Department of Chemistry
Advancing the Frontiers of Chemical Science
Founded in 1892 as one of the inaugural departments of The University of Chicago, the Department of Chemistry has pioneered fundamental breakthroughs that define modern chemistry, from radiocarbon dating to quantum simulation and bioorganic synthesis. Our faculty and alumni include 15 Nobel laureates and numerous members of the National Academy of Sciences.
The department resides primarily within the historic Searle Chemistry Laboratories and Kent Chemical Laboratory in the heart of the Hyde Park campus, providing state-of-the-art computational infrastructure, NMR facilities, mass spectrometry, and x-ray crystallography centers.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program
The doctoral program in Chemistry is designed to develop independent, creative research scholars. Graduate students engage in original investigation from their very first quarter, supported by close mentorship from faculty advisors across computational, physical, organic, inorganic, and materials chemistry.
- Guaranteed Comprehensive Funding: All doctoral candidates in good academic standing receive full tuition remissions, comprehensive university healthcare, and an annual living stipend for the duration of their Ph.D. studies.
- Flexible Interdisciplinary Research: Graduate students have access to joint appointments, Argonne National Laboratory resources, and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.
- Matriculation & Start Terms: Ph.D. cohorts enter each Autumn Quarter (with onboarding and laboratory rotations beginning in August).
Department Contact & Facilities
Department of Chemistry Faculty Directory
Our faculty members are internationally renowned innovators across physical, theoretical, synthetic organic, inorganic, materials, and biological chemistry. Through deep interdisciplinary appointments across the Physical Sciences Division, Biological Sciences Division, and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, our labs pioneer chemical discovery and actively train doctoral scholars for Autumn 2027 matriculation.
Prof. Alex (Alexander Q.) Cusumano
Searle Labs 320Focuses on the interface of computational chemistry, quantum mechanics, and catalysis. Directs the Cusumano Research Group utilizing DFT, ab initio molecular dynamics, and machine learning to uncover catalytic reaction mechanisms and design next-generation catalytic systems.
Prof. Chuan He
Searle Labs 306Pioneered the discovery and mechanistic understanding of reversible RNA methylation in biological gene expression regulation, with fundamental impacts on cancer biology and agricultural biotechnology. MacArthur Fellow and Wolf Prize in Chemistry Laureate.
Prof. Bryan C. Dickinson
Gordon Center W308Designs and deploys functional synthetic molecules and molecular devices to study and control dynamic biological signaling, lipid regulation, protein-protein interactions, and targeted RNA therapeutics.
Prof. Laura Gagliardi
Eckhardt Center 315Develops advanced electronic structure theories and multi-reference quantum chemical models for complex catalytic systems, clean energy conversion, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and quantum information science.
Prof. Jack W. Szostak • Nobel Laureate
GCIS BuildingLeader of the Chicago Center for the Origins of Life. Research focuses on the chemical origins of life, prebiotic chemistry, autonomous replication of RNA and model proto-cellular vesicles.
Prof. Bozhi Tian
Gordon Center W312Focuses on semiconductor biointerfaces, bioelectronic medicine, and photostimulated modulation of cellular and subcellular electrophysiology.
Prof. Gregory A. Voth
Gordon Center W302Leader in multiscale computer simulation, multiscale coarse-graining, condensed matter theory, proton transport, and complex biomolecular assemblies (HIV capsids, actin filaments).
Prof. Jiwoong Park
Eckhardt Center 311Focuses on the science and technology of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials, nanoscale electronics, photonics, and wafer-scale synthesis of inorganic membranes.
Prof. Anna Wuttig
Searle Labs 204Synthesizes and interrogates electrocatalytic interfaces to understand the fundamental charge-transfer reactions that govern renewable fuel synthesis and decarbonized organic transformations.
Department Facilities & Research Centers
Photographs from our core facilities across the Searle Chemistry Laboratory, Gordon Center for Integrative Science, and William Eckhardt Research Center:
