer Facilities Windows and Macintosh

When you first join the department as a graduate student you can use the 50-seat undergraduate computer lab for 30 days on a limited basis for internet access, checking email, etc. Please give the undergraduates priority in this lab as it is used for some of their classes and homework and it does fill up. If you are going to be connecting your personal laptop to the network, it must be updated with the latest patches and anti-virus software. If you have any questions on how to do this, use the contact information below. UT has site-licensed AV software available at: http://www.utexas.edu/its/bevoware

You can also access the wireless network if you have a wireless-equipped laptop.

Start your browser and you should be prompted for your EID login. If you don’t know what an EID is, see: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/nlogon/eid_suite/general/index.WBX

Unix

Some of the research groups use Linux- and UNIX-based workstations. This will be determined by the research group you join and your advisor.

For general student login (changing passwords, reading mail via PINE, etc.), you may log into gazoo.che.utexas.edu. To change your assigned ChE password, log into gazoo.che.utexas.edu using SSH. Type ‘password’ and follow the instructions.

Passwords must adhere to the following:

Must be 8 characters long, must contain characters from 3 of the following 4 categories: English uppercase (A…Z), English lowercase (a…z), Base 10 digits (0…9), non-alphanumeric (!@$%).

Tim Guinn is the onsite UNIX administrator, his contact information is below.

Software and Hardware

If you would like to make a personal computer purchase be sure to look at the deals available at the campus computer store: http://www.campuscomputer.com/

If your advisor will be paying for your computer, contact Randy or Randle in CPE 1.422 for advice and a quotation on departmental standard configurations.

Software is available at academic pricing at the Campus Computer Store. UT has site licensing in place for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office.

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Email

Email can be accessed using your browser by going to:

http://webmail.utexas.edu

For instructions on how to use webmail:

http://www.utexas.edu/its/webmail

If using an email client such as Eudora, Outlook, or Thunderbird, use the following settings: Client type: pop3, incoming and outgoing server settings: mail.che.utexas.edu

Printing

There are a number of networked printers on the Chemical Engineering network. Most are owned by the respective research groups. Obtain the owners’ permission before printing to a printer. To view the list of printers enter \\print-nt in your browser.

Printers are designated by room numbers. To use a printer, simply click on it and the correct printer drivers will be installed to your PC.

Contact Information:

Tim Guinn, UNIX systems administrator

CPE 4.442 assist@che.utexas.edu 471-9701

Randle Martin, Desktop Computer Consultant

CPE 1.422, r.martin@its.utexas.edu 471-5753

Randy Rife, Site Manager

CPE 1.422, rrife@mail.utexas.edu 471-4928

To request service, please fill out a ticket at the appropriate link:

Unix requests: http://mt1.cc.utexas.edu/cheme

Windows or Macintosh PC’s: http://mt1.cc.utexas.edu/che

7.5 Natural Sciences Department Facilities

Fisher Science/Chemistry Storeroom (WEL 1.202, 1-7384) (www.cm.utexas.edu/services/research_storeroom ). A good source of chemical, glassware and most lab equipment. Anyone with an account number set up in the Chemistry Department can purchase supplies. Donna Reber (1-1644) (WEL 2.208) Chemistry Glass Blowing Lab (WEL 2.146, 1-7093)

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Service includes customized glassware and glass blowing. Chemistry Electronics Shop (WEL 3.210, 1-5354) Various electronic supplies can be purchase from this shop including wire, circuit boards, components, resistors, transistors, switches, lamps, and microprocessors. Chemistry Machine Shop (WEL 2.140, 1-7106) or Physics Shop Occasionally, the Chemistry or Physics Machine Shops take on small projects when the Chemical Engineering Shop is very busy. Talk to Jim Smitherman, CPE 1.408 (1-3460), about having jobs done through Chemistry. Also, check out the Instrument/Repair Shop link on the Chemical Engineering website on the Current Students tab. Physics Storeroom (RLM 3.108, 1-1875) General tools, electronics, wrenches, pliers, wiring, and hardware are available for purchase using a UT account number. Biological Sciences Storeroom (ESB 7, 1-7462) (www.esb.utexas.edu/sbs_storeroom) The Zoology stockroom carries basic supplies for biological and biochemical research, including Petri dishes, gloves, micropipette tips, etc. They also carry some office and computer supplies. 7.6 Other Service and Supply Centers Central Supply Storeroom (Building PP3, Rm 1.208, 1-1221) (Located at 1800 Manor Road, just on the other side of I-35 where 26th street turns into Manor Rd.) This storeroom is a good source of hardware, hand tools and materials used in maintenance and construction. Campus Computer Store (8am to 6pm, Monday – Friday) Phone: 512-475-6550; Fax 512-232-4696; Flawn Academic Center. Hardware, software and accessories available. Students must provide a valid student ID to receive student discounts. Students can purchase software for home or office use at very reasonable prices.

