Active research areas in the department include energy conversion materials, novel analytical extractions, protein engineering for DNA detection, potential energy surface modelling, laser spectroscopy for environmental applications, organic nanomaterials for energy harvesting, platinum anti-cancer chemistry, metal-organic frameworks, and aerobic oxidation catalysis.? Our faculty have garnered funding support for their research from NASA, NIH, NSF, USDA, and a variety of other sources.? With over 200 undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry majors and over 25 active Master?s students, the department is constantly buzzing with actively engaged students who are excited about what they do.

As students move through our undergraduate coursework, they receive closer and more personalized attention at each progressive level, with most 400-level major?s courses having 25 students or less.? Our faculty strongly value the close interaction that this fosters.? Nearly 40% of our undergraduate majors are involved in meaningful research experiences, many of which lead to publications, at some point during their time with us.? A new and very attractive option for those undergraduates most interested in research experiences is our Joint Undergraduate-Master?s Program (JUMP) that creates a pathway to earn both B.S. and M.S. degrees in just five years.