Why Choose UVA CHE?

Mark Your Calendars

Graduate student recruiting for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

NOTE: The chemical engineering department does not require, accept, or review GRE scores for graduate admissions.

Join us for a virtual visit to talk with faculty and current students about our department, our research, Charlottesville, and the application process!

Sign up here, and we’ll send you a reminder.

You can also contact us any time at CHEADMIS@VIRGINIA.EDU with questions, or COMPLETE THIS FORM to receive information about our graduate program. 

*Requests for TOEFL/IELTS waivers are considered for applicants who submit alternate proof of English language proficiency. Examples of supporting documentation include but are not limited to, expired test scores (TOEFL/IELTS), master’s transcript from a university where English is the primary language of instruction, evidence of teaching assistantship in a course where English is the primary language of instruction, thesis document, video of the thesis defense, letters from faculty that attest to your English language proficiency, etc. Duolingo test scores will be considered in combination with other supporting documentation.

**If you do not provide adequate supporting documentation or if your waiver request is denied, you will be required to submit self-reported TOEFL/IELTS scores prior to application review. Please note, that applicants who are admitted will be required to submit official test scores prior to attending the University.

The Ph.D. Student Perspective

Erica Hui, fifth-year Ph.D. student from Lenexa, KS

Undergraduate institution: University of Kansas

UVA CHE faculty advisor/lab: Assistant Professor Steven Caliari

Favorite things about chemical engineering at UVA: Close-knit community, social events like department happy hours (with events like pumpkin-carving contests, department bake-off, tie-dying, and themed happy hour food), supportive advisor, open-door policy for many faculty, seminar food, recruitment weekends, ability to network via the Chemical Engineering Research Symposium (CHEERS) and meetings with the ChE Advisory Board

Favorite Charlottesville-area hangouts and things to do:

Wineries: King Family, Mount Ida, Glass House
Breweries: Pro Re Nata, Blue Mountain, Devils Backbone
Coffee shop: Mudhouse
Restaurant: Al Carbon
Entertainment venue: Jefferson Theater

Mark Bannon, second-year Ph.D. student from Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

Undergraduate institution: New Jersey Institute of Technology

UVA CHE faculty advisor/lab: Assstant Professor Rachel Letteri

Favorite things about chemical engineering at UVA: Really tight-knit department, you get to go to work with your friends every day; very collaborative environment, can learn something from everyone; really great seminars, excellent researchers are brought in to give useful and relevant information every week.

Favorite Charlottesville-area hangouts and things to do:

Cidery: Bold Rock at Carter Mountain, best view in Charlottesville
Restaurant: Burger Bach
Favorite things to do around Cville: UVA lacrosse games (when they’re playing)
Entertainment: Listening to live music downtown. The Whiskey Jar always has amazing local bands, and even busking musicians are always very talented.

Sean Bannon, first-year Ph.D. student from Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

Undergraduate institution: New Jersey Institute of Technology

UVA CHE faculty advisor/lab: Associate Professor Geoff Geise

Favorite things about chemical engineering at UVA: Coming into a graduate program amidst a pandemic can be daunting, but between virtual happy hours, zoom homework meetings and socially distanced get-togethers, doing so in the UVA ChE department has still been a lot of fun!

Favorite things to do in Charlottesville: C’ville has great options for hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, country roads for bike rides, and music/food downtown. Still, nothing I’ve seen in Charlottesville so far has managed to surpass Thursday night Pizza Hut karaoke.

Ashley Conley, fourth-year Ph.D. student from Columbus, Ohio

Undergraduate institution: The Ohio State University

UVA CHE faculty advisor/lab: Associate Professor Joshua Choi and Assistant Professor Gaurav Giri

Favorite things about chemical engineering at UVA: As it turns out, the people around you greatly influence your experience as you get your Ph.D. That’s why I came to UVA. Our department is highly collaborative and is a socially tight-knit community. The faculty and graduate students you get to work with are brilliant, bright and encouraging. From my visit up to now, Charlottesville is my home away from home.

Favorite Charlottesville-area hangouts and things to do: Basic City Brewing, Sedona Taphouse or Cava;- Shenandoah National Park with my doggo, Rutherford; hiking and finding new places to eat.

I recently went on a long hike with multiple beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes, complete with smushed sandwiches, grapes and chips. Plus, I got to break in my new fancy hiking boots! Then we visited a nearby brewery to have a beer next to a warm, cozy firepit with cows grazing in the open pastures nearby as the sun went down. Another noteworthy event, I just carved pumpkins with a few close ChE friends, which we do each year together. Pre-COVID, right about now I would be looking forward to the ChE grad student holiday events, such as our Friendsgiving potluck and Christmas parties with gift exchanges.

Jenna Sumey, third-year Ph.D. student from Uniontown, Pa.

Undergraduate institution: Virginia Tech

UVA CHE faculty advisor/lab: Assistant Professor Steven Caliari

Favorite things about chemical engineering at UVA: Close-knit community, supportive advisor, collaboration between labs, seminar food, monthly department happy hours and holiday parties

Favorite Charlottesville-area hangouts and things to do:

Coffee shop: Mudhouse (their house blend is my favorite!)
Restaurant: Tavola
Entertainment venue: Sprint Pavilion
Winery: King Family

Some of my favorite memories include getting ice cream with my classmates (and faculty) after passing our qualifying exam; watching Kacey Musgraves perform from a rooftop in downtown Charlottesville and dressing up as the Belcher family (from Bob's Burgers) with friends for Halloween.

Tori Vigil, first-year Ph.D student from Nampa, Idaho

Undergraduate and master’s institutions: Pacific Lutheran University, B.S. in chemistry and biology; Johns Hopkins University, M.S.E. in chemical and biomolecular engineering

UVA CHE faculty advisor/lab: Associate Professor Bryan Berger

Favorite things about chemical engineering at UVA: I chose UVA because the professors are genuinely invested in helping students reach their goals!

Favorite Charlottesville-area hangouts and things to do: Shenandoah Joe has been my favorite coffee shop in Charlottesville, although it has been fun to try a new coffee shop each week — now I know who has the best lattes, the best atmosphere for studying and the best pie!

We often walk part of the Rivanna Trail to Moore’s Creek and our pup’s favorite swimming hole! There are lots of walkers, runners and cyclists who take the trail too. There are so many fun activities in Charlottesville — I know when I’m not studying there will always be something fun to do.

Brooke McGirr Brown, fourth-year Ph.D. student from Winston-Salem, N.C.

Undergraduate institution: North Carolina State University, chemical and biomolecular engineering

UVA CHE faculty advisor/lab: Associate Professor Matt Lazzara

What’s great about chemical engineering at UVA: The department has a very collaborative and encouraging environment. There are great resources to conduct your research.

Favorite Charlottesville-area hangouts and things to do:

Winery: Loving Cup Winery
Cidery: Potter’s
Hike: Spy Rock
Entertainment: Live music! There are so many opportunities for concerts, such as local venues downtown, outdoor performances and big performers at the John Paul Jones Arena.