Department of Chemistry

Bruce Armitage, Department Head
Location: Mellon Institute 722

Gizelle Sherwood, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Location: Doherty Hall 1316

Umi Davis, Undergraduate Academic Program Coordinator
Location: Doherty Hall 1317

www.chem.cmu.edu

Mission Statement

Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University is committed to making advances in the molecular sciences with lasting impact on foundational knowledge while tackling critical global challenges including sustainability, health, and quality of life.

Chemistry is the science of studying the properties and reactions of substances—from living cells to subatomic particles. It lies at the heart of numerous scientific and technological fields, offering essential knowledge and tools to solve pressing societal challenges and drive new discoveries. Fields as diverse as genetic engineering, materials science, and nanotechnology rely on chemistry to shape the future, because the deepest understanding begins at the molecular level.

Flexible Career Options

The chemistry profession is extraordinarily diverse, offering career opportunities across a wide range of sectors—including the chemical, petroleum, renewable energy, nuclear power, polymer materials, metals, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. Chemistry also plays a critical role in the expanding biomedical and biotechnology fields. In addition to industry and academia, chemistry graduates find impactful careers in public-sector organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy. Many also pursue consulting or enter technical fields where their problem-solving and communication skills are highly valued.

Chemistry is particularly well suited for students preparing for medical and other health professions. Medical schools value the strong analytical and reasoning skills that chemistry students develop, and our graduates have an excellent track record of admission to medical, dental, pharmacy, and pharmacology programs. The Health Professions Program supports all Carnegie Mellon students considering careers in health-related fields. (See the Health Professions Program section in this catalog for more details.)

Chemistry is also excellent preparation for careers in law—especially for students interested in patent, intellectual property, or environmental law. The curriculum provides flexibility for students to explore opportunities such as the CMU Washington Semester Program, including internships in science policy. Students interested in industry often supplement their studies with coursework in business administration or pursue an M.B.A. after graduation.

The career paths of our graduates reflect this diversity. Recent alumni are working as software engineers at Bloomberg in London and MasterCard, in Healthcare Technical Services at Epic Systems, as research scientists at Eli Lilly, and as clinical research assistants at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Others are pursuing graduate degrees—such as an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford, or law school at UCLA. Many have entered Ph.D. programs in fields like biomaterials, nuclear engineering, polymer science, and chemistry at institutions including Stanford, UC Berkeley, Yale, MIT, and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. These alumni often remain actively involved with the department, returning to speak with current students about their career paths and offering guidance through the Undergraduate Seminar Program and other networking opportunities.

Degree Pathways

The Department of Chemistry offers three undergraduate degrees:

The B.A. degree includes a substantial number of free electives, approximately one-third of the total coursework. These electives may be taken in any department across the university, making the degree especially flexible for students with interdisciplinary interests or those planning careers in education, law, policy, or health-related fields.

The B.S. degrees are more structured and technically focused. Electives in these programs are often chosen from chemistry or related fields such as biology, physics, mathematics, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, or computer science. However, students are not restricted to technical courses and may pursue electives in other areas to expand the breadth of their undergraduate experience.

In both the B.S. and B.A. programs, students typically complete the core technical requirements by the end of their junior year. This allows flexibility in the senior year to develop a focused area of specialization or to pursue broader intellectual interests.

Carnegie Mellon has one of the strongest polymer science programs in the world. The undergraduate options in polymer science, materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, management, and computational chemistry offer focused training that is particularly valuable for an industrial career. For example, the computational chemistry option builds expertise in scientific computing, a skill highly sought after in pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. Across all programs, students gain experience with modern computational tools and have access to state-of-the-art instrumentation through both coursework and undergraduate research.

The department also offers the B.S. in Chemistry with a Biological Chemistry Track in recognition of the growing overlap between chemistry and the biological sciences. Increasingly, synthetic chemicals are used as molecular probes, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic agents. At the same time, new spectroscopic, structural, and scanning probe methods capable of resolving detail at the level of single molecules are driving innovation in this space. The Biological Chemistry Track prepares students to thrive at this interface, combining a strong foundation in core chemistry with advanced, research-driven lecture courses and a specialized bioorganic chemistry laboratory. Students who complete the track gain exposure to emerging research directions and acquire experimental skills relevant to both academic and industrial applications.

