<p>I'm doing a com sci minor right now. I want to graduate early as well. It's very tempting for me to drop the com sci minor.</p>
<p>I plan to do research in chem e rather than to pursue industry. So writing programs that plot a lot of data points probably would apply to a process engineer, but they don't apply to me.</p>
<p>What applications does computer programming have in research involving polymers, proteins, solar cells, etc?</p>
<p>You are in for a treat. ChemE heavily relies on fourth-generation computer software such as Maple, Mathcad, Mathematica or MATLAB. I have learned MATLAB so much that I compile programs on my sleep.</p>
<p>Can I just know about the applications of programming in research? Will it boost my grad school application?</p>
<p>Again, I’m interested in research, not industry.</p>
<p>I’m currently doing research as a ChemE in the Matse Dept at my school. We are investigating the streaming current phenomena (run an electrolyte solution through polymer microchannel). What I am doing as an undergrad is taking the results we get in that lab and trying to model and replicate them in MATLAB/COMSOL, then I am going to run parametric studies varying different variables to see how they affect the model (microchannel width, polymer conductivity). Research labs use MATLAB for lots of things, including experimental modeling and data analysis.</p>
<p>You may not need the compsci minor but knowing a high-level programming language such as MATLAB or Mathematica is a very useful tool in ChemE, esp in research.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I’m talking to a grad student adviser tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll learn something new.</p>