Chemical Engineering and Technology Doctoral Training Program

Discipline Category: Engineering

First-level Discipline Code: 0817

First-level Discipline Name: Chemical Engineering and Technology

Secondary Discipline Codes: 081701, 081702, 081703, 081704, 081705, 0817Z1, 0817Z2, 0817Z3

Secondary Discipline Names: Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology, Biochemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Industrial Catalysis, Applied Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Industrial Engineering

Training Objectives

This discipline is committed to cultivating high-end international chemical talents with all-round development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor skills, who can adapt to the development of Chemical Engineering and Technology and related disciplinary fields as well as the construction of modern chemical industry economy. Doctoral degree recipients should possess the following qualities:

1. Have a good grasp of the basic viewpoints and methods of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the Party's basic line; love the motherland, abide by national laws and disciplines, have good moral character and academic integrity; and have the dedication to serve the socialist modernization drive and devote themselves to scientific undertakings.

2. Systematically and in-depth master the basic theories and professional knowledge of the discipline, form a solid and broad theoretical knowledge system and scientific and rational innovative thinking methods; have the ability to independently and creatively engage in scientific research, teaching, and professional and technical work on new chemical products, processes, equipment, and technologies; have a comprehensive understanding of the latest development trends in the discipline at home and abroad; and make original contributions to the existing knowledge system.

3. Proficiency in at least one foreign language, able to skillfully read foreign language materials in the major, and have good writing skills and the ability to conduct international academic exchanges.

4. Actively participate in physical exercise, pay attention to personal cultivation, and maintain physical and mental health.

Discipline Introduction and Research Directions

The discipline of Chemical Engineering and Technology is ranked in the top 1% globally by ESI, a first-class discipline in China, and a dominant discipline among Hubei Provincial Key Disciplines. It has one first-level master's degree program, eight second-level master's degree programs, and one postdoctoral research station. It has established the "Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Process of the Ministry of Education", the "Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of New Reactors and Green Chemical Processes", and the Hubei Provincial Innovation and Collaboration Center. The main research directions are:

1. Chemical Product Engineering

2. Chemical Process Engineering

3. Ecological Chemical Engineering

4. Biochemical Engineering

5. Pharmaceutical Engineering

Training Methods

The training of doctoral students shall adopt the tutor responsibility system to cultivate their ability to independently engage in scientific research and creative work, and follow the following principles：

1. Combine political theory learning with daily ideological and political education. Tutors should care about the political ideology and moral character of doctoral students and promote their all-round development.

2. In terms of guidance methods, adopt the combination of tutor responsibility system and collective training by the tutor group, give full play to the expertise and leading role of tutors, and at the same time pay attention to the coordination and complementary role of the tutor group.

3. Teach students in accordance with their aptitude and give full play to the personal talents and strengths of doctoral students.

4. Adopt the combination of systematic and cutting-edge theoretical learning and extensive social practice. Doctoral students should take self-study as the main method, actively participate in academic activities and social practice activities, and conduct in-depth scientific research.

Study Period and Duration

The standard study period for full-time doctoral students is 4 years (outstanding students may apply for early graduation). Those who need to graduate early or extend the study period shall submit an application in person, with the consent of the tutor, review by the college, and approval by the Graduate School. The period of one extension application shall generally not exceed 1 year, and doctoral students during the extension period will no longer enjoy relevant national and university subsidies. The maximum study duration for full-time doctoral students shall not exceed 6 years (including suspension of study).

The study duration for part-time doctoral students is generally 5 years, and may be appropriately extended in special cases with review and approval. The period of one extension application shall generally not exceed 1 year, and the maximum study duration for part-time doctoral students shall not exceed 8 years.

Training Links

1. Academic Norms and Academic Ethics Education: In accordance with the requirements of Document JYTG [2019] No. 1, a compulsory course on "Academic Norms and Academic Ethics Education" (6 class hours, no credits) shall be offered. Doctoral students shall participate in the "Academic Norms and Academic Ethics Education" lecture organized by the university and college at the beginning of enrollment as part of the new student education.

2. Thesis Topic Selection: Complete course learning and required academic activities, determine the research direction, and conduct literature review and summary writing as required by the tutor. Doctoral students shall participate in the thesis proposal and submit the printed thesis proposal materials in the first semester of the second academic year (3rd semester).

3. Academic Activities (including Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice): Conducted in accordance with the "Regulations on the Management of Academic Activities for Postgraduates of Wuhan University of Engineering". The total credits for academic activities are 2, and 1 credit can be obtained by completing half of the required academic activities. Doctoral students shall obtain 1 credit for academic activities before the thesis proposal and the remaining 1 credit before applying for the thesis defense. They shall give at least 1 public academic report within the university and participate in at least 1 international academic conference with an oral presentation (2nd - 5th semesters).

4. Practical Training: Conduct various forms of work and activities such as research assistantship, teaching assistantship, technological innovation, and social practice under the guidance of the tutor, and complete a practical training report. Required credits: ≥ 2. Doctoral students shall give at least 1 public academic report at the academic forum of the university or college during their studies (3rd - 5th semesters).

5. Mid-term Assessment: The mid-term assessment of doctoral students shall be carried out 6 to 10 months after the approval of the thesis topic selection report. Doctoral students shall conduct self-inspection and write a summary report; tutors and the college shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the students, provide specific opinions, and report to the Graduate School for review and filing. Only those who pass the mid-term assessment can continue with the thesis work. The college assessment team shall conduct a comprehensive inspection of the progress of the students' thesis work. Doctoral students shall participate in the thesis mid-term assessment organized by the university and college, write a summary report, and obtain 1 credit (5th semester).