8. PROJECT DESIGN GUIDELINES A good general procedure for major construction of equipment follows; see (www.engr.utexas.edu/che/students /instrumentrepair.cfm)

1. Plan the work, including an outline of the work and an equipment layout. Discuss

supporting design calculations with your supervising professor. A complete set of apparatus catalogs kept by the Stockroom can be used to assist in the selection and sizing of valves, piping, meters, gauges, etc. Estimate the cost of the equipment and apparatus.

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2. Check with shop personnel to see if the equipment can be built; isolate what equipment and materials are available, and what will need to be ordered.

3. Re-evaluate the outline and layout in view of the new facts, and repeat nos. 1 and 2 above as often as necessary.

4. Check with your research professor to see if the equipment design is satisfactory. 5. Order the necessary equipment and supplies through the Procurement Office. 6. Obtain from the website a chemical engineering work authorization form, and fill out

completely. 7. Complete the form and attach, where necessary, a suitable working drawing. 8. Secure the approval of the work order from your supervisor. 9. Turn the work order in to the shop supervisor.

10. If the supplies are available, the work will be done in the order of “first come, first

served.” Do not ask to be placed ahead of others on the work order list. Several pointers have been suggested by shop personnel to facilitate the shop work:

1. Make full use of equipment catalogs in the Stockroom. A month's planning is worth six month's building of the equipment.

2. Try to design as much of the equipment as practical at one time. This will aid in overall equipment layout, and the shop may often know many shortcuts.

3. Try to give the shop advance warning of expected work so that they may plan to stagger work to include your project.

4. Check with your supervising professor to see if equipment you need already exists. 5. Include a complete, accurate working diagram with your work order to speed your

work and prevent misunderstandings. Discuss your diagram with the shop personnel in detail before finally submitting it.

6. It is best if each student engaged in laboratory work of any type develops his/her own tool kit. Do not, in any case, borrow tools or other equipment from fellow graduate students without their permission.

9. SAFETY - LABORATORY AND BUILDING The University Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) (www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs) carries out annual inspections, and is a good resource to address safety issues and concerns. The Safety office conducts periodic walkthroughs on a rotating basis to increase their visibility, address individual safety concerns, and to increase the student body's overall safety awareness. All students working in laboratories must complete an on-line course on laboratory safety.

9.1 Laboratory Safety Guidelines (Lab Safety Inspections done once a month) 9.1.1 Chemical Safety

1. All chemicals stored in the lab must be labeled.

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2. All toxic and volatile chemicals handled in the laboratory should be handled under the hood with the fan on.

3. Safety gloves, goggles, and protective clothing should be worn when handling toxic or corrosive chemicals.

4. Chemicals which come in contact with the skin should be flushed away immediately with large amounts of water for ten minutes. Appropriate procedures for accidental contact or ingestion of any toxic or corrosive chemicals routinely used in the lab must be available.

5. Waste chemicals must be disposed of promptly in conjunction with stockroom personnel. Appropriate tags and form for waste containers are available in the stockroom.

6. Solvents, oils, or other flammable materials should be stored on a table or in a cabinet and not on the floor. Only a few days’ supply should be kept in the lab. Stockroom personnel maintain a solvent room for excess quantities.

7. Clean up all spills immediately. 8. Use caution when disposing of old and/or unlabeled chemicals. 9. Secure all laboratory apparatus (i.e., reaction vessels, condensers, etc.).

9.1.2 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

1. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provide the user with information regarding

the potential hazards associated with the chemical, as well as basic first aid information should an accident occur. It is important to have MSDS available for all the chemicals used in the labs. MSDS are available in the UT Library Online under Databases and Indexes (www.lib.utexas.edu/chem/internet.html#msds ).

