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Fikile R. Brushett, a Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering Practice, has been appointed as the head of MIT’s David H. Koch School of Chemical Engineering Practice, beginning July 1. In this capacity, Brushett will oversee one of MIT’s most pioneering and unique educational initiatives.
Brushett became a part of the chemical engineering faculty in 2012 and has been an actively engaged member of the department. A globally acknowledged authority in energy storage, his research progresses the science and engineering behind electrochemical technologies for a sustainable energy future. He is particularly fascinated by the essential processes that determine the efficiency, expense, and longevity of current and upcoming electrochemical systems. Along with his research, Brushett has acted as a first-year undergraduate mentor, participated in the department’s graduate admissions committee, and served on MIT’s Committee on the Undergraduate Program.
“Fik’s academic excellence and extensive service perfectly position him to embrace this new challenge,” states Kristala L. J. Prather, the Arthur D. Little Professor and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChemE). “His position as practice school director reflects not only his technical knowledge but also his profound dedication to equipping students for significant and impactful careers. I am confident he will guide the practice school with the same spirit of excellence and innovation that has characterized the program for generations.”
Brushett follows T. Alan Hatton, a Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering Practice Post-Tenure, who led the practice school for 36 years. For many, Hatton’s name is closely associated with the program. When he assumed the directorship in 1989, only a few leading chemical firms hosted stations.
“I recognized that concentrating on a single industry segment was not sustainable and did not reflect the breadth of a chemical engineering education,” Hatton reminisces. “Thus, I endeavored to modernize the student experience and ensure it reflected the various ways chemical engineers operate in the contemporary world.”
Under Hatton’s guidance, the practice school grew globally and diversified across sectors, providing students with the opportunity to work on various technologies across multiple locales. He introduced the model of inviting new companies each year, allowing a larger number of firms to engage while also distributing costs across a wider sponsor base. He also launched an intensive, hands-on project management course at MIT during the Independent Activities Period, which has become an invaluable addition to students’ station work and future careers.
Benefits for students and industry
The practice school is advantageous not only for students but also for the companies that host them. By integrating teams directly into manufacturing facilities and R&D centers, businesses obtain new insights on critical technical issues, combined with the analytical precision of MIT-trained problem-solvers. Numerous sponsors report that projects completed by practice school students have resulted in measurable cost reductions, process enhancements, and even new avenues for product innovation.
For manufacturing sectors, where efficiency, safety, and sustainability are crucial, the program provides actionable insights that assist companies in enhancing competitiveness and accelerating growth. This model fosters a unique partnership: students receive authentic real-world training, while companies gain from MIT expertise and the ingenuity of the next generation of chemical engineers.
A century of experiential learning
Established in 1916 by MIT chemical engineering alumnus Arthur D. Little and Professor William Walker, funded by George Eastman of Eastman Kodak, the practice school was created to integrate a practical aspect into chemical engineering education. The initial five sites — all located in the Northeast — concentrated on traditional chemical sectors working with dyes, abrasives, solvents, and fuels.
Today, the program remains exceptional in higher education. Students collaborate with companies globally across fields ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to energy and finance, addressing some of the industry’s most challenging issues. More than a century after its inception, the practice school continues to exemplify MIT’s dedication to hands-on, problem-oriented learning that transforms both students and the industries they serve.
The practice school experience is incorporated into ChemE’s MSCEP and PhD/ScDCEP programs. Once coursework for each program is fulfilled, a student participates in practice school stations at host company sites. A cohort of six to 10 students spends two months each at two stations; every station experience comprises teams of two or three students working on a month-long project, during which they will prepare formal presentations, outlines of work, and a final report for the host company. Recent stations have included Evonik in Marl, Germany; AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, Maryland; EGA in Dubai, UAE; AspenTech in Bedford, Massachusetts; and Shell Technology Center and Dimensional Energy in Houston, Texas.
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