Fellow presentation and intro to your career path
Hey everyone, my name is Truyen Le and I’m originally from Viet Nam. I came to the US in 2012 to pursue my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at University of Minnesota (UofM). My reasoning for why I chose chemical engineering was embarrassingly simple, I was good at math and chemistry during my high school, and I thought that “chemistry + math = chemical engineer and engineers should be able to find jobs easily,” so that is why I decided to major in chemical engineering.
As I learnt more about chemical engineering during my time at UofM, I found it to be very intriguing and started liking it more because chemical engineering is the bridge between scientific theories and practical applications. I was a very practical person, so I resonated well with the ideology behind chemical engineering, which takes fundamentals principles of chemistry and physics and apply them to develop actual real-life processes, materials and technologies that have practical and tangible effects on our standards of living. During my time at UofM, I had various experiences, from working as a research assistant in a university polymer lab researching about sustainable polymer, as a chemist intern at H.B. Fuller studying about adhesives, or a technician at Cargill in which my responsibilities were to operate a research and development pilot plant for food production. Through those experience, I was able to explore various industries and gain good experience but finding a permanent job in Minnesota as an international undergraduate were particularly challenging, so I decided to pursue advanced degrees to improve my career prospects.
I was accepted to a master's program in chemical engineering at University of California, Berkeley and the Bay Area was one of the largest technology hubs in the US, so I decided to move there after 6 years living in Minnesota. After graduating from U.C. Berkeley, I have been working as a process development engineer at Lygos to develop downstream processes for purification of specialty chemicals obtained from fermentation.
Chemical Engineering career options
Chemical Engineering is a field that intertwines the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering to solve real-world challenges and create innovative solutions. Because of that, there is a wide range of career paths for chemical engineers that include different industries and sectors and here are some of the prominent career paths you can pursue with a degree in chemical engineering:
- Process Engineer
Design, optimize, and manage processes used in industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food production
- R&D engineering
Focus on developing new products, materials, and technologies by conducting experiments, analyze data and work to improve existing products or processes
- Environmental Engineer
Specialize in designing processes and technologies that minimize the environmental impact of industrial operations
- Biotechnology Engineer
Use chemical engineering knowledge to develop processes for creating pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and other bioproducts
- Consultant
Provide expertise to companies seeking solutions for technical challenges
- Supply Chain and Operations Managers
Oversee production, distribution, and logistics of products. Optimize processes to ensure timely delivery while minimizing cost
- Project Manager
Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of engineering projects
- Safety Engineer
Focus on identifying and mitigating potential hazards in industrial processes
Main hard skills you use on daily basis in your current job
- Process Scale-Up
Scaling up purification processes from lab-scale to larger production scale requires a deep understanding of the engineering principles involved. For example, I usually need to translate lab-scale results to larger equipment, considering factors such as mass transfer, mixing, and residence time to maintain consistent and efficient purification. Some of this knowledge was learnt from ChemE courses but I did not have a full understanding of how to do it until I had hands-on experience working on the equipment and interacting with senior engineers.
- Statistical Analysis and Design of Experiments
Process optimization often involves statistical analysis and the application of DoE methodologies. I have learnt about this during my ChemE courses and seminars from JMP. During my process development, I usually design experiments, collect and analyze data, and use statistical tools like JMP to identify key process parameters, optimize conditions, and ensure reproducible purification processes.
- Filtration and Separation Techniques
Proficiency in filtration and separation techniques is vital for separating solids, liquids, and gases from biomolecular solutions. I use these common separation techniques such as depth filtration, tangential flow filtration (TFF), centrifugation, and membrane filtration very frequently in downstream process development to separate biomass from fermentation broth. I have learnt about these techniques from ChemE courses and had hands-on experience during my job here at Lygos
Soft skills you use on daily basis in your current job
- Communication skills
Effective communication is vital for collaborating with cross-functional teams, presenting findings, and sharing process updates. In my current job, I usually need to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner to colleagues with varying levels of technical expertise. There is no definite method to learn communication skills, but they are mostly learned through practice, experience, and seeking feedback from other colleagues and supervisors.
- Project Management
Process development projects usually involve multiple tasks, timelines, and stakeholders, so having basic project management skills has helped me organize my work, set priorities, and meet deadlines. These skills were learnt through coursework, workshops, or practical experience. The application I often used at my job is Smartsheet, which has been very helpful for me when planning experiments, coordinating resources and ensuring that projects progress smoothly and on schedule
- Adaptability and Flexibility
The biotech industry is rapidly evolving, with new technologies and methodologies constantly emerging. I usually need to adapt to changing circumstances, technologies, and project requirements, especially when working in a start-up environment. Because of that, I always try to be exposed to diverse projects, learning experiences, and staying updated on industries trend
Your personal path
I graduated from UC Berkeley in May 2020 and it was during the time when the pandemic just started, so it was particularly challenging to find jobs at that time. Everything had to be done online, and there was no career/job fair to go to meet employers. During that time, I did about 50-100 applications, mostly on LinkedIn and Indeed.com, and I did not get many responses until 3 months after I graduated. Since my working visa was expiring, I already booked a flight ticket home. Luckily two weeks before my flight, I got an interview invitation for a process development engineer position at Lygos, in which I did an online interview with 3 people and an in-person tour. I got accepted in the next few days and my life has changed since then. Working at a start-up was incredibly challenging since I had to do everything myself from building equipment, organizing working space, ordering new equipment/materials, planning experiments, etc. However, it was a good learning environment for a new graduate since I could develop diverse types of skills that you cannot have, working in big companies. Also, having a good mentor and colleagues is immensely helpful, so that is why I am still working here at Lygos after 3 years.
What would you tell your younger you regarding building your current career?
I would tell my younger me to go out and explore more instead of just focusing on studying at university. A good GPA is nice to have but not a requirement to land a good job, but instead relevant experience and connections are more important because after your first job, no employer will rate your GPA highly anymore. Apply to different jobs, internships, club activities to gain more experience, connections, and develop both social and technical skills because these skills will not only help you get accepted into a job but will help you succeed in it and open to more opportunities that will bring you closer to your dream jobs.
Final tips and insights
To improve your chance of landing a job, take advantage of all the resources available to you at schools and your surroundings. It is always good to have a dream job, something to aim for in your career, but be realistic and open to new opportunities. Go to career fairs, talk to companies, take part in club activities, email alumni, talk to your professors, etc. are different ways you can use to explore more about different industries. Once you understand what you are interested in, come up with a list of skills that may be needed for that industry and start working on it. Also, apply to internships, research positions or part-time jobs during the summers because it will give you an edge compared to others with no experience, especially in engineering positions.
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