2. Locating MSDS–All labs should have the location of appropriate MSDS information clearly posted. MSDS information is available on UTNETCAT and a clear protocol on how to access this information via a laboratory computer should be posted.

3. MSDS hard copies–Chemical suppliers, unfortunately, do not always ship MSDS automatically with each chemical order. To ensure that MSDS are shipped with chemical orders, the Stockroom staff should be asked to stamp or type on each chemical order the following: “MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET MARKED WITH PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER MUST BE INCLUDED WITH PRODUCT.” Central Receiving recommends that this statement appear on the top two copies of the order.

9.1.3 Chemical Inventory

1. All chemical storage containers shall be properly labeled. The label should show the

chemical name, date of purchase or receipt, initials of a responsible graduate student, and a visual summary of significant hazard.

2. Purchased chemicals are required by law to provide this information, with the exception of purchase or receipt date and the graduate student’s initials. The chemical owner need only add the date and his/her initials to comply with the labeling policy.

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3. Produced chemicals in the laboratories must also be stored in properly labeled containers. NFPA stickers are recommended for especially hazardous chemicals. These stickers are available from the Stockroom.

4. Waste chemicals must be stored in properly labeled containers. Proper waste labels can be obtained from the OEHS.

5. Obsolete chemicals, which are no longer needed, must be properly labeled and tagged for disposal, as discussed above. The MSDS should be removed from its laboratory binder and returned with the chemical to the stockroom.

9.1.4 High Pressure Safety

1. All gas cylinders must be labeled and properly secured at all times. 2. When moving a gas cylinder, always remove the regulator, replace the cap, and use the

cylinder cart. A dropped cylinder can become an unguided missile. 3. Never use any type of regulator on an oxygen cylinder except the recommended type.

For example, use water-tested and not oil-tested gauges on an oxygen cylinder. 4. Never store, even temporarily, a high-pressure cylinder near a location where there

might possibly be a fire. 5. Do not store flammable gas cylinders next to oxidizing gas cylinders. 6. Never use any tools to remove cylinder caps. 7. All high-pressure equipment should be safeguarded with a rupture disk or relief valve. 8. All high-pressure equipment should be properly secured.

9.1.5 Electrical Safety

1. Students should familiarize themselves with the circuit breaker boxes in the utility corridors. The breakers on circuits currently being used should be labeled so that sources of overload can be identified readily.

2. Each lab has a red emergency shutdown button which cuts off all electricity (except lighting) in the lab. This button can be pushed as one is exiting the lab in the event of a fire or other emergency. The electricity is restored by throwing the main breaker switch in the utility corridor.

3. All electrical wiring on any piece of equipment should be checked to see if it is frayed or worn. If so, it should be replaced before being used.

4. Shut off power to electrical circuits prior to working on them. Be aware that capacitors can maintain charge (and shock you) even when no power is applied to them.

5. Extension cords and other wires should not extend over walkways where people might trip over them. They should also not be placed in the sink or in water (remember the "don't use the hairdryer in the bath tub" rule).

6. Grounded 3-prong plugs should be plugged into 3-prong outlets. 7. Do not use multiple plug outlets. 8. Above all else, use common sense.

9.1.6 Radiation and Laser Safety (See links at www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/radiation)

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9.1.7 Laboratory Layouts

1. Hoods are designed for emergency releases and equipment failure only. They are not designed to be a process vent. Toxic products from experimental equipment should be scrubbed out or removed by other means. Do not routinely discharge toxic effluent into the hood.

2. Doors between the laboratory and the utility corridor should be kept closed at all times. Due to the air handling system in the building, if these doors are left open, any gas release in the corridor will be conveyed into the laboratory.

3. Windows in the laboratory doors should not be covered. This prevents potential rescuers from seeing into the lab and noting people who have been disabled. Labs using lasers should cover the windows only when the laser is in use.

4. “Safety Glasses required” areas are marked with yellow tape on the floor, as appropriate, in labs. These areas should be clearly marked so that visitors are aware of potentially hazardous areas. Extra glasses/goggles should be available for visitors to the lab. This policy should be strictly enforced.

