Rachel Chen PhD

Dr. Chen received her PhD in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Biology in 1994 from California Institute of Technology. Her thesis research and a brief postdoctoral stint were in the area of Metabolic Engineering under the mentorship of late Dr. James E. Bailey. Thereafter, she took a research scientist position with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company ( Syracuse, New York ), where she developed interest and expertise in Biocatalysis. In 2000, she began her first academic appointment in Virginia Commonwealth University as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. She is currently an associate professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Dr. Chen has broad interests in biomolecular engineering and has successfully developed projects in Metabolic Engineering, Cellular Membrane Engineering, Biocatalysis, Directed Evolution, and Green Chemistry. Dr. Chen is a proud mother of two wonderful kids, Jennifer and George. In her scarce spare time, she indulges herself in classic music and utilizes her creativity in cooking and gardening.