Students interested in graduate studies in chemistry are encouraged to enroll in graduate-level courses as undergraduates. Others may pursue immediate employment, often supported by one or more of the department’s formal B.S. options. Many students also combine their chemistry studies with business courses or pursue further professional training such as an M.B.A.

Opportunities for Research, Honors, and Combined Degrees

The Department of Chemistry offers an honors program for highly motivated undergraduates who want to engage in advanced, research-intensive study. The B.S. in Chemistry with Departmental Honors includes at least one graduate-level chemistry course, completion of a research project, and the writing and defense of an undergraduate honors thesis.

An extended path is available through the B.S. in Chemistry with Departmental Honors and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Chemistry. This advanced program requires five graduate-level chemistry courses and a more in-depth research thesis. It is particularly well suited for students preparing for careers in industry. With sufficient advanced placement credit or by taking heavier course loads, students can complete this combined honors and M.S. degree in eight semesters, including research during one or two summers. This integrated program aligns well with current industry demand, where many positions are available at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.

Additional Majors, Minors, and Dual Degrees

Students may pursue additional majors (double majors) with nearly any department at the university, provided they can accommodate the course requirements. In general, students must fulfill all requirements for both majors, though some overlapping content may allow for substitutions.

Students may also choose to complete a minor in another discipline. Most minor requirements are described in the catalog under the respective departments. It is strongly recommended that students consult with the relevant department early in their planning to understand current requirements and develop a viable schedule.

Dual degree programs allow students to earn two separate undergraduate degrees from two different departments at Carnegie Mellon. These programs require at least 90 additional units beyond the first degree, as well as completion of the core requirements for both colleges if they span different academic units.

Five-Year Combined Programs

Several five-year programs are available for students interested in earning both a B.S. in Chemistry and a Master of Science degree in an applied or interdisciplinary field. Current options include Health Care Policy and Management, Materials Science and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and the Colloids, Polymers, and Surfaces program.

Study Abroad

Students interested in spending a semester or year abroad can do so without delaying graduation. With thoughtful planning, the chemistry curriculum can accommodate one or two semesters of international study within the standard eight-semester timeline.

One formal exchange option is a two-semester program at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. Some students also choose to study at Carnegie Mellon’s campus in Qatar. Others have spent time at universities across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand during the academic year or over summer and spring breaks.

The chemistry department works closely with students to help integrate study abroad into their academic plans. To explore options and stay on track for graduation, students should speak with their academic advisor and the MCS Study Abroad Advisor in the Office of International Education.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

One of the most compelling features of the Department of Chemistry is the opportunity for students to engage with research early and often. Chemistry majors interact with leading research scientists not only in advanced courses but also in entry-level classes and through hands-on research experiences.

Undergraduate laboratory instruction takes place in a state-of-the-art teaching facility located in Doherty Hall. Participation in research is strongly encouraged, and students may begin as early as their first year through research shadowing experiences. Interested students should consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to start the process of identifying a research mentor.

Over the past ten years, approximately 90 to 98 percent of graduating chemistry majors have conducted research for pay or credit as part of their undergraduate experience. Those who do not participate typically choose not to.

Students have been highly successful in securing competitive funding for their work. Many receive Small Undergraduate Research Grants (SURG) or Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) from the university. Each year, several students are also awarded International SURF (iSURF) funding to conduct summer research with collaborators abroad.

Faculty in the Department of Chemistry are leading the way in the use of computer-controlled instrumentation for synthesis and analysis of chemical compounds. In addition to automated science capabilities in individual labs, Chemistry faculty and students are helping lead the University's efforts in integrating artificial intelligence with automated science through a new multimillion dollar laboratory in the Bakery Square neighborhood of Pittsburgh. In addition to use in research, our faculty are developing automated experiments to be performed in both required and elective courses, thereby introducing students to the growing use of automation and computation in conjunction with experimental science.

Degree and Program Options

Program Outcomes

The faculty members of the Department of Chemistry have approved the following as a statement of our learning outcomes for recipients of an undergraduate degree in chemistry.

