In March, we celebrate Women's History Month, recognizing the many ways women have shaped society, industry, and scientific progress across generations.
This year, we're highlighting the women advancing chemical engineering through leadership and mentorship. In this interview, Dr. Sudipta Bishop, Treasurer of the Women in Chemical Engineering (WIC) Community and Senior Director of R&D at Koroseal, shares her journey and why supporting the next generation of engineers matters so much to her.
As a successful female professional in the chemical industry, I've always wanted to empower and mentor young chemical engineers to reach their aspirations.
What inspired you to become a leader within your AIChE community?
I flew from India as a young woman to pursue my engineering dream in the States. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a PhD in Chemical Engineering, with an emphasis on micro to macro reactors for process intensification. Since then, I've served in leadership roles with either IIChE (Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers) or AIChE.
As a successful female professional in the chemical industry for the last 20 years, currently serving as Senior Director of R&D, I've always wanted to empower and mentor young chemical engineers to reach their aspirations. Leadership is in my blood, and I'm truly passionate about it. What better platform than AIChE for connecting with and encouraging the next generation of fantastic ChemEs? I also have extensive professional connections that grow every year through AIChE, and I can tap into this network for problem-solving. Learning, connecting, mentoring, and leading are my core work values, and AIChE leadership, especially through WIC, offers all of these opportunities.
Can you share a key challenge you've faced in leading your community and how you overcame it?
Our WIC community brings together both academic and industrial professionals. Ambiguity and differing opinions naturally arise, but we validate these differences through clear communication and collaboration. AIChE staff members also provide data and insights to help us reach resolutions and move forward together.
What are some of the key professional and personal benefits that members gain from being part of an AIChE community?
Members gain numerous benefits from the AIChE community: constant learning, knowledge upgrades, mentoring relationships, and even collaborative research opportunities. I was honored to serve as the 2024 AIChE Spring WIC programming chair. I also served as a session chair at a number of conferences, including the “Fuel Chemistry” session at the ACS National Meeting, co-sponsored by AIChE. These opportunities came through a professional network that believed in my expertise and work. I've also mentored, and continue to mentor, professionals both within and outside of AIChE.
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View more stories in the series AIChE Observes Women’s History Month.