5. Eye wash fountains and safety showers in the building are prone to become full of sediment from the pipes if the units are not used. This can result in a serious injury if an accident involving someone's eyes occurs and polluted water from the eyewash fountain aggravates the problem. Graduate students in each lab should run the eyewash fountains and safety showers once a month to clean out the pipes. One bucket is provided in each utility corridor for testing the safety shower. In addition, the standpipes for the eye wash fountains and safety showers should be fitted with labels to be filled out by the person doing the test each month. These labels will be checked during safety inspections.

6. B, C rated fire extinguishers are located in laboratories for small fires. Aim at the base of the fire and spray with a back and forth movement. For paper fires, this type extinguisher should not be used.

7. A, B, C rated (Powder type) extinguishers are available in the cabinets on each floor. This type should be used for paper fires. Note that this type can destroy electrical equipment.

9.1.8 Work Habits

1. Safety glasses–When handling corrosive chemicals and hot liquids, working with

glass, performing any cutting or grinding with power tools, or welding, safety goggles or eye shields must be worn. These can be obtained from the Stockroom. Wearing of ordinary eyeglasses with hardened lenses even when doing seemingly safe laboratory work is not recommended.

2. Working at odd hours–Be sure to make your presence known to someone else in the building. Avoid working with hazardous material when alone.

3. Office hours by teaching assistants should be held in the tutoring area on the second floor. This will reduce the number of strangers on the upper floors as well as reduce the potential for accidents when graduate students (who continue to work through office hours) are interrupted for questions.

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4. Separating glass (broken or not) from other trash will help to prevent injury to cleaning workers. Containers for glass disposal are available from custodial services. If one is not available, get one from the Stockroom.

5. Appropriate clothing should be worn during experimentation including shoes (not open-toed).

6. Housekeeping–Maintain a reasonable level of housekeeping in your laboratory. Be careful to keep food and chemicals strictly separated.

9.2 Building Safety

1. Piping Leaks, Flooding, and Mechanical Failures During normal working hours, these problems should be reported to Butch

Cunningham, CPE 1.402 (1-7867), Kevin J. Haynes, CPE 1.450B (1-1354) or Jim Smitherman CPE 1.402 (1-3460). They will then be responsible to see that the problem is corrected. After hours, the Facilities Services number, 1-2020, should be called. Be prepared to describe the problem and location when calling this number. This number can be called at any time when there is a problem.

2. Small Laboratory Fires

(a) Use your judgment to determine whether you are able to extinguish the fire. If the fire is too large for the fire extinguisher or you are unable to extinguish it, evacuate the lab and pull the fire alarm station near the exits on each floor. You should then report to the fire alarm Annunciator Room as described in the Building Evacuation section below.

(b) B, C rated fire extinguishers are located in laboratories for small fires. Aim at the base of the fire and spray with a back and forth movement. For paper fires, this type extinguisher should not be used.

(c) A, B, C rated (Powder type) extinguishers are available in the cabinets on each floor. This type should be used for paper fires. Note that this type can destroy electrical equipment.

(d) Fire extinguishers are not to be moved from their prescribed locations except in case of fire or inspection.

(e) Never use water on a flammable liquid fire. (f) Notify stockroom personnel whenever a fire extinguisher is used.

4. Gas Alarms

In the event of a Gas Alarm, immediately evacuate the building and notify UTPD (1-4441), if after 5:00 PM and before 7:00 AM, otherwise notify Jim Smitherman at 247-8456. Although a gas alarm sounds like an evacuation alarm, a gas alarm is characterized by the rotating red light near the gas alarm panel. When an alarm sounds, the RESET button on the alarm control panel should be pressed and the read-outs scanned to determine which detectors responded. Subsequent actions depend on these panel read-outs. Note that the gas alarm system is not connected to the building fire alarm system. Therefore UTPD is notified automatically with these gas alarms. It is our responsibility to notify UTPD by either pulling the fire alarm or calling when

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required.

A "non-catastrophic" situation exists when a single unit sounds and levels either subsequently decline or level off. In this situation, the laboratories involved should be notified and the leak traced by the people in the lab. During non-business hours the gas detector is placed in the Annunciator Room in the south-central entry to the building (2nd floor South main entrance common to PE and ChE). The UTPD can be called to open the door.

