Why study chemistry?

We’re the central science! Chemists have the background to go into a variety of fields to help solve some of the biggest problems we face today.

Chemistry enriches the quality of our lives in numerous ways by providing new solutions to problems in health, material science, and energy usage and storage. Students who study chemistry at VCU get to embark on a path of scientific discovery at the most fundamental of levels.

Learn more about the value of a chemistry degree.

Research Areas

As an R1 University, we provide unique opportunities for advanced study in the traditional areas of chemistry as well as in interdisciplinary topics such as sustainability and energy, chemical biology and biochemistry, nanoscience and nanomaterials, and computational and machine learning.

The Department of Chemistry has excellent resources for research that includes a fully equipped instrument facility, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Center and access to university core centers that includes the Nanoscience Core Characterization Center.

Learn more about our faculty labs and facilities

Vials of liquid in a machine

News

Ava Beaudin, a junior at VCU, learned about platinum therapeutics for ovarian and pancreatic cancers during a recent internship. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Oct. 7, 2024

Chemistry major Ava Beaudin embraces the lab and the language

The junior and aspiring doctor sees her recent summer internship in cancer research as a lesson in communication.

sally hunnicutt

Sept. 3, 2024

CHS announces the retirement of Sally Hunnicutt

Sally served in the dean's office for four years, and was a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry, where she also served as associate chair.

(Left to right) Xuewei Wang, Ph.D., William L. Dewey, Ph.D., Shelli Fowler, Ph.D., VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., Marcie S. Wright, Ph.D., Yan Zhang, Ph.D. and Charlene D. Crawley, Ph.D. (Photo by Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Aug. 30, 2024

42nd annual Faculty Convocation celebrates six VCU role models

Honorees included faculty members from the Schools of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, College of Humanities and Sciences and the School of Public Health.

Chemistry Spotlight