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Chemistry

 

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Programs of Study

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers the M.S. in either chemistry or biochemistry, as well as a Ph.D. The major areas of research in the department are biochemistry and biophysics, molecular design and synthesis, and nanotechnology.

Degree Requirements

Because graduate education in chemistry and biochemistry is primarily research oriented, there are no formal departmental course requirements in the graduate program. However, it is expected that each graduate student will take graduate level courses in areas of chemistry and biochemistry that are relevant to their field of specialization, as well as seminar courses. Entering students who have deficiencies in specific areas (inorganic, organic, physical, or biochemistry), as revealed by preliminary examinations, will take appropriate courses to correct these deficiencies.

Each student should select a research advisor no later than the end of the first term (seven weeks) of residence, and research should be started by the beginning of the second term.

For the M.S.

Thesis

The M.S. degree in chemistry or biochemistry requires 30 semester hours of credit, of which at least 6 or more must be thesis research, and the remainder in approved independent studies and courses at the 4000 or 500 level. Special requirements of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department are that an M.S. candidate must submit a thesis based upon research conducted under the direction of a faculty member during his or her tenure at WPI. The thesis must be approved by the faculty advisor and the chairman of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department.

For the Ph.D.

Qualifying Examination

Before formal admission to the doctoral program, Ph.D. candidates must take the qualifying examination in their field of specialization.

At the end of the first semester of the second year of residence, the student must submit a written and an oral progress report on completed research to the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. A committee of three faculty members, including the Research Advisor, will consider this progress report and the student's performance in courses, and will recommend to the department whether or not the student should complete an M.S. degree, or if the student should be formally admitted to the Ph.D. program.

Dissertation

An oral examination is held after candidates have submitted their dissertations. The faculty of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, at least one member of another department and other scientists are invited to participate. The examination generally consists of a brief oral presentation of the principal points of the dissertation by the candidate, followed by questions from the faculty. The scope of the examination may be broadened if the faculty feel it necessary. In addition, the candidate is required to present as a part of the thesis an original, significant proposal for further research.

Chemistry and Biochemistry Laboratories

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department is located in Goddard Hall, which houses 20,000 square feet of research laboratories, shops and instrument laboratories. Department facilities and instrumentation in individual research laboratories that support this research include 200 and 400 MHz FT-NMR, GC-MS, GC, HPLC, capillary electrophoresis, DSC (differential scanning calorimeter), TGA (thermogravometric analysis), polarizing optical stereomicroscope, FT-IR, UV-VIS absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopy; cyclic voltammetry, impedence spectroscopy, ellipsometer, quartz crystal microbalance, grazing incidence IR, atomic force microscoopic (AFM), and other surface- related facilities. Additional equipment in the biochemistry area include: centrifugues, ultra-centrifugues, PCR, phospho imager, scintillation counter, FPLC, bacteria and eukaryotic cell culture and plant growth facilities. The department is exceptionally well set up with computer facilities and is also networked to the University's computer facilities.

Admission Requirements

A B.S. degree with demonstrated proficiency in chemistry or biochemistry is required to enter the M.S. program. Students wishing to pursue the Ph.D. must follow the procedure described at left.

Research Interests

The three major areas of research in the department are:

• Biochemistry and biophysics. Within this area there is active research on a number of topics including heavy metal transport and metal homeostasis of both plants and bacteria, plant pathogen interactions, enzyme structure and function, regulation of plant development by light, and others.
• Molecular Design and Synthesis. Within this area there is active research on topics encompassing supramolecular materials, photovoltaic materials, polymorphism in pharmaceutical drugs, spectroscopy of heterocyclic molecules, photophysical properties of cumulenes, host-guest chemistry, and more.
• Nanotechnology. This research area encompasses such projects as photonic and nonlinear optical materials, nanoporous and microporous crystals of organic and coordination compounds, molecular interactions at surfaces, and others.

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Last modified: May 18, 2007 15:24:34