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The focus of this proposal is to introduce a model of integrated engineering research for the development of dissertation projects that bridge the technical aspects of engineering comprehension to the educational components of engineering education. This type of integrated engineering research centers on the development of essential competencies in the engineering profession including those associated with interdisciplinary work. As part of this integrated graduate research approach, the purpose is to help students engage in new experiences with academic research that provide opportunities to be exposed to two central parts that comprise the T-shape [1] of the engineering profession – technical skills and interdisciplinary skills related to effective teaching at the postsecondary level [2]. Leveraging the Renaissance Foundry Model (herein the Foundry) [3], an innovation-driven learning platform, graduate students that develop an integrated research dissertation are encouraged to engage in essential critical and design thinking skills that help them to visualize the connections between these technical and educational components of a comprehensive research project [4]. For this work, we present the integrated research project of one doctoral student whose focus is on understanding sustainability concepts in chemical engineering.