Explore academic programs

Choose your path, fuel your growth. Find the programs, research and support to reach your goals.
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Explore Our Graduate Programs
Two ways in: a MS, with thesis and non-thesis tracks, or a PhD built around original research. Either way, you’ll join active projects in areas like energy, catalysis and materials, working with faculty whose research is recognized worldwide.
Student studies in the library.
Funding & Assistantships
We fund our doctoral students so they can focus on the work. PhD students currently receive a $26,000 annual stipend through teaching and research assistantships, with support typically guaranteed for five years.

Why Our Graduate Program

Our Graduate students work on problems with real stakes: cleaner ways to make hydrogen, capturing carbon dioxide, copper compounds that fight cancer, longer-lasting batteries and how students actually learn chemistry. And you’ll start that work early, not in your third year.

Faculty mentorship

You won’t just take classes from our faculty. You’ll work at the bench beside them. Our research groups collaborate across chemistry, engineering, the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research and the School of Medicine, so your network grows well past a single lab.

Research and facilities

Graduate students run experiments on serious equipment, including the X-ray Crystallography Facility, the Center for Regulatory and Environmental Analytical Metabolomics (CREAM) and the Micro/Nano Technology Center. When your results are ready, you’ll share them where chemists gather, including regional and national meetings of the American Chemical Society.

The culminating experience

Master’s students choose a thesis or non-thesis track. PhD students write an original dissertation that moves their field forward. Either path leaves you with the judgment, independence and technical range that employers in academia, industry, national labs and government want.

Alumni Outcomes

Our graduate alumni go on to careers across academia, industry, national laboratories and government – as research scientists, analytical chemists, educators and research-and-development leaders. Many continue into top chemistry PhD programs, medical, pharmacy and dental school, or research roles with companies and agencies nationwide.

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Ready to Take the Next Step?

Connect with our director of graduate studies to learn more about the program, discuss your research interests or schedule a campus visit.