Department of Chemistry
An understanding of chemistry is critical to an understanding of life and its associated activities. Chemistry and chemical principles profoundly influence the way we live, communicate, and interact with one another, so it is little wonder that a strong background in chemistry provides a solid foundation for a variety of careers of major importance in the twenty-first century. Chemistry is uniquely positioned at the crossroad between the biological and physical sciences. By exploiting their understanding of both realms, chemists and other professionals with strong backgrounds in chemistry have made, and continue to make, major contributions to improve the human condition. Major technological and biological discoveries almost always depend on a fundamental understanding of chemistry and the pursuit of these discoveries, as a way to improve the world in which we live, drives those who seek to be a part of the process.
The Department of Chemistry offers coursework and research in all the major areas of chemistry, organized into programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Both degree programs are suitable as terminal degree programs as well as for preparation for more advanced study in chemistry and related areas or as preparation for many professional programs in a variety of career fields. The BS program is more rigorous with respect to required mathematics and chemistry courses. It is particularly appropriate for those students who plan a career in the chemical industry or who intend to pursue advanced degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical physics or forensics. An attractive number of free electives in this degree program allows students to take courses in interdisciplinary focus areas. The BA program offers the greatest degree of flexibility for students who see chemistry as a springboard into a related career field such as medicine, pharmacy, law, science writing, teaching or business, for example. Chemistry majors are counseled by PhD chemistry faculty advisors fully familiar with the many options available in the chemistry and other departments, so as to optimize each student’s program of study to meet individual needs. The Department of Chemistry website provides additional information about the degree plans, advising, and career opportunities for chemistry majors.
Although students may choose a variety of electives and/or minors in either the BA or BS degree programs, the following chemistry tracks have been developed to guide students in choosing electives.
Chemistry Tracks
In addition to the traditional BS degree (which allows for optional minors) and the traditional BA degree (minor required), the Department of Chemistry offers six tracks to guide students in their selection of electives for particular career paths in biological chemistry, environmental chemistry, materials chemistry, chemical education, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. A traditional minor requires that all minor courses must be taken from the same department and approved by the department granting the minor. These tracks provide the student an opportunity to replace a traditional minor with a broad spectrum of elective courses focused, not in a single department, but in an area of emphasis. A list of the recommended elective courses are included in the Program of Study for each track.
Cooperative Education Program in Chemistry
Under suitable circumstances, chemistry majors may participate in a cooperative education program in which the student alternates periods of attendance at the University with periods of employment in industry. This year-round cooperative program of college study and industrial experience is educationally enriching and meaningful, and also has the benefit of providing substantial financial assistance to the student without unduly prolonging the completion of the BS or BA degree program.
Altemose, Alicia Sioux, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Penn State University, 2020
Altman, Alison, Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of California, Berkeley, 2017
Baker, Lane, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2001
Barondeau, David P, Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1996
Batteas, James D, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1995
Begley, Tadhg P, Distinguished Professor
Chemistry
PHD, California Institute of Technology, 1983
Bergbreiter, David E, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1974
Bluemel, Janet F, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Technical University of Munich, Germany, 1989
Burgess, Kevin, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, The University of Cambridge, 1983
Cai, Yuguang, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Princeton University, 2003
Collins, Daniel P, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of South Carolina, 2012
Cremar, Lee Daniel, Lecturer
Chemistry
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2012
Darensbourg, Donald J, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign, 1968
Darensbourg, Marcetta, Distinguished Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign, 1967
Edwards, Josh David, Instructional Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Utah, 2022
Fang, Lei, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Northwestern University, 2010
Folden, Charles M, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 2004
Fout, Alison, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2009
Gabbai, Francois P, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany, 1999
Gaede, Holly C, Instructional Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1995
Ghanbaripour, Rashid Ryan, Lecturer
Chemistry
PHD, Tarbiat Modares University, 2015
Gladysz, John A, Distinguished Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Stanford University, 1974
Goodey, Joanna R, Instructional Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Houston, 2001
HAN, SUNGYUB, Instructional Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of South Florida, 2015
Hagler, Lauren, Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020
Hall, Michael B, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1971
Hampton, Joshua, Research Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2023
Hilty, Christian B, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, 2004
Karim, Afroz, Instructional Assistant Professor
Chemistry
MS, University of Texas at El Paso, 2018
Laganowsky, Arthur D, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of California Los Angeles, 2011
Lee, Edward J, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Virginia at Charlottesville, 2011
Lim, Soon Mi, Instructional Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2006
Lindahl, Paul A, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1985
Liu, Wenshe, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of California at Davis, 2005
Lugo, Catherine Serrano, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Utah, 2015
Mandal, Arkajit, Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Rochester, 2021
Martinez, Zachary M, Instructional Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2022
Mawk, Elmo J, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1999
Michaudel, Justine N., Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Scripps Research, 2019
Michaudel, Quentin, Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, The Scripps Research Institute, 2015
Nippe, Michael, Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2011
North, Simon W, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1995
Ozerov, Oleg V, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Kentucky, 2000
Pennington, James D, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Michigan, 1998
Pentzer, Emily B, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Northwestern University, 2010
Ponnamperuma, Krishan, Senior Lecturer
Chemistry
PHD, University of Cambridge, UK, 1992
Powers, David C, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Harvard University, 2012
Powers, Tamara M, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Harvard University, 2013
Pullanchery, Saranya, Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, The Pennsylvania State University, 2019
Raushel, Frank M, Distinguished Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1976
Russell, David H, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 1978
Salmani, Khalid, Lecturer
Chemistry
PHD, Drexel University, 2010
San Pedro, Joanna Maria N, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Johns Hopkins University, 2014
Schaefer, Amber J, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Rice University, 2007
Schweikert, Emile A, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Universite de Paris, France, 1964
Sczepanski, Jonathan T, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, The Johns Hopkins University, 2010
Singleton, Daniel A, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Minnesota, 1986
Son, Dong H, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 2002
Songok, Abigael C, Instructional Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Louisiana State University, 2018
Tabor, Daniel, Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2016
Thomas, Andy Alexander, Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign, 2017
Thompson, Tye S, Instructional Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2024
Waas, Jack R, Senior Lecturer
Chemistry
PHD, University of Michigan, 1997
Wang, Xuan, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2016
Watanabe, Coran M, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, John Hopkins University, 1999
Weitzel, Christopher Shawn, Instructional Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2009
Wooley, Karen L, Distinguished Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Cornell University, 1993
Xu, Shiqing, Assistant Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Fudan University, 2009
Yan, Xin, Associate Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Purdue University, 2015
Yennello, Sherry J, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Indiana University, 1990
Zhou, Hongcai J, Professor
Chemistry
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2000
Zhu, Lin, Instructional Professor
Chemistry
PHD, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2000