Welcome to the Department of Chemistry's website. I invite you to embark on a journey through our digital corridors, where you can acquaint yourself with our distinguished faculty, talented students, and dedicated staff, and uncover the myriad of research and educational opportunities that flourish within our department. We take immense pride in our department faculty and staff, and the outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs we offer.
Our department boasts an exceptional graduate program that spans the entire spectrum of Chemistry. We are at the forefront of cutting-edge research, consistently producing high-impact publications, facilitating technology transfers to industry, and nurturing the growth of innovative start-up ventures. Over the past decade, our department has on average secured over $10 million in extramural research funding each year. Just this year, Professor David Waldeck secured a $7.5 million MURI grant and will lead a collaborative research team, comprising researchers from Duke, OSU, Pitt, U Minnesota, U Penn, UIUC, and USC, to unravel the mysteries of the interaction between electron spin and chiral matter. In the past year, we also celebrated the graduation of 27 Ph.D. and 4 M.S. candidates, many of whom have gone to leadership roles in academia and industry, a testament to the excellence of our graduate program.
Our undergraduate program, nationally acclaimed, is a cornerstone of our department's success. We actively encourage undergraduate students to engage in research, outreach initiatives, and participation in professional organizations, enriching their academic journey. In the last academic year, we proudly graduated 61 B.S. students, with 53% of them being women. Remarkably, 62% of our undergraduates participated in cutting-edge research, while 66% contributed to undergraduate teaching, and 44% were actively involved in our esteemed ACS-Student Affiliate program. Additionally, this past summer, we awarded 30 paid summer research fellowships to undergraduate students, with 25 of these positions being generously supported by the newly established Wass Fellowship. We are thrilled to announce that starting in the summer of 2024, an NSF-REU site, led by Professor Kaz Koide, will provide unparalleled research opportunities to students from predominantly undergraduate institutions.
Beyond research and teaching, our dedicated faculty and graduate students are instrumental in instructing thousands of undergraduate students each year, spanning various disciplines including Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, and Nursing. Our commitment to outreach extends to major Professional Societies and regional high schools and colleges, where our efforts shape the landscape of chemistry education. All these endeavors are made possible by the unwavering dedication of our exceptional staff, who provide the essential foundation upon which our department stands.
I encourage you to explore our website thoroughly and subscribe to our newsletters to stay informed. Should you require further information or wish to connect with us, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Warm regards,
Haitao Liu Chair of Chemistry