About
The Department of Chemistry at VCU provides high quality education in chemistry to undergraduate and graduate students, in preparation for professional careers at all levels.
With more than 300 undergraduate and 70 graduate students, we seek to create independent thinkers capable of addressing and solving the next generation of scientific and technological problems.
The department offers an enriching graduate experience with a blend of traditional and interdisciplinary study. We have a nationally ranked Ph.D. program that combines the best of both traditional and interdisciplinary study. We recently introduced an accelerated B.S. and M.S. program as well as a non-thesis M.S. program in chemistry to serve those that work in industry who want to further their education. We are also fully invested and participate in two interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs in nanoscience and nanotechnology and chemical biology.
The Department of Chemistry has an active research program with more than $3 million annually in research and educational grants. We specialize in collaborative and interdisciplinary research in the fields of chemistry, chemical biology, chemical education, material science, and nanoscience and nanotechnology. We are fortunate to have three major instrumentation facilities in the department that house a wide range of modern instruments capable of studying chemical phenomena.
We have more than 30 faculty members dedicated to the teaching and training of undergraduates and graduate students. Their excellent and diverse backgrounds ensure an undergraduate and graduate program of quality and balance.
Mission Statement
The Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University is a thriving community of scholars committed to providing sustained STEM research, learning and growth opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
We offer unique opportunities for interdisciplinary study and scientific discovery at both the undergraduate and graduate level and we seek to create independent thinkers capable of addressing and solving the next generation of scientific and technological problems.
We are furthermore committed to the dual mission of teaching and research and are dedicated to the success and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. Diversity, inclusion and the desire to educate the next generation of students to solve complex scientific problems are among our greatest assets.
Department of Chemistry Events
- The John B. Fenn Lecture is presented each fall and honors VCU’s only Nobel Prize winner. Dr. Fenn joined the faculty at VCU in 1994 and received the Nobel Prize in 2002 for the development of electrospray ionization.
- The Mary E. Kapp Lecture brings a chemist of international reputation to the department for a two-day visit. This lecture honors Dr. Kapp, the first chairperson of the department.
- The annual chemistry graduate student poster presentation provides an avenue for all the graduate students in chemistry to showcase their research. This event is usually held the first week of classes.
- The annual chemistry undergraduate student poster presentation provides an avenue for all the undergraduate students participating in undergraduate research in chemistry to showcase their research. This event is usually held the first week of December.
- Our weekly seminar program brings distinguished speakers to the department from academia and industry. Arrangements are made for the speakers to meet with students to discuss research and other topics.
- Visit our events page to see all upcoming events.