Upon graduation recipients of the BS or BA degree in Chemistry will be able to:

Foundational Knowledge/Theory

Apply quantitative and computational reasoning to solve chemical problems, including the use of modern computational tools.
Apply fundamental theories and models to analyze and predict the behavior of molecular systems.
Demonstrate integration of knowledge from different subdisciplines of chemistry through the analysis of interdisciplinary problems that connect chemistry to fields such as biology, environmental science and sustainability, materials science, nanotechnology, and engineering.

Practical/Experimental

Design and interpret experiments to analyze and synthesize chemical systems, incorporating modern instrumentation, data analysis techniques, reaction pathway development, and yield optimization.
Select and operate appropriate instrumentation for chemical analysis, demonstrating an understanding of its principles, capabilities, and limitations.
Formulate testable research questions; design experimental methods to investigate them; and justify methodological choices using relevant scientific principles.
Follow established protocols and regulations to ensure the safe handling, use, and disposal of chemicals and chemical equipment.

Communication

Communicate chemical concepts, experimental results, and scientific arguments clearly and effectively in both written and oral formats, adapting to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Locate, critically evaluate, and synthesize scientific literature to support research, properly acknowledging prior work and adhering to ethical standards in scientific communication.

Society and Ethics

Evaluate the societal, environmental, and ethical implications of chemistry, applying professional standards, principles of sustainability, and ethical integrity to scientific and industrial practices. This includes an awareness of sustainability science and emerging public health issues such as endocrine disruption, and their relevance to chemical research, development, and regulation.

Professional Development

Demonstrate awareness of career pathways in chemistry and related fields by creating a professional development plan, attending career-related events, or seeking mentorship.

B.S. in Chemistry with Departmental Honors

Students with a strong interest in research are encouraged to consider the Departmental Honors program by the beginning of their junior year. This program integrates a modified B.S. curriculum with sustained faculty mentorship and an independent research project, culminating in a written thesis and formal defense.

Curriculum Requirements

The honors curriculum follows the standard B.S. degree sequence with the following modifications:

One of the two required chemistry electives must be a 12-unit graduate-level course (numbered 09-7xx or higher)
At least two free electives, totaling a minimum of 18 units, must be undergraduate research (typically 09-445 Undergraduate Research)
Students must complete 09-455 Honors Thesis (6 units)

Students are encouraged to pursue more than the minimum research requirement. Summer research support may be available through stipends from a research advisor or competitive programs such as the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF).

Eligibility and Application

Students typically apply for candidacy by the end of their penultimate semester. Applications are available through the department Canvas site for chemistry majors or can be e-mail to ug-chem@andrew.cmu.edu. To be accepted, students should have:

A QPA of at least 3.2 in coursework
Demonstrated significant progress in undergraduate research
A statement of support from their research advisor

Thesis Committee

Once accepted, students must assemble a Thesis Committee to guide and evaluate their work. The committee consists of:

The student’s research advisor
One member of the Undergraduate Program Committee, appointed by the Director of Undergraduate Studies
A third faculty member, selected by the student and advisor. This person may be from another department or institution and may hold a tenure-track, teaching-track, or research-track appointment

Please note that it is the student's responsibility to confirm participation of the third committee member.

A shared Box folder will be created for each candidate. This folder will house the completed application, written work, and presentation materials. It will be accessible to the student, the Undergraduate Program Committee, and the Thesis Committee.

The Thesis and Defense

The honors thesis must be a clear, formal exposition of the student’s independent research. It should reflect at least 18 units of work in 09-445 and make a substantive contribution to the field. This may include:

The discovery of a new phenomenon
A novel method or technique
A study that deepens understanding of an existing topic

The student will present their research in a public oral presentation, followed by a private defense with the Thesis Committee. A complete draft of the thesis must be submitted to committee members at least one week prior to the scheduled defense.

Defenses are typically scheduled for April or early May for May graduates. Alternate timelines apply for August or December graduates. The Undergraduate Academic Program Coordinator will work closely with each student and their committee to schedule the defense and coordinate logistics.