If this situation occurs during non-business hours when nobody is in the lab and access to the utility corridor is not possible, merely RESET the panel and leave a message on the lab door. If the alarm sounds repeatedly, or levels climb, attempt to call the appropriate graduate students or professor. If none of these people can be reached, call UTPD to get access to the corridor. Of course, if the situation becomes more serious (as in "catastrophic" described below), the building should be evacuated. It should be noted that individual circuit boards in this system have previously failed. Without corroborating evidence such as adjacent sensors responding or the loud hissing of a high-pressure leak in a utility corridor, the building should not be evacuated on the basis of the response of a single alarm sensor. The situation can be considered "catastrophic" if adjacent sensors respond and the levels are rising. The first alarm sounds at 20% LEL (Lower Explosive Limit). The second sounds at 40% LEL. If the situation is "catastrophic," and especially if any alarms are at the second alarm level, the building should be evacuated by pulling a fire alarm located by the exits on each floor. You should then report to the fire alarm Annunciator Room as described in the Building Evacuation section below. Finally, whenever a gas alarm sounds, the stockroom should be notified. Call during business hours; leave a short note for events occurring at other times. ALL GAS ALARMS, NO MATTER WHAT THE REASON, WHETHER FALSE OR NOT, ARE TO BE REPORTED!! This will ensure that faulty electronic devices are fixed.

4. Building Evacuation The Building Evacuation Alarm sounds when either a Fire Pull Station, Smoke Detector or Heat Detector is activated. This Building Evacuation Alarm is monitored by UTPD around the clock. When a Building Evacuation Alarm sounds during “business” hours, a team of staff members go directly to the Annuciator Room located at the CPE south-central entry. UTPD and the Safety Office are contacted by these team members while checking alarm panels and relay any information they find. When an alarm sounds during business hours, at least one person from each floor should report to this Annunciator Room to furnish information as needed.

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When a Building Evacuation Alarm sounds during “non-business” hours, everyone in the building needs to be sure that someone calls UTPD at 1-4441. The Safety Office should also be contacted at 1-3511. Building occupants should meet at the annunciator panel area after UTPD has been called to inform the responding police and fire units of conditions in the building. During business hours, members of the building staff have access to the Annunciator Room in the front of the building. These people can check the alarm panels and call UTPD. Unfortunately, nobody can do this should a passive alarm sound during non-business hours. If an evacuation alarm sounds during non-business hours, everyone in the building needs to be sure that someone calls UTPD. When an alarm sounds after hours, people in the building should meet at the annunciator panel (in the south-central entry) after UTPD has been called, so that the arriving firemen can be told about conditions in the building. When the alarm sounds during business hours, at least one person from each floor should report to the annuciator panel.

5. Medical Emergencies

For major medical emergencies, the medical emergency number, 911, should be called. This will summon an ambulance. For minor medical situations, the Student Health Center can be called during business hours at 475-6877. After business hours, call Brackenridge hospital at 476-6461. Brackenridge is located at 15th street and Red River.

9.3 Procedures That Are Not Allowed Under Any Circumstances 1. No work may be done on, and no equipment may be permanently tied into, the

following services: (a) High pressure or low-pressure steam (b) 110- or 220-volt power lines (c) High-pressure or low-pressure air The Facilities Services shop personnel are the only individuals authorized to perform the

above connections or alterations. 2. The CPE building is “Smoke Free.” Smokers are allowed outside the building, and no

closer than 30 feet from an entrance. There shall be no smoking in the laboratories, and in and around locations wherein flammable solvents are being handled or processed.

3. If any student has any question as to whether or not it would be safe to do a certain thing, the answer is “don't” until it has been checked with Jim Smitherman, Kevin Haynes, Butch Cunningham, your professor or appropriate departmental personnel.

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10. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR CHEMICAL ENGINEERS AT THE UNIVERSITY

New graduate students should continue active membership in professional organizations. Professional societies are well represented at The University of Texas.

10.1 American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Student Chapter The University of Texas Student Chapter of AIChE is an affiliate of the national organization. Membership is open to all students majoring in chemical engineering but mostly involves undergraduate students. Formal meetings are presently held each month. An extensive program of professional activities, social events, and participation in intramural sports is carried on throughout the year.

