Big news from MIT! A pioneering leader in energy storage is now steering a program that has bridged academia and industry for over 100 years. How will Fikile Brushett’s vision shape the future of chemical engineering? Get the inside scoop!
Fikile R. Brushett, a distinguished Ralph Landau Professor, has been officially named the new director of MIT’s David H. Koch School of Chemical Engineering Practice, effective July 1. This pivotal appointment places Brushett at the helm of one of the institution’s most innovative and historically significant educational programs, renowned for its unique century-long bridge between rigorous academic learning and practical industrial application.
Joining the chemical engineering faculty in 2012, Professor Brushett quickly established himself as a deeply engaged member of the department and an internationally recognized authority in the critical field of energy storage. His groundbreaking research tirelessly advances the science and engineering of electrochemical technologies, laying crucial foundations for a more sustainable energy economy. He demonstrates a particular and profound interest in the fundamental processes that meticulously define the performance, cost-efficiency, and operational lifetime of both current and next-generation electrochemical systems, driving forward innovation in this vital sector.
Beyond his prolific research contributions, Brushett has also demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the academic community and student development within MIT. His diverse service roles include acting as a dedicated first-year undergraduate advisor, contributing invaluable insights as a member of the department’s graduate admissions committee, and actively participating on MIT’s influential Committee on the Undergraduate Program. These roles highlight his holistic engagement with the university’s mission and his dedication to fostering the next generation of chemical engineers.
Kristala L. J. Prather, the Arthur D. Little Professor and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering (ChemE), praised Brushett’s capabilities, stating, “Fik’s scholarly excellence and broad service position him perfectly to take on this new challenge.” She further emphasized, “His role as practice school director reflects not only his technical expertise, but his deep commitment to preparing students for meaningful, impactful careers. I’m confident he will lead the practice school with the same spirit of excellence and innovation that has defined the program for generations,” underscoring the department’s high expectations for his leadership.
Brushett steps into a role previously held by T. Alan Hatton, a Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering Practice Post-Tenure, who directed the practice school with unparalleled dedication for 36 years. For many within the MIT community and the broader industry, Hatton’s name became synonymous with the program’s evolution. When he first assumed the directorship in 1989, the landscape of corporate hosts was significantly narrower, primarily consisting of a handful of major chemical companies.
Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive and diverse educational experience, Hatton embarked on a significant modernization initiative. “I realized that focusing on one industry segment was not sustainable and did not reflect the breadth of a chemical engineering education,” Hatton recalled. He meticulously worked to expand the program globally and across various industries, offering students unprecedented opportunities to engage with diverse technologies in a wide array of international and domestic locations. His pioneering model of recruiting new companies annually not only broadened student experiences but also diffused operational costs across a wider base of sponsoring partners, creating sustainable industry collaboration.
The benefits of the practice school extend far beyond the students, creating a symbiotic relationship with host companies. By embedding highly capable student teams directly into manufacturing plants and cutting-edge R&D centers, businesses gain fresh, analytical perspectives on their most critical technical challenges. These MIT-trained problem-solvers bring rigorous analytical skills, often leading to measurable cost savings, significant process improvements, and even novel opportunities for product innovation. This unique industry collaboration fosters practical insights for sustainable technology.
Established in 1916 by MIT chemical engineering alumnus Arthur D. Little and Professor William Walker, with crucial initial funding from George Eastman of Eastman Kodak, the practice school was originally conceived to embed a vital practical dimension into chemical engineering education. Its initial five sites, all located in the Northeast, focused on traditional chemical industries involved in dyes, abrasives, solvents, and fuels. Today, this groundbreaking program remains truly unique within higher education, embodying a century of educational innovation.
Currently, the program sends students to consult with companies worldwide, spanning fields from food and pharmaceuticals to energy and finance, tackling some of industry’s most formidable challenges. More than a hundred years after its founding, the practice school powerfully continues to embody MIT’s unwavering commitment to hands-on, problem-driven learning that profoundly transforms both the students who participate and the industries they serve. Students, part of ChemE’s MSCEP and PhD/ScDCEP programs, spend two months each at two stations, working in small teams on month-long projects, preparing formal presentations, scope of work documents, and final reports for their host companies, gaining invaluable STEM education and engineering leadership experience.
