The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Auburn University is committed to the highest excellence in both research and teaching. The department consists of 20 full-time faculty members and is in the process of expanding. The academic backgrounds of the faculty provide a varied and well-balanced spectrum of expertise and research interests. Graduate students can choose research directors ranging from senior faculty with established research groups and reputations to younger faculty rapidly founding their own research careers. Cutting-edge research is being carried out in the areas of biological chemistry, synthesis methodology, molecular recognition and detection, new material synthesis and characterization, computational chemistry, and energetics as well as in the traditional areas of analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry.

Research groups are small to moderate in size, resulting in close-knit groups of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral associates and fellows, staff, and faculty. Extensive partnerships take place within the department, and there is a general feeling of camaraderie between the students and faculty. Furthermore, many of the faculty collaborate with other departments such as Chemical Engineering, Pharmacal Sciences, Civil Engineering, Biological Sciences, Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Materials Engineering.

The Program of Studies for the Ph.D. and M.S. Chemistry and Biochemistry Degrees

The department offers a Ph.D. degree, as well as an M.S. degree, in diverse research areas. The program of study is quite flexible, and it is designed to give each student the best opportunity to develop at their own pace toward a goal of professional excellence. Since a sound fundamental knowledge in all areas of chemistry is a necessity for a professional chemist, entering students are advised to take several core courses in the first semester, and specialized courses are chosen in future semesters in consultation with the research advisor and committee. In addition to the course work, students are required to take and pass a qualifying exam by the end of their second year. All M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are required to take a final oral examination dealing with their theses or dissertations.

Those who are interested can browse through the electronic collection of Graduate Theses and Dissertations from our department.