Graduation with Honors

Students who fulfill all requirements, including the research, coursework, thesis, and successful defense, will graduate with both Departmental Honors and MCS College Honors. These distinctions celebrate the student’s initiative, academic strength, and commitment to research. Both honors will be noted on the transcript. However, only University Honors, based on overall academic performance, appear on the diploma.

Transfer Credit for Chemistry Courses

Requests for transfer credit for chemistry classes taken at other institutions should be made to Dr. Len Vuocolo, Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Chemistry. Students making such requests should follow the policies and procedures in place within their home colleges in assembling materials for such requests. Consult with your advisor on the appropriate steps.
Requests should be placed before paying tuition for a class in case transfer credit is denied. Allow 1-2 weeks for approval.
At minimum, transfer credit requests must include:
- A complete syllabus, including the textbook used
- A detailed list of topic areas, ideally with a schedule showing how much time is spent on each topic.
- A statement indicating whether the course is part of the science major curriculum at the other institution
- Be sure to check that the institution uses a semester system. Many schools on a quarter system (such as those in the University of California system) spread general and organic chemistry over three quarters. In most cases, one quarter-long course is not equivalent to one CMU course.
The department no longer accepts fully online courses.
No transfer credit will be awarded for the laboratory classes required for the chemistry or biology major at Carnegie Mellon University, 09-207, 09-221, 09-208, 09-222, 09-321, 09-323 and 09-322. Requests for transfer credit for 09-101, Introduction to Experimental Chemistry, will be accepted with the appropriate documentation.
In assessing the suitability of courses for transfer credit, the following factors are considered:
- The rigor of the course must be comparable to that offered at Carnegie Mellon. This is usually assessed via the quality of the institution and its chemistry program, the textbook used and the amount of time spent on topic areas. In general, the rate of approval is significantly higher for four-year institutions with science majors as opposed to community colleges.
- The topic areas should match to a degree of at least 80% those covered in the comparable course at Carnegie Mellon University.
09-105 Introduction to Modern Chemistry I focuses primarily on structure, bonding, interactions (and their influence on properties), and reactions (including quantitative relationships among substances in them). Detailed topics include the following:
- Radiation and Its Interaction with Matter
- Quantum Mechanics (wave-particle duality of matter, Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle)
- Atomic Structure (Schrodinger Model, quantum numbers, interpretation of orbitals and their relative energies)
- Interpretation of Periodic Table, including the writing of electron configurations, Aufbau Principle, and Hund’s Rule
- Periodic Table Trends in Elemental Properties
- Photoelectron Spectroscopy
- Bonding models and their explanation of properties (types of solids, bond polarity, bond energies, and bond lengths)
- Lewis Structures (octet rule and exceptions; formal charge)
- Resonance Structures
- Molecular shapes (including deviations from ideal bond angles)
- Molecular Polarity (greenhouse gases as application)
- Interparticle (intermolecular) forces and comparing or predicting relative physical properties from them (chromatography as application)
- Valence Bond (Localized Electron) and Molecular Orbital Theory
- Pi Molecular Orbitals (and energy diagrams) of Conjugated Organic Molecules
- Band Theory of Metals, Semiconductors, and Insulators
- Determining number of moles and chemical formulas
- Writing and balancing chemical equations (in particular completing combustion and double displacement reactions – including acid-base and precipitation reactions)
- Stoichiometry and thermochemical equations (heat evolved in combustion of fuels as application)
- Stoichiometry – limiting reactant and percentage yield
- Gases (mainly ideal) and stoichiometric applications involving them
- Phase transitions
- Solutions (determining concentrations, dilution problems, stoichiometric applications, application of solubility rules to determine if a precipitate forms)
- Acid-base reactions, titrations and other stoichiometric applications of acid-base reactions
- Oxidation Numbers, Redox Reactions/Titrations, and other stoichiometric applications of redox reactions
09-106 Modern Chemistry II focuses primarily on thermodynamics, kinetics and equilibrium. Detailed topic areas include the following.

