Program Overview

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About the Graduate Program

The Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology offers rigorous programs of graduate study leading to either a Ph.D. degree or an M.S. (with or without research thesis) degree. The Ph.D. curriculum balances directed research with coursework to prepare our graduates for careers in industry and academia, whereas the M.S. program is designed to serve the needs of industrial chemists seeking to broaden and enrich their knowledge-base. Regardless of degree program or area of specialization, graduate students begin with lecture courses that lay the foundation for intellectual development in their chosen area. Students then shift their focus to research projects under the direction of their research advisors, culminating with a thesis or dissertation.

Financial support is guaranteed for all Ph.D. candidates in good academic standing and may come from a variety of sources including:

• Research assistantships
• Teaching assistantships
• A variety of fellowships

Graduate Research

All Ph.D. students and many M.S. students conduct original research under the direction of a faculty advisor as a major component of their studies. Research efforts in the department span a broad range of topics of current relevance across the various subdisciplines of chemistry and chemical biology. Our faculty are extremely successful at securing funding from government agencies (e.g. NSF, NIH, Dept. of Energy, Dept. of Defense); since 2010 the department has consistently ranked in the top 10 chemistry departments nationwide in terms of total research expenditures. We are excited to expand our research efforts in our new chemistry building, which opened in 2018.

Much of the department's research is deeply interdisciplinary, which means that our students enjoy opportunities for intellectual growth and research partnerships extending well beyond the traditional subdisciplines of chemistry. Our faculty have joint appointments and supervise graduate students and postdocs in many research centers and institutes around the New Brunswick/Piscataway campus, such as:

• The Waksman Institute for Microbiology
• Institute for Advanced Materials, Devices and Nanotechnology
• Center for Integrated Proteomics Research
• Rutgers Catalysis Research Center
• Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine
• Rutgers Energy Institute

The broad scope of these centers and institutes, as well as the department's own resources, provide a vast array of state-of-the-art instrumentation to support our research efforts.

Research Instrumentation

• High-field NMR spectrometers (600, 700, 800 MHz) capable of multinuclear 2D and 3D experiments
• Low-field NMR spectrometers (300, 400, 500 MHz)
• Several X-ray diffraction instruments, including single-crystal diffractometers, 2D Histar X-ray imaging system, and multiple powder diffractometers
• Ultrahigh vacuum surface analysis apparatus with Auger, photoelectron and electron energy loss spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, low energy electron diffraction and He atom scattering
• Scanning probe microscopy instruments, including scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopes
• Infrared, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy instrumentation including temperature programmable optical rotatary dispersion–circular dichroism spectrapolarimeters, temperature-controlled fluorescence spectrophotometer, low-temperature FTIR spectrometers, nanosecond flash-photolysis, and high-resolution UV-visible and Raman spectrometers
• Other experimental instrumentation including a SQUID magnetometer, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometer, HPLC-mass spectrometer with electrospray ionizer, automated DNA and peptide synthesizers
• Computational chemistry cluster with ~1400 parallel cores, and local support for accessing massively parallel supercomputers at national centers

Fellowships and Awards

• Departmental Awards
• BASF Corporation Fellowship
• Cox Scholarship for Cancer Research
• Dickstein Endowed Graduate Fellowship
• McCoy Family Fellowship
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
• Zhou Family Fellowship

Graduate Program Structure

The graduate program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in chemistry and chemical biology, as well as the opportunity to conduct original research under the direction of a faculty advisor. The program is structured to allow students to progress from coursework to research, with the goal of producing well-rounded and highly trained graduates.

Learning Goals

The learning goals of the graduate program are to provide students with a deep understanding of the principles of chemistry and chemical biology, as well as the ability to design and conduct original research. The program aims to produce graduates who are well-prepared for careers in industry, academia, and government.

Course Schedule and Descriptions

The graduate program offers a variety of courses in chemistry and chemical biology, including lecture and laboratory courses. The course schedule and descriptions are available through the department's website.

Faculty Advisors for Master’s Students

The department has a number of faculty members who serve as advisors for master's students. These advisors provide guidance and support to students as they progress through the program.

Graduate Handbook and Forms

The graduate handbook and forms are available through the department's website. These resources provide students with information on program requirements, policies, and procedures.

Graduate Student Organization

The graduate student organization is a student-run group that provides support and community for graduate students in the department. The organization hosts events and activities throughout the year, including seminars, social events, and professional development opportunities.

How to Apply to the Graduate Program

Information on how to apply to the graduate program is available through the department's website. The application process typically includes submitting transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

Program Requirements

The program requirements for the graduate program in chemistry and chemical biology include completing a certain number of credits, passing a comprehensive exam, and defending a thesis or dissertation. The specific requirements for the program are outlined in the graduate handbook.

Research Areas

The department has a number of research areas, including:

• Organic chemistry
• Inorganic chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Chemical biology
• Materials chemistry
• Nanotechnology

These research areas provide students with a wide range of opportunities to conduct original research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

Facilities

The department has a number of facilities, including:

• Laboratories
• Instrumentation rooms
• Computer clusters
• Library

These facilities provide students with the resources they need to conduct research and complete their coursework.

Support for Graduate Students

The department provides a number of forms of support for graduate students, including:

• Financial support
• Academic support
• Professional development opportunities

These forms of support help students to succeed in the program and achieve their goals.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program have a wide range of career opportunities, including:

• Industry
• Academia
• Government
• Non-profit

The program provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in these careers and make a positive impact in their field.

Conclusion

The graduate program in chemistry and chemical biology at Rutgers University is a comprehensive and rigorous program that provides students with a deep understanding of the principles of chemistry and chemical biology, as well as the opportunity to conduct original research. The program is designed to produce well-rounded and highly trained graduates who are well-prepared for careers in industry, academia, and government. With its strong faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and wide range of research areas, the program is an excellent choice for students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry and chemical biology.

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