Rohit Pal shares how his MEng and PhD at U of T prepared him for a career bridging industry and research
Rohit Pal’s journey into chemical engineering began with a curiosity shaped by his surroundings. Born on the Andaman Islands, an Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, he grew up immersed in nature and geological landscapes that left a lasting impression.
“Growing up on the islands meant you were very close to nature and experiencing some of the fascinating geological marvels of planet Earth,” he recalls. One moment in particular stood out: “I remember first seeing crude oil deposits around one of the mud volcanoes on our island.” This early exposure sparked his interest in fossil fuels and energy resources, ultimately leading him to pursue an undergraduate degree in Petroleum Engineering.
Following his studies at the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies in India, Pal joined Shell in 2015 as a Process Engineer in Bangalore, working with the subsurface and wells team. Over the course of his tenure, he worked across multiple locations in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams of geologists, chemists, and scientists. Through these experiences, he gained insight into areas ranging from process safety to digitalization.
“My interactions helped me realize the importance of graduate school and how advanced degrees can help us develop skills and competencies for innovation, research excellence, and long-term career growth,” he says.
Motivated by this realization, Pal joined the University of Toronto in 2019 to begin graduate studies in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry. He completed his Master of Engineering (MEng) in 2020 and continued into the PhD program, graduating in the summer of 2025. He has since moved to Montreal to pursue a Mitacs-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship while exploring additional industrial opportunities.
Building Technical and Professional Foundations Through the MEng
Pal chose the MEng program at U of T for its balance of technical depth and professional flexibility. “I wanted to pursue a course which had elements of professional engineering blended with the flavours of technical expertise,” he explains. The program allowed him to select courses that strengthened his technical foundation while building industry-relevant skills such as Six Sigma.
A defining feature of the program for Pal was its flexibility. “The advantage of the MEng program is its ‘no-strings-attached’ policy allowing students to pursue a co-op or a full-time job alongside graduate studies,” he notes. This structure enabled him to complete a co-op placement with Imperial Oil in Calgary, where he visited the Kearl Oil Sands facility and gained valuable Canadian work experience.
While his undergraduate education provided a strong footing in fundamentals such as heat and mass transfer and fluid mechanics, the MEng allowed him to expand on these concepts through advanced, application-oriented courses. One course that particularly stood out was Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics. “I found the course intellectually stimulating,” he says, adding that he enjoyed “generating simulations where I could see physical phenomena of heat and mass transfer visually in chemical reactors.”
Another impactful course was Liquid Biofuels, taught by Professor Bradley Saville. Pal appreciated the use of industrial examples and open-ended assignments, noting that the course “broadened my perspective on renewable fuels and strengthened my critical analysis skills.”
Beyond coursework, the MEng helped Pal develop essential professional skills. “Through course projects I developed essential soft skills such as teamwork, critical analysis, and effective communication,” he says. His involvement with the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Association (CEGSA) further supported his leadership development, while interactions with alumni, faculty, and research groups helped broaden his professional network.
Reflecting on his co-op experience, Pal describes it as a defining period. “My co-op at Imperial Oil was the highlight of my MEng program. I gained valuable exposure to process safety and engineering practices within oil sands operations,” he says, noting that it also expanded his professional network with plant managers, facilities engineers, and scientists.
From Course-Based Learning to Doctoral Research
During his MEng, Pal conducted research in Professor Ramin Farnood’s laboratory, developing sunlight-activated catalytic materials to drive chemical reactions. “I liked the challenge of doing research,” he says. “It was purposeful and results-oriented, yet you could fail several times before achieving your research objectives.” This experience helped him cultivate resilience and a problem-solving mindset.
After completing his MEng, Pal transitioned into a PhD project sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Ontario, in collaboration with three industrial partners. Moving from a structured, course-based program to a research-intensive doctoral program required adjustment. “Research usually progresses with little structure, and embracing this uncertainty was definitely a big challenge,” he explains. Unlike the clear milestones of the MEng, PhD deliverables were broader and more open-ended, requiring him to recalibrate expectations and plan for long-term outcomes.
His doctoral research addressed gaps between fundamental reaction studies and predictive, process-level modeling in photocatalysis. “When I started doing research, I realized that there was a gap—particularly in photocatalysis—between fundamental reaction studies and predictive, process-level modeling,” he says. Drawing on his background in process design and simulation, his goal was “to develop models capable of predicting reaction products in photocatalytic systems, while also demonstrating the practical relevance of this research.” Collaborations with industrial partners and development of bench-scale reactors allowed him to connect fundamental scientific insights with scalable engineering applications.
Career Development and Ongoing Impact
Pal credits both the MEng and PhD programs at U of T with shaping his professional trajectory. “The MEng program was fundamental to helping me develop a strong technical foundation and providing industrial opportunities to apply engineering principles,” he says. His PhD further strengthened his critical thinking and ability to tackle complex problems.
Today, Pal continues this trajectory through postdoctoral research focused on developing large-scale microwave reactors for plastic depolymerization and building computational fluid dynamics models to support their design and industrial deployment. Reflecting on key milestones, he points to his co-op at Imperial Oil and a research internship at Natural Resources Canada as particularly impactful. “The tools and systems that I developed during these placements continue to be used and deployed within both organizations,” he notes.
A Lasting Connection to the Department
Pal maintains a strong connection to the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, citing the support of faculty, staff, and peers as central to his experience. “I have always had a highly supportive and positive experience with the faculty and staff,” he says, highlighting their technical guidance, access to resources, and administrative support. Equally meaningful has been the community of peers he built during his studies.
“Building friendships that eventually evolve into a professional network has profoundly influenced my career trajectory and professional decisions,” he reflects. Looking back on his graduate journey, Pal emphasizes the importance of resilience and planning. “Graduate studies is a journey that blends technical rigor, intellectual curiosity, and personal growth,” he says.
He encourages prospective students to be patient, embrace failure as part of the process, and focus on developing confidence, critical thinking, and collaboration—qualities essential for success in both academia and industry.