Thermochemistry and Thermodynamics (First, Second, and Third Laws, with gas expansion/compression applications, including reversible, adiabatic processes)
Internal energy, enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs Free energy, and determination of spontaneity
Kinetics : Determination of rate, order, rate laws (including application of pseudo-rate laws, application of integrated rate law to determine order, relationship between time and amount in a reaction, and half-life
Reaction mechanisms – applying fast equilibrium and steady-state approximations to determine rate law consistent with mechanism
Chemical Equilibrium : determination of Q and K expressions, determination of direction in which reaction proceeds to achieve equilibrium (using Q and Le Chatelier’s principles, quantitative calculations to determine K or amounts at various stages, dependence of K on temperature, relationship between Gibbs Free energy, Q, and K)
Acid-Base Equilibria: writing dissociation equilibrium reactions and acid-base “neutralization” reactions, autoionization of water (determination of pH and pOH, use of K_w), writing K_a and K_b expressions from dissociation equilibria, quantitative equilibrium calculations for weak acids and bases, titrations between strong species, strong-weak species, and weak-weak species, buffers (calculations of pH and amounts, including how to make a buffer), polyprotic species (quantitative applications and titrations), solubility and precipitation equilibria, determination of K_sp expressions and quantitative applications of those expressions, complex ion formation equilibria, emphasis is placed on equilibrium problems that involve multiple types of simultaneous equilibria
Electrochemistry: Electrochemical cell notation and writing half-reactions from it, Faraday constant to connect number of moles of electrons / reaction amounts with current, connection of Gibbs Free Energy to cell voltage (potential) at equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions, determination of K’s (acid-base, solubility constants) or amounts using Nernst equation in concentration cells (K for cell reaction)

9. 09-111 Chemical Building Blocks takes an applications or systems approach to exploring current significant research and technology, as well as to explaining phenomena and problems in the world around us. The major contexts and phenomena that it explore in applying and connecting chemical concepts are: (1) sustainable energy, (2) charge motion in materials, (3) natural versus engineered catalysts, (4) polymeric materials, and (5) reversible reactions in environmental and biological chemistry. The chemical concepts used to promote an integrated understanding of the above applications and systems are:

Radiation and Its Interaction with Matter
Atomic Structure (Schrodinger Model, quantum numbers, interpretation of orbitals and their relative energies)
Interpretation of Periodic Table, including the writing of electron configurations, Aufbau Principle, and Hund’s Rule
Periodic Table Trends in Elemental Properties
Photoelectron Spectroscopy
Bonding models and their explanation of properties (types of solids, bond polarity, bond energies, and bond lengths)
molecular structures of organic and inorganic compounds
Resonance Structures
Molecular shapes
Molecular Polarity
Interparticle (intermolecular) forces and comparing or predicting relative physical properties from them
Multiphase Reaction Stoichiometry (including limiting reactants and percent yield)
Thermodynamics (First, Second, and Third Laws – applications more toward chemical reactions)
Acid-Base Chemistry
Kinetics (phenomenological and mechanistic)
Electrochemistry (redox reactions; battery technology)
Equilibrium

10 . 09-101 Introduction to Experimental Chemistry is a seven week (mini) laboratory course that is designed to introduce students to some basic laboratory skills, techniques, and equipment commonly used in experimental chemical investigations. The experiments will apply concepts in organic and inorganic synthesis, quantitative analysis using visible spectrophotometry, kinetics, acid-base chemistry, thermochemistry, and transition metal coordination chemistry. The chemical concepts applied or discovered in the course are:

molecular polarity and interparticle (intermolecular) forces
synthesis of substances (empirical formulas, stoichiometry, and percent yield),
spectrophotometric analysis (dilution and Beer-Lambert Law)
kinetics (integrated rate laws and Arrhenius equation)
equilibrium (Law of Mass Action, LeChâtelier’s Principle)
acid-base equilibria
redox reactions
thermochemistry (enthalpy, thermochemical equations)
coordination chemistry
The Laboratory Skills/Techniques involved are:
safe lab practices, waste disposal, and chemical hygiene
data/observation recording in lab notebook
graphing, analyzing, and interpreting experimental data
use of top-loading balance
chromatography (paper or silica plate)
filtration (gravity and vacuum)
recrystallization of solids
titrations (redox and acid-base; use of pH meter)
making of and dilution of solutions (including quantitative transfer of solute)
use of volumetric pipet
use of spectrophotometer
developing experimental procedures

