Corporate Profiles: Chemical Engineering
A Chemical Engineer’s Role Is To Keep The Production Process In Good Working Order.
By Sylvia McClain

Technical advancements unknown to most of us involve chemical engineering. What we use in our everyday lives depends on processes that invent, test, and produce products generated through chemical engineering.

Erika Peterman,
Product Manager, Dispersions And Pigments Division,
BASF–The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, NJ, with more than 15,000 employees in North America, is known globally as “The Chemical Company.” Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals, as well as oil and gas. The company employs several chemical engineers who support BASF’s objective to create solutions to improve the quality of life for all.
Chemical engineering is a science and when you think of applying chemical, mathematical, and mechanical processes, Erika Peterman, product manager in BASF’s dispersions and pigments division, says, “I see the role of chemical engineers as one which functions as a ‘designer and mechanic’ for the production of chemicals.” Similar to an auto mechanic, a chemical engineer’s role is to keep the production process in good working order.
Peterman adds, “The number of career-development options you can pursue within the field of chemical engineering are many.” Being drawn to the vocation with an interest in the science and math fields, Peterman felt chemical engineering was a more flexible career path than medicine. The flexibility she pursued has placed upon her the responsibility for the management of strategic projects, which has offered her many challenges within BASF.
When asked about expansion in chemical engineering, Peterman expresses, “More industrialized regions will continue to see some level of expansion activities, with the Asia Pacific region being the major area receiving expansion monies. Expansions create new jobs and enable a region to derive the benefit to have local production, thus fueling the economy of the receiving country. Environmental, biotechnology, and nanotechnology industries are rapidly growing, and chemical engineering employment opportunities will also grow in support of these industries.”

Peterman says the gain in advancements is not possible without the contributions of chemistry and chemical engineering principles to produce products that are efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable. When speaking on her own personal advancement with BASF—a company with many operating divisions—she experienced opportunities to advance from manufacturing to her current role in strategic marketing. With the desire to see more enter the field of chemical engineering, she comments, “In terms of macroeconomic trends, there will not be enough workers to perform the jobs that will be vacated over the next several years. As the trend becomes global, it will provide opportunities for career growth for new chemical engineering graduates.”
How does BASF attract new chemical engineers? Peterman explains, “BASF offers the benefits of a professional development program (PDP) where students can work a few rotational assignments.” As a former participant of the PDP, Peterman confirms her belief in the program and its ability to assist chemical engineering students to find their way around the choices available to them. BASF also supports its diverse employee groups, including but not limited to Emerging Professionals and Friends; Latin American Employee; Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Friends; African-American Employee; and Women in Business. As diverse as BASF practices are, its open-door policy is not just open to underrepresented groups, but to everyone. As stated by Kurt Bock, chairman and CEO of BASF Corporation, “Diversity is not only important, it is necessary to forming the best team.” Learn more about BASF at www.basf.com.

Deborah I. Isabelle,
Senior Product Engineer, Automotive Aftermarket Division,
3M
3M, founded in 1902 in Two Harbors, MN, as a mining and manufacturing company, is now the world renowned 3M headquartered in St. Paul, MN. 3M provides products for diverse businesses such as consumer and office products, display and graphics, to industrial and transportation businesses. 3M products can be found everywhere from the Thinsulate in your jacket, to the films in your cell phone display, or to the Post-it note on your refrigerator.
Deborah I. Isabelle, senior product engineer in the automotive aftermarket division of 3M, says, “3M is a global company that specializes in providing innovative solutions to everyday needs—from products used in your dentist’s office to bandages to abrasives to the RFD tags in library books.”
When it comes to explaining chemical engineering at 3M, Isabelle states, “Chemical engineers figure out how to make things better. We are problem-solvers utilizing our knowledge of chemistry and engineering to make the world a better place. I help the lab scale up new products, make sure 3M products have specifications and test methods in place, qualify new raw materials for cost saving, and ensure that changing the components in our products does not compromise their performance.”
Having worked in the field for 11 years, Isabelle began with 3M’s international locations in projects primarily involving cross-functional teams—research, sales, marketing manufacturing, and the laboratory. She notes, “The industry focus has more recently been on increased collaboration and renewed focus on renewable resources.”
In looking toward chemical engineering expansion, Isabelle adds, “There will be unique challenges that means an increased need to interact with people from other countries and cultures, creative problem-solving, and good written and verbal communication.”
The benefits to be derived Isabelle advises could come from creative thinking, more engineers from traditionally underrepresented groups to fill positions, as well as greater acceptance of new perspectives and opportunities. Isabelle comments, “Those who are successful adapt to and embrace changes.”
When asked about the future of chemical engineering, she declares, “Over the next five years, there will be a significant number of baby boomers reaching retirement age. There will be a need for new hires to replace them.”
Asked about what 3M offers to offset any shortages, she answers, “3M offers scholarships, internships, co-ops, and technical aide positions. 3M’s workforce diversity department provides direction and support to enhance recruitment of candidates for student and career employment. In addition, 3M engages members of employee resource groups/affinity groups to participate in campus recruiting activities.”
Isabelle does her part by recruiting at National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) national conferences, participating on the recruiting team at the University of Minnesota, and speaking to candidates when they visit 3M for onsite interviews.
As for 3M’s hiring policies, Isabelle explains, “3M sponsors various employee resource groups such as Women’s Leadership Network, the Latino Resource Group, the Disability Advisory Council, the Native American Council, China Club, South Asia Society, People Like Us, and the African American Society.”
She continues, “Diversity groups provide input and counsel on human resources policy decisions including recruitment, retention, and employee development ensuring that a broad range of perspectives are represented and respected.”
Isabelle says because 3M creates products in such a wide variety of areas, working for 3M allows an opportunity to explore different areas without having to go to a new company. For more about the 3M Company, visit www.3m.com.

