Chemical and Biological Engineering

Chemical and biological engineering addresses a range of problems in human health, energy, materials science, and industrial processes. Areas of excellence at Princeton include: applied and computational mathematics, bioengineering, environmental and energy science and technology, materials synthesis and processing, process engineering and science, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, and transport phenomena.

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Senior thesis explored a new solution to stubborn plastic waste

Flourescent image showing the curving structure of a mouse eye developing in an embryo. — Princeton University researchers led by Celeste Nelson have discovered a new way to study embryonic organs — using energy. By mapping mitochondria across the space of a developing tissue, they were able to predict where that tissue would fold to create complex shapes. Above, a mouse eye develops, with the magenta dots representing mitochondria. Image courtesy of the researchers

A new way to look at developing lifeforms, using energy to predict action

Microscope image of an RSV-infected cell — A microscope image of a cell infected with respiratory syncytial virus that has been treated with an antiviral drug. The drug causes shape changes to the viral condensates (shown in yellow), resulting in a disruption of viral replication. The large black circular structure is the cell’s nucleus. Image courtesy of the researchers

Sorting cells’ inner structures provides new path to drug development

Portraits of Jerelle Joseph and Amir Ali Ahmadi.

Ahmadi, Joseph receive president’s teaching award

Head shots of Jonathan Conway, Tom Griffiths and Jerelle Joseph.

Mentoring awards honor faculty’s dedication to training students

Junior Faculty Awards 2026 graphic.

Assistant professors honored for excellence with junior faculty awards

José Avalos

Clifford Brangwynne

Mark Brynildsen

Jonathan Conway

Emily Davidson

Pablo Debenedetti

Portrait of Dimitrios Fraggedakis

Dimitrios Fraggedakis

David Graves

Jerelle Joseph

A. James Link

Lynn Loo

Marcella Lusardi

Christos Maravelias

Celeste Nelson

Portrait of Athanassios Panagiotopoulos

Athanassios Panagiotopoulos

Rodney Priestley

Portrait of Richard A. Register

Richard A. Register

Portrait of Andrew Rosen

Andrew S. Rosen

Michele L. Sarazen

Charles Schroeder portrait

Charles Schroeder III

Sankaran Sundaresan

Michael A. Webb