11. 09-217 Organic Chemistry I is a 9-unit course that is the first half of our two semester sequence in organic chemistry for non-majors. The concepts addressed in the class are listed below. Please take special note of the spectroscopy section. Many institutions do not introduce this topic in the first organic chemistry class. These concepts are especially important if you wish to take the second class, 09-218 Organic Chemistry II, and the organic laboratory class for non-majors, 09-208 Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis. It is possible that you will be offered chemistry elective credit instead of transfer credit for 09-217 Organic Chemistry I if these topics are not addressed sufficiently in the class you submit for approval. The chemistry elective course might, with permission of your advisor, satisfy the organic chemistry requirement for your major, minor or additional major but not satisfy the prerequisite requirement for 09-218 Organic Chemistry II or 09-208 Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis.

Topics:

· Language of Organic Chemistry:

o New concepts, chemical terms, and nomenclature.

o Chemical formulas and structural drawing.

o Use of arrows to represent electron flow to describe reaction mechanisms and chemical synthesis.

· Molecular Structure:

Electronic structure and 3-dimensional structure of molecules: geometry.
Arrangement of atoms in space: stereochemistry.
Electron density on molecules or bonds is often non-homogeneous: polarity.

· Spectroscopy:

Introduction to spectroscopic tools for structural analysis
Infrared spectroscopy and molecular vibration. Functional group identification.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) for structural elucidation from spectra.

· Properties and Transformations:

Discuss properties and transformations of functional groups.
Reagents that achieve different conversions and mechanisms.
Introduction to chemical synthesis based on properties of functional groups.

· Applications:

Knowledge can be applied to:
- Creating new materials.
- Studying biological processes (e.g., cholesterol biosynthesis).
- Understanding drug absorption and chemical transformations in the body.
- Importance of enzymes and catalysts in organic reactions.

· Learning Goals:

Familiarize with above concepts and acquire skills to solve synthetic problems.
Analyze chemical reactions from different standpoints.

Academic Advising & Mentorship

Choosing a major is about more than classes. It’s about finding a community that will support you, challenge you, and help you grow. In the Department of Chemistry, we believe that strong advising, combined with close-knit peer and faculty relationships, is key to your success at CMU and beyond.

All chemistry majors, additional majors, and minors are advised by the Director of Undergraduate Studies, a Teaching Professor of Chemistry who gets to know you and helps guide your path. You’ll work with a first-year advisor in the MCS Dean’s Office until you declare your major, typically in the spring of your first year.

Our advising philosophy is holistic: your advisor helps with course planning, yes - but also serves as a sounding board for research opportunities, double majors, internships, graduate school applications, and any bumps along the way. You’ll see your advisor in the classroom and at department events, not just in office hours.

But advising doesn’t stop there. Chemistry at CMU is intentionally small, and that means students regularly connect with faculty, graduate students, and peers who act as informal mentors. Whether it’s through research collaborations, TA support, or community events, students build relationships that offer guidance, encouragement, and lasting friendships.

“The Chemistry Department has fostered a fantastic community of learning where we support and challenge each other. I found a lot of friends through my classes. The structure of the curriculum itself helps build that community.”
~ 2024 Chemistry B.S. graduate

From National Chemistry Week outreach to Chemistry Murder Mystery dinners, students are seen not just as learners, but as people with interests and energy that help shape the department’s culture. Many students say these experiences were central to finding their place at CMU.

Our alumni say it best:

“My favorite thing about the Chemistry Department is its strong sense of community. While the department’s small size encourages this, the genuine friendliness and solidarity among students—both within my cohort and across others—is truly special. Some of my closest friends in Chemistry were upperclassmen I met through Chem Murder Mystery, and their guidance through coursework, graduate school applications, and CMU as a whole has been invaluable. The faculty also take the time to know you and are always willing to help, both in and outside the classroom. The support of the Chemistry Department has been a vital factor in my success at CMU, and I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of such a lovely community.”
~ 2024 Chemistry B.S. graduate

About Course Numbers:

Each Carnegie Mellon course number begins with a two-digit prefix that designates the department offering the course (i.e., 76-xxx courses are offered by the Department of English). Although each department maintains its own course numbering practices, typically, the first digit after the prefix indicates the class level: xx-1xx courses are freshmen-level, xx-2xx courses are sophomore level, etc. Depending on the department, xx-6xx courses may be either undergraduate senior-level or graduate-level, and xx-7xx courses and higher are graduate-level. Consult the Schedule of Classes each semester for course offerings and for any necessary pre-requisites or co-requisites.

