Program Overview
Chemistry, Ph.D.
The Ph.D. in Chemistry at Florida Tech offers a diversified learning environment, providing students with an academic community not often found at other graduate chemistry programs. Fieldwork, faculty-led research opportunities, internships, and assistantships, peer networking, and one-on-one professor mentorship combine to create a unique learning experience that prepares students for success.
A Program of Excellence
The department has strong professional ties to Kennedy Space Center and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, resulting in more opportunities for students. In addition, Florida Tech chemistry PhD students are often published researchers, with their work showcased in industry journals.
Dedicated, Experienced Faculty
The experienced staff of professors mentor students and provide a close-knit learning environment not possible at larger universities. This professional environment gives professors a chance to include students in their own research, steering students to engage in important topics that can contribute to the industry. External collaborations and internships occasionally lead to international travel for dedicated industry research.
Professors at Florida Tech work hand-in-hand with doctoral students to develop chemistry research experiences that concentrate on topical issues in chemistry. This often leads to meaningful contributions to the industry by Florida Tech students. Topics include:
- Degenerative disease approaches
- Disease pathology
- Neurological disorders
- Vision
- DNA Analysis and chromosome replication
- Plant molecular biology
- Biotechnology
- Counter-measures for biological threat agents
- Design and application of nanomaterials
- Toxicology
- Cancer research
State-of-the-Art, Advanced Research Laboratories and Facilities
Laboratories and facilities are an important facet of chemistry graduate programs. As a top-tier research university, Florida Tech provides advanced technology chemistry students need to conduct innovative research, including:
- Spectrometers
- High-resolution microscopy
- Photochemistry
- Computational chemistry equipment The F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center is 70,000 square feet of research and teaching labs, including:
- Research laboratories
- Teaching laboratories
- Conference facilities
- Instrumentation rooms
- NMR facility with two NMR spectrometers (400 and 60 MHz)
- DART (Direct Analysis in Real Time) spectrometer
- Atomic force microscopy
- Scanning tunneling microscopy
- Scanning emission microscopy
- Laser-scanning confocal microscopy
- Photochemistry
- Glassblowing
- Computational chemistry
The NanoscienceNanotechnology Lab was recently developed by chemical engineering and chemistry faculty with grants from the National Science Foundation, and is already a valuable asset to the students at Florida Tech.
Career Potential
With a PhD in chemistry from Florida Tech, graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers, including pharmaceutical, medical, academic, and private industries such as manufacturing, alternative energy, food chemistry, and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in chemistry have a promising growth rate of 6% through 2022. Employers that have recruited Florida Tech graduates include:
- Bristol-Meyers Squibb
- Florida Solar Energy Center
- Merck & Company
- Motorola
- NASA
- Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
- Sherwin Williams