10.2 Omega Chi Epsilon, Epsilon Chapter Omega Chi Epsilon is the national honorary society for chemical engineering graduates and undergraduates who have exhibited high scholastic achievement and desirable personal qualities. Meetings are held at announced times during the academic year.

10.3 Tau Beta Pi, Alpha Chapter of Texas Tau Beta Pi, the national honorary society for engineers, was founded "to mark in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon their alma mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as undergraduates in engineering or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in the engineering colleges of America." Several meetings of Texas Alpha Chapter are held each semester.

10.4 Sigma Xi, Texas Chapter Sigma Xi is "...a faculty organization...for the purpose of encouraging original investigation in science, pure and applied." Graduate students can be elected to either full or associate membership providing that they meet the qualifications. Meetings are held during the school year.

10.5 American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Balcones Fault Section You should plan to become a graduate student member of AIChE (www.aiche.org), which has a reduced-dues level of $50. Student members of AIChE who live in Austin are invited to join the local section of AIChE which encompasses Austin, San Antonio and their surrounding counties. Nominal yearly dues are payable to the secretary of the organization. Faculty members will know the details on this. Meetings are held monthly, with a cocktail hour, banquet, and technical talk. Some meetings of the local section are held at the UT Austin campus.

10.6 American Chemical Society, Central Texas Section

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The local section of this national organization meets once a month at times which are announced on the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering bulletin boards. Prominent speakers on tour under the auspices of the national organization and the local chapter present results of their research at these meetings. All students in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering are invited to these talks. 10.7 American Society for Engineering Education, UT Student Chapter The student chapter of the American Society for Engineering Education comprises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who are interested in educational issues or academic careers. The organization's purposes are to encourage students to consider careers in academia, to arrange regular mentoring between students and faculty, to enhance the teaching and presentation skills of prospective educators, to develop the skills needed to establish and lead a research program, and to assist students in their search for academic positions. Events include monthly meetings, seminars, workshops, socials and conferences. Current information can be found at http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~asee/ 10.8 Society of Women Engineers (www.engr.utexas.edu/swe/Home/index.htm) The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) student chapter is an affiliate of the national organization. UT SWE has a strong student membership that represents both women and men from each of the seven engineering disciplines offered at UT. UT SWE exists “to help you acquire the leadership and professional skills necessary in today's world - together, in a challenging yet inclusive environment.” Several meetings are held throughout the school year.

11. GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCILS Three organizations of interest are the Graduate Engineering Council (GEC), the Council of Graduate Students (COGS), and the Graduate Student Executive Committee (GSEC). Chemical Engineering appoints representatives to the first two groups. Students elect representatives to the last group. The names of the current representatives are available from the Graduate Coordinator.

11.1 Graduate Engineering Council The Graduate Engineering Council (www.engr.utexas.edu/gec/index.html) is primarily a service organization aimed at enhancing the academic and social experiences of graduate engineering students. The Council consists of two representatives from each of the graduate engineering departments and programs, selected by their respective graduate advisors. One of their goals is to help elevate the level of professional awareness among graduate engineering students by filling in where the classroom leaves off. They operate a “Fireside” seminar series wherein keynote speakers from industry and governmental agencies are invited to address graduate engineering students in a variety of topics. GEC also encourages students from different engineering disciplines to interact with their colleagues in other engineering areas. Toward this end, they organize informal social

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activities and intend to conduct a mini-symposium for graduate engineering students to present their research. The GEC also caters to the newly arrived graduate student by furnishing essential information on housing, computing facilities and shuttle-bus routes.

11.2 Council of Graduate Students COGS is the Council of Graduate Students and its purpose is to represent the rights and interests of graduate students at The University of Texas. More specifically, as stated in its constitution, COGS’ purposes are to:

- conduct activities which promote the general welfare of graduate students. - facilitate graduate student communication and interaction. - gather and disseminate information pertinent to graduate students. - represent the views of graduate students to the university community and the community at

large. - provide effective representation to appropriate bodies relating to graduate students.

These purposes are accomplished through the committee structure of the Council

1. Graduate Student Affairs Committee Does much of the substantive work of the Council: has been responsible for the TA/AI

survey designed to gather information about salary, working and academic conditions, and concerns of graduate students throughout the university; has been working to establish a communication network with graduate students in the state and the nation; drafts statements of the Council's position on issues of importance to graduate students as they arise.