09-052 Summer Internship: Summer: 3 units
The Department of Chemistry considers experiential learning opportunities important educational options for its undergraduate students. One such option is an internship, normally completed during the summer. Students do not need to officially register for an internship unless they want it listed on their official transcripts. The Director of Undergraduate Studies (or designee) will add the course to the student's schedule, and the student will be assessed tuition for 3 units. Upon completion of the internship, students must submit a 1-2 page report on their work experience to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (or other designated faculty member). Verification by the internship supervisor must be received prior to a grade being awarded. After the reports have been reviewed and approved, and verification received, a "P" grade will be assigned. Special permission of Instructor is required to register for this course.

09-101 Introduction to Experimental Chemistry: All Semesters: 3 units
This is a seven week chemistry laboratory course that is designed to introduce students to some basic laboratory skills, techniques, and equipment commonly used in experimental chemical investigations. The experiments will apply concepts in organic synthesis, quantitative analysis using visible spectrophotometry, kinetics, acid-base chemistry, thermochemistry, and transition metal coordination chemistry. 1 hr. lec., 3 hrs. lab.

09-103 Atoms, Molecules and Chemical Change: Fall: 9 units
Atoms, Molecules and Chemical Change is a self-contained one-semester introductory college chemistry course for students who have a high-school background in science and mathematics but who have decided not to major in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics). Students will develop fundamental chemical knowledge in topics such as stoichiometry, atomic theory, molecular bonding and structure, chemical reactions, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. This knowledge will be applied to a variety of topics, including biological, industrial, environmental, agricultural, and culinary applications, helping students to understand how chemistry affects environmental, social, political, and economic issues. Through this course, students will develop both qualitative understanding and quantitative skills in chemistry. Students with credit for 09-105 or other more advanced chemistry courses are not permitted to enroll in this course. 3 hrs. lec., 1 hr. rec.

09-105 Introduction to Modern Chemistry I: Fall and Spring: 10 units
The course is intended to give students a powerful set of conceptual tools they can use to reason about chemical systems and provide opportunities to practice application of these tools to phenomena of relevance to modern society and technology. The major goal is to teach core principles of chemistry while exposing students to the diversity of modern chemical research and how it is addressing grand challenges facing society. The course integrates online with classroom instruction to help all students succeed regardless of their past exposure to chemistry.

09-106 Modern Chemistry II: Fall and Spring: 10 units
This course provides an overview of thermodynamics, kinetics and chemical equilibrium. Topics include the flow of energy in chemical systems; the spontaneity of chemical processes, i.e. entropy and free energy; the mechanisms and rates of chemical reactions; and the use of chemical equilibrium to reason about acid-base chemistry, solubility and electrochemistry. Applications include the energy economy, biological systems and environmental chemistry. 3 hrs. lec., 2 hrs. rec.
Prerequisites: 09-105 or 09-107

09-107 Honors Chemistry: Fundamentals, Concepts and Applications: Fall: 10 units
This is an honors introductory course designed to provide students with a rigorous coverage of general chemistry in the context of grand challenges in the field. Traditional topics, such as equilibrium, kinetics, acid-base chemistry, and quantum chemistry, will be discussed through current research on nucleic acid-based therapeutics, atmospheric chemistry of pollutants, and catalysts for the production of solar fuels. The approach will integrate traditional lectures and readings from the textbook with discussions of journal articles, on-line content on research methods, and guest lectures from CMU faculty in these areas. This course assumes strong preparation in chemistry (AP Chemistry score of 3 or greater; IB Chemistry score of 5 or greater; SAT II Chemistry exam with a score of 700 or greater) and will be offered at an accelerated pace. The goal is to teach core principles of chemistry while exposing students to the diversity of modern chemical research and how it is addressing grand challenges facing society. 3 hrs. lec., 2 hrs. rec.