Bushra Birjis,
Refining Engineer,
Marathon Oil Corporation
Marathon Oil, founded in 1887 as The Ohio Company by Henry M. Ernst, has through mergers, acquisitions, and purchases become the company that makes energy history globally. As the fourth largest U.S.–based fully integrated international energy company, it also is the fifth largest refiner in the U.S.

Discussing Marathon Oil with Bushra Birjis, refining engineer based at Marathon’s Detroit, MI, refinery, she states, “Marathon is engaged in exploration and production; integrated gas; oil sands mining; and refining, marketing, and transportation operations. The company has exploration and production activities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Angola, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Indonesia, Libya, and Norway. The company’s retail marketing system comprises approximately 6,100 locations in 18 states; nearly three quarters are Marathon brand locations.”
Explaining chemical engineering from a Marathon employee’s standpoint, Birjis remarks, “It primarily deals with converting raw materials or crude oil into products that can be used in the consumer market. For example, gasoline is refined from crude oil using a complicated process in the refinery. Chemical engineers design, optimize, maintain, and troubleshoot chemical/refinery operations.”
Answering the question of where she fits in as a chemical engineer, Birjis explains, “I work as a technical services engineer at Marathon’s Detroit refinery. As such, I support monitoring, optimization, and troubleshooting efforts for refinery processes and equipment. I also provide technical expertise to all refinery personnel and assist to ensure that the process units are operated safely and that we are in compliance with all environmental regulations.”
Birjis’s connection with Marathon began as a co-op and an intern for two quarters at Marathon’s Detroit and Canton, OH, refineries. Having only been with Marathon as a full-time employee for one year, what made her choose the company to begin her career? “The culture is diverse yet comfortable. I have the freedom to work on my own. Marathon always works toward making this a better place for the community and us. Everyday is a learning experience at Marathon. I have become a lot more confident in my work and outside of work,” comments Birjis.
Discussing expansion at Marathon, she notes, “The Detroit refinery is adding a Coker unit that can process heavy sour oil, which opens up new opportunities for younger engineers. Marathon’s heavy oil upgrading and expansion project at Detroit will result in job opportunities and have a positive effect on U.S., Michigan, and Detroit economies. The Midwest is about a million barrels short of refined product on average and the new Coker will help reduce the need to bring these fuels to the Midwest from the Gulf Coast.”
Birjis sees no problems in chemical engineering advancements and she has observed engineering gains in energy, environment, biomedicine, food production, and technology. “I do see a need for more students to enter the field of chemical engineering, as more people retire and as the economy improves, probably a five- to ten-year span,” she comments.
Asked how Marathon can assist in recruiting, Birjis answers, “Marathon has co-op and internship programs. We recruit for full-time opportunities from college campuses, offer scholarships, support minority student organizations, and promote diversity within the company. Marathon views diversity as an important aspect of its business.” For more about Marathon Oil, visit www.marathon.com.

 

 

 

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