2. Graduate Guide Committee In charge of producing and distributing the Graduate Guide with information about the

university and the community for incoming graduate students. 3. Membership and Communication Committee Coordinates elections of members to the Council, maintains membership rosters, sends

out a newsletter to members to maintain communication between meetings, and disseminates information from the Council to graduate students.

4. Orientation and Graduate Social Committee Responsible for the Graduate Student Orientation and Info Fair each year and for socials

offered during the year.

COGS also provides representation on bodies dealing with graduate student issues within the university structure: Graduate Assembly, senior cabinet, University Council, and Student Senate.

11.3 Graduate Student Executive Committee

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GSEC acts as a liaison between chemical engineering graduate students and the faculty through regular meetings with the Department Chairman and Graduate Advisor. GSEC seeks to improve and maintain the overall quality of graduate student life in the graduate program. The Committee consists of 2 members, typically in their second year, who serve a one-year term. Committee members are nominated and elected by the graduate students during a general meeting held each fall. Outgoing GSEC committee members will notify all graduate students of newly elected committee members. A list of current and former members can be found on-line at: http://www.che.utexas.edu/graduate_studies/gsec/index.htm. GSEC responsibilities include:

• Updating the Graduate Student Handbook • Assisting the Graduate Advisor and Coordinator with the recruiting weekend for

prospective graduate students • Organizing a Charity Fund Drive during the Fall semester • Coordinating a mentoring program for incoming graduate students

The Committee is elected each fall from nominees representing each graduating class and each floor of the Chemical Engineering building (www.che.utexas.edu/graduate_dir.html). The chairman of GSEC notifies all graduate students of the current GSEC members each semester. GSEC activities and responsibilities include:

• Helping maintain the ChE graduate student directory on the web. • Preparing the Graduate Student Handbook. • Assisting the Graduate Advisor and Coordinator with the recruiting weekend for

prospective graduate students. • Coordinating a charity fund drive during the fall semester

Webpage: www.che.utexas.edu/graduate_students/gsec/index.htm

12. Guidelines for University Travel

Prior approval for all business travel is required for anyone on the UT payroll. An electronic “Request for Travel Authorization (RTA)” must be processed prior to traveling. Graduate students can go to http://www.engr.utexas.edu/sos/survey/16424847/index.cfm, fill out the form and click the Submit button. This request will be emailed to Elena Rodriguez (elena@che.utexas.edu) and she will process your request. After the request has been processed electronically, she will email the document ID number and the RTA number to you. You will need a travel document ID number to complete your travel with any of the UT travel companies.

TQ3Navigant International Travel 459-8203 local 459-8801 Fax

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Corporate Travel Planners, Inc. 912-0093 912-8493 Fax

STA Travel 479-7400

A request for travel must be submitted one week prior to traveling. Request for FOREIGN travel requires 30 days advance notice. When you travel, obtain receipts for all costs for which you expect to be reimbursed. To be reimbursed, you will need receipts* for the following:

• Airfare** • Rental car—Contact TQ3Navigant Travel (459-8203). The university has special

agreements, including rental car insurance, with several rental agencies which TQ3Navigant can arrange for UT employees. Be sure and tell them you are a UT employee and have the travel document ID.

• Taxis, limousines, local buses (receipts requested) • Lodging*** and meals (check per diem allowances) • Airport parking • Other itemized expenses

UT will not reimburse for the following:

• Tips • Personal accident, safe trip or personal effects insurance on rental cars • Costs that you would accrue even if you weren't traveling (laundry, movie rentals, non-UT

related telephone calls) For travel reimbursement instructions go to http:llwww.engr.utexas.edu/che/students/graduate/documents/reimbursement request-008.pdf.

13. CAREER DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES While obtaining an advanced degree, it is important to establish career goals for life after graduate school. There are many options for chemical engineers with Master’s or Doctoral degrees, and the most obvious choices are in academia or industry. The best way to gain experience and confidence in these career pathways is to seek as much exposure to these areas as possible. An advanced degree is more than learning problem solving and experimental procedures; it is a time to hone

* Original receipts, not cancelled check or credit card receipt ** Airline tickets can be billed directly to UT, see your supervising professor for details *** If you are sharing a room with a colleague, both parties must claim 1/2 room rate on voucher; if you are rooming with a family member, you can only claim single room rate.