6. Pre-defense: Before submitting the thesis for review, doctoral students shall participate in the pre-defense. The pre-defense shall follow the same procedure as the formal defense, and the defense committee shall give the pre-defense result by secret ballot. Those who fail the pre-defense must revise the thesis in accordance with the experts' opinions, and re-participate in the pre-defense after at least 1 month with the tutor's review. Only those who pass the pre-defense can apply for thesis review and defense. The pre-defense shall be held no less than 3 months before the thesis is submitted for review.

Curriculum Setting and Credit Requirements

The course learning of doctoral students implements the credit system, with a total of no less than 15 credits, including no less than 10 credits for degree courses. All courses are converted at 16 class hours per credit. The credit distribution is as follows:

1. Public Compulsory Courses: 6 credits
Marxism with Chinese Characteristics and Contemporary Issues:2 credits
Comprehensive English for Doctoral Students: 2 credits
Academic English for Doctoral Students: 2 credits

2. Disciplinary Basic Courses: No less than 4 credits
Frontiers of Chemical Engineering and Technology: 2 credits
Advanced Chemical Thermodynamics: 2 credits
Advanced Physical Chemistry: 2 credits
Computational Chemistry and Applications: 2 credits
Chemical Process Systems Engineering: 2 credits

3. Disciplinary Orientation Courses: No less than 2 credits
Functional Polymer Materials: 2 credits
C1 Chemistry and Chemical Engineering: 2 credits
Resource Chemical Engineering and Technology: 2 credits”
New Catalytic Materials: 2 credits
New Drug Research and Development: 2 credits

4. Non-degree Elective Courses
Engineering Ethics: 1 credit
Organic Functional Materials: 2 credits
Nanomaterials: 2 credits
Biopharmaceutical Engineering: 2 credits
Energy Conversion Engineering: 2 credits
Modern Biotechnology: 2 credits

5. Public Elective Courses

Selected Readings of Classic Works by Marx, Engels, and Lenin: 2 credits

6. Public Basic Courses
Modern Computational Methods:2 credits
Advanced Matrix Analysis: 2 credits

Doctoral Thesis

1. The doctoral thesis shall be independently completed by the doctoral student under the guidance of the tutor. The content and requirements of the doctoral training links shall be strictly implemented in accordance with the relevant regulations of the university's Graduate School.

2. The doctoral thesis shall be a systematic, comprehensive, and original academic work. It shall focus on topics that have important theoretical significance or great practical value for China's scientific and technological progress, economic construction, and social development in the field of Chemical Engineering and Technology or related fields, with scientificity, innovation, advancement, and feasibility. Its content and writing level shall reflect that the doctoral student has mastered solid and extensive basic theories and systematic and in-depth specialized knowledge, and possesses the ability to independently engage in teaching or scientific research work.

3. The doctoral thesis shall have a novel topic, clear concepts, and sufficient arguments; the research methods adopted shall have scientific basis, the theoretical derivation shall be correct, the calculation results shall be accurate, the experimental data shall be true and reliable, and the analysis shall be rigorous; the conclusions shall be elaborated theoretically, and the materials cited from others shall be referenced to the original works. The thesis shall have innovative achievements, and be concise, fluent, well-organized, hierarchical, and logically rigorous with standardized charts. The writing requirements of the thesis (including writing, typesetting, binding, etc.) shall be implemented in accordance with the "Specifications for the Writing and Printing of Postgraduate Theses of Wuhan University of Engineering" issued by the Graduate School.

4. Doctoral students must strictly abide by the ethical norms of scientific research in the thesis work and resolutely put an end to fraud, plagiarism, and other undesirable behaviors. Those who violate the regulations shall have their qualifications for thesis defense and degree evaluation revoked immediately and be dealt with severely in accordance with the relevant regulations on postgraduate academic records management. Any defense that has been passed shall be declared invalid, and any doctoral degree that has been awarded shall be rescinded.

5. Before applying for the thesis defense, doctoral students shall publish academic papers related to the discipline and research topic in accordance with the "Regulations on Postgraduates Applying for Degrees at Wuhan University of Engineering". Before obtaining the degree, doctoral students must meet any of the following requirements for publishing papers related to their doctoral thesis as the first author with "Wuhan University of Engineering" as the first completing unit:

(1) Publish (or have accepted) at least 3 academic papers in Grade A or above journals of the university's Academic Journal Classification List or international academic journals, including at least 1 paper published in a foreign language journal and indexed by SCI Zone 2 or above (or the university's TOP100 journals). One authorized invention patent is equivalent to 1 Grade A academic paper, and only 1 patent can be equivalent to a paper.

(2) Publish (or have accepted) at least 2 papers in international English academic journals indexed by SCI Zone 2 (or the university's TOP100 journals), or publish (or have accepted) at least 1 paper in international English academic journals indexed by SCI Zone 2 (or the university's TOP100 journals) and obtain 1 provincial or ministerial-level second-class or higher scientific and technological achievement award with a ranking among the top 3.

(3) Publish (or have accepted) at least 2 academic papers in Grade A or above journals of the university's Academic Journal Classification List or international academic journals, including 1 paper published in a journal indexed by CAS SCI Zone 1 or the university's TOP100 journals.

Curriculum Setting and Assessment Requirements

Training Links