CHEM-PHD - Chemistry (PhD)
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Program Overview
Chemistry is about the nature of matter, how to make it, measure it, and model it. In that sense, chemistry really matters; it is essential to explaining the real world. It holds the key to making new drugs, creating new materials, and understanding and controlling material properties. It is no wonder that chemistry is called the “Central Science.” Traditionally, it is divided into subdisciplines, such as organic, inorganic, physical, biological, theoretical, and analytical. Yet, these distinctions increasingly blur as it becomes clear that all science, chemistry included, is interconnected.
A deeper understanding of chemistry enables students to participate in research spanning biotechnology, nanotechnology, catalysis, human health, materials, earth and environmental sciences, and more. Faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate and undergraduate students work side by side to develop new probes of biological molecules, model protein folding and reactivity, manipulate carbon nanotubes, develop new oxidation and polymerization catalysts, and synthesize organic molecules to probe ion channels. Uniting of these pursuits is a shared focus at the atomic and molecular levels, whether this concerns probing the electronic structure and reactivity of molecules as small as dihydrogen or synthesizing large polymer assemblies. The ability to synthesize new molecules and materials and to modify existing biological structures allows the properties of complex systems to be analyzed and harnessed with tremendous benefit to both the scientific community and society at large.
This is a full time program, doctoral students in the Chemistry PhD program are expected to maintain physical presence on campus throughout their graduate studies. This ensures ready access to advisors and mentors, libraries, and other resources that support timely progress towards degree completion. Being on campus also embeds students in the academic and campus community, supporting their continued professional development.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
For Autumn quarter of their first year, graduate students are required to enroll in Chem 291 to learn about research opportunities from Chemistry faculty. They are also required to enroll in Chem 299 to learn how to be an effective teaching assistant and graduate student in Chemistry.
Students may concentrate in organic, inorganic chemical biology, physical, or biophysical chemistry. All graduate students are required to take six graduate-level lecture courses (course numbers greater than 200) of at least three units each in chemistry or related disciplines (e.g., biochemistry, electrical engineering, mathematics, chemical engineering, chemical and systems biology, physics, materials science), selected in consultation with their research advisor or the Graduate Study Committee. All six courses must be taken for a letter grade. Two Chemistry courses must be taken in the Autumn quarter and another two Chemistry courses in the Winter quarter of the first year. Students are expected to complete all coursework before the end of the third year.
Courses taken outside of Chemistry require prior approval from the student's research advisor or the Graduate Study Committee.
Research
Before TGR, students are required to maintain continuous enrollment in Chem 200 (minimum 2 units per quarter) to conduct chemical research, either rotation research before joining a research lab or dissertation research afterward. Students are expected to maintain satisfactory research progress determined by the thesis committee.
Qualifying Exam (second year)
Students take the qualifying exam by the end of the Spring quarter of their second year. This is an important milestone. Successful completion of the Progress Report is required for advancement to PhD candidacy. Students will be evaluated on their knowledge and critical thinking in Chemistry, their research progress and demonstrated ability to conduct independent research in Chemistry, and the quality and feasibility of the proposed future research plan. Those who fail the qualifying exam may appeal to the Graduate Studies Committee. Upon approval, they have the opportunity to retake the exam within 10 weeks of the initial exam and before the end of their second year.
Department Seminar (all years)
All students are expected to attend department colloquia (Chem 300) and seminars (Chem 329, 359, 379) when they are available.
Research Seminar (third year)
Students are required to give a department seminar on their research by the Summer quarter of their third year.
Committee Meeting (third year)
Students are required to complete a thesis committee meeting by the end of the Spring quarter of their third year.
Research Proposal Defense (fourth year)
Students are required to write a research proposal and defend it in front of their reading committee. They also need to complete a thesis committee meeting to report their research progress and plan for graduation, by the end of the Spring quarter of their fourth year. .
Additional Committee Meetings
If a student does not plan to do their dissertation defense by the end of their fifth year, they are expected to schedule a thesis committee meeting in the Spring quarter of their fifth year. If a student has not defended their dissertation by the end of their sixth year, they are expected to schedule quarterly thesis committee meetings starting from the Autumn quarter of their seventh year.
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Although teaching is not a requirement for the degree, students may teach as part of the financial support commitment and their professional training.
During Autumn and Winter quarters of the first year, students are required to arrange research rotations with faculty. For each quarter, students must submit a completed rotation form to the chair(s) of the Graduate Studies Committee in order to receive a grade for Chem 200 . Upon joining a research lab, a signed letter by the primary advisor needs to be submitted to the Department as research begins under the advisor’s supervision. Non ChEM-H CBI students must join a lab by the end of the Winter quarter of the first year of graduate registration. ChEM-H CBI students must join a lab by the end of the Spring quarter of the first year of graduate registration. Failing to join a lab by the deadline indicates unsatisfactory research progress, which may result in dismissal from the program. In this circumstance, students shall consult with the Graduate Studies Committee for the next step.
Admission to candidacy is a judgement by the faculty of a student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements of the degree program. Students are expected to take the PhD qualifying exam and apply for candidacy by the end of the Spring quarter of their second year in the program. A written progress report must be submitted to the thesis committee one week prior to the qualifying exam. Qualifying procedures in the Department of Chemistry include satisfactory completion of at least five lecture course requirements, identification of an advisor by the end of the Winter quarter of the first year, successfully passing the qualifying exam, and making satisfactory progress on a dissertation research project determined by the thesis committee.
Students who are not advanced to candidacy will be dismissed from the program.
In the Department of Chemistry, the oral exam is a defense of the dissertation presented upon the completion of a substantial portion of the dissertation or upon completion of a draft of their dissertation. Students consult with their dissertation advisor and reading committee members on the timing of the defense. Students are expected to complete this milestone by the end of the sixth year in the program.
Before candidates may request the scheduling of the University Oral Examination, clearance must be obtained from the dissertation advisor, and an academic review meeting must be scheduled with the Student Services Manager for the Department of Chemistry.
Students are required to submit an approved dissertation that makes an original contribution to chemical science. Students are expected to submit the dissertation in the same quarter that they complete the oral exam, and no later than the subsequent quarter. During the period in which faculty members are reading a dissertation, candidates are expected to be available for consultation until the dissertation has received final department approval.
Students must submit their revised draft of dissertation to the reading committee at least two weeks before the university submission deadline.