Overview

From the University’s founding in 1850 until the present day, the study of chemistry at Rochester has prospered. Our department continues to provide outstanding opportunities to undertake and accomplish significant research, and engage in excellent educational programs leading to the BS and BA degrees in chemistry and PhD studies in chemistry and allied fields.

The department's program presents unrivaled opportunities for education and research in the traditional fields of analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, materials and physical chemistry, as well as a variety of interdisciplinary areas.

Faculty expertise spans virtually all areas of modern chemical research and related fields. The department is organized according to the research cluster model, emphasizing interdisciplinary research uniquely available at a relatively small research university such as Rochester.

A Reputation for Excellence Research and Teaching

Our department is recognized locally and nationally by funding agencies and corporate research sponsors. In addition, the faculty continues to grow in stature and its members have collectively received more than 45 national and University awards for research and teaching in the last five years.

Approximately 95 graduate students are enrolled in our doctoral program each year. Our total research effort is further augmented by approximately 30 senior research scientists and postdoctoral fellows, assisted by experienced and dedicated scientific/technical and administrative staff. Our research infrastructure ranks among the very best in the nation, with all of the state-of-the-art instrumentation necessary for the study of modern chemistry.

We strive to attract the best and brightest scholars while maintaining a supportive, collegial, and friendly community, one of the defining characteristics of the Department of Chemistry and the University of Rochester.