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valuable skills for your chosen future career. Do not wait until graduation to make time for your career; now is the time to take control of your future.

13.1 Curriculum Vitae Take time early to develop your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé. Think about what your CV says about you. Does it reflect the person that you want to show to a potential employer? Do you have practical experience in the skills required by your field? Do you sound like someone who spent their graduate career alone in the lab or someone who not only knows research skills, but also displays leadership, organizational skills, and interaction with the surrounding community? Seek out activities that build your CV by expressing who you are and what skills you possess. You may also put your résumé on your research group web page. Check the web for samples.

13.2 Gaining Experience in Academia As you are immersed in the academic environment, you are surrounded by a wealth of advice and information regarding academic careers. Do not limit yourself to the experiences of your advisor: seek out other faculty, regardless of their research field, to see what it is that academics do on a daily basis. This will also serve to develop contacts for references and ties to other universities. Take the time to gain extra experience in teaching, developing curricula, publishing papers, giving research presentations, writing grants, critiquing research and so on.

13.3 Gaining Industrial Experience Industrial experience and contacts are critical in gaining employment after graduate school. An industrial internship is an excellent way to learn necessary skills which are not taught in graduate school. For example, developing or manufacturing products while keeping in mind the goals of the company, working in teams, and participating in business meetings. An internship is a great opportunity to gain these skills while developing a relationship with a potential full-time employer or sources of reference for other companies. Be proactive in seeking an internship. There are a number of avenues which may yield potential opportunities, and you should try as many as possible. There is no such thing as having too many business contacts.

• Consult your advisor for their industrial contacts. • Get to know the career services offered through UT. The Engineering Career Assistance

Center (ECAC) is available for all engineering students; see their web page for more information: http://www.engr.utexas.edu/ecac. The College of Natural Sciences also has a career center on campus and their web page is http://careers.ns.uteas.edu. Although their interview schedules are exclusive for natural sciences students, the company-sponsored information sessions are open to everyone. Use this time to talk with the employers and if you cannot be fit onto the official interview schedule, ask for a time to meet over a coffee or lunch break.

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• Finally, search for industrial contacts at recruiting events, trade shows and conferences. Even if it is not advertised as a recruiting event for graduate students or your students in your research field, communicating with people in industry will uncover opportunities ranging from “networking” practice to potential job offers. The semi-annual meeting between the department graduate students and the External Advisory Committee are valuable occasions to interact with alumni in positions that can make opportunities happen for you.

14. CONFERENCE ROOM SCHEDULING Schedules for CPE 2.222 (small seminar room) CPE 2.802F (Alumni Conference Room), and CPE 4.446 Himmelblau Library) are maintained by the receptionist or the Executive Assistant in CPE 2.802. The third floor conference room (3.448) is scheduled by Dr. Paul's secretary in CPE 3.454. HOWEVER, ALL ORAL DEFENSE AND FINAL ORALS ARE SCHEDULED THROUGH THE GRADUATE OFFICE.

15. DEPARTMENT TRUCK If you wish to drive the Department truck you must be on the list of approved drivers with the UT Business Manager and complete the UT Drivers Training Course. See Kevin Haynes or Jim Smitherman to get on the list. You will need a Texas driver’s license. See Kevin Haynes to schedule the truck.

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APPENDIX Chemical Engineering Department- Key Faculty and Staff

Chair Roger Bonnecaze CPE 2.802E

(5-7713)

Associate Chair Buddie Mullins CPE 4.466

(1-5817)

Graduate Advisor/Chair Isaac C. Sanchez CPE 3.410 Graduate Studies Committee (1-1020)

Executive Assistant Jody Lester CPE 2.802A

(1-0103)

Graduate Coordinator "T" Stockman CPE 3.408

(1-6991)

Lab/Tech Services Supv. Jim Smitherman CPE 1.402

(1-3460)

Building Operations Kevin Haynes CPE 1.450B

(1-1354)

Tech Staff Assistant Butch Cunningham CPE 1.402

(1-7867

Purchasing and Accounting Eddie Ibarra CPE 1.450

(1-2023) Amy Gilbert CPE 1.450 (1-0955) Tammy McDade CPE 1.450 (1-0444)