09-108 The Illusion and Magic of Food: Fall: 6 units
Have you ever wondered about your food? Why the freshly squeezed orange juice spoils after few hours while the one from the market lasts so much longer without apparent alteration? Why roasted food is so delicious? What is the nutritional value of milk and honey? Why soft drinks are damaging the teeth? What is the Impossible Burger? These and many more questions will be answered in this course, not only by the instructor but also through the student's research and curiosity. This course will introduce chemistry concepts on an as-needed basis, but it will remain at a simple level. We expect to help the student understand what food is made of, its nutritional value, how it is processed to offer longer shelf life, and how elaboration and preservation procedures may affect critical components. The topics will vary depending on the student's motivation in learning about different concepts related to the food industry, from processing to analysis, to packaging, and appearance. We plan to discuss interesting things in every class and finish the course with a broad knowledge of what is on our table and a better criteria to select our food. 3 hrs. lectures per week.

09-110 The Design and Making of Skin and Hair Products: Spring: 3 units
This hands-on course targets students from across the CMU community who are interested in learning how chemistry applies to their everyday life. We will focus on students gaining knowledge of the chemical components in cosmetic products and on the methods for preparing them (from shampoos and conditioners to lotions, soaps, and creams). We will emphasize good laboratory practices and safety as well as the fundamental chemical and physical concepts that govern the product behavior and use. The overarching goal is that the students have a hands-on laboratory experience and develop a full understanding of the science behind the products that they use every day. No human or animal testing will take place as part of the curriculum.

09-111 Chemical Building Blocks: Fall: 9 units
How does chemistry provide the foundation and building blocks in science, engineering, and technology? How does activity on the particle and molecular level that we cannot see cause things to happen and function on a level we CAN observe? What basic chemical concepts are needed as tools to understand current significant research and technology, as well as to understand phenomena and problems in the world around us? This course will emphasize answering these questions by presenting "problem- or context-first", then applicable chemical concepts on an as-needed basis. It is structured around phenomena relevant to modern society, research, and technology rather than the conceptual tools (i.e. systems- or application-, rather than content-driven). Many of the conceptual tools (e.g. structure, interaction between energy and matter, interparticle forces, reaction stoichiometry, thermodynamics and kinetics) are used throughout the course, to help reinforce these ideas and promote an integrated understanding. The major contexts and phenomena that we will explore in applying and connecting chemical concepts are: (1) sustainable energy, (2) charge motion in materials, (3) natural versus engineered catalysts, (4) polymeric materials, and (5) reversible reactions in environmental and biological chemistry

09-114 Basics of Food Science: All Semesters: 3 units
Food is essential for life and the maintenance of health. As consumers we know little about its constitution and processing. This course will shed light upon the main nutrients found in food and their properties. We will discuss the importance of different processing techniques and about the ingredients added to food that extend its shelf life, or that improve its mouthfeel, and appearance. Overall, this course aims to make students aware of the intrinsic value of food, and how its manipulation and eventual reconstitution leads to an acceptable final product found in the supermarket.

09-115 Introduction to Undergraduate Research in Chemistry: Fall: 2 units
Undergraduate research is an important activity in the training of undergraduate chemistry majors. This course is intended for students who are planning to declare a major in chemistry who are novices to research at the university level and have an interest in being better informed about strategies and skills that contribute to success. It is intended that this course will lead to an opportunity to participate in a series of shadowing opportunities through a second course in the spring semester where students will be mentored by upperclass students or PhD candidates in faculty laboratories. Spaces will be reserved for MCS students. Students from other colleges with a strong interest in a chemistry major or additional major should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Chemistry Department.

09-116 Undergraduate Research Shadowing in Chemistry: Spring: 2 units
This is a follow-up course to 09-115, Introduction to Undergraduate Research in Chemistry, which is intended to provide laboratory training for first-year MCS students who want to participate in research in chemistry as soon as their first year, but have not been through the teaching labs yet. Near the end of the fall mini for 09-115, students will be asked to rank their faculty/group interests for possible shadowing. Based on those rankings and faculty/mentor availability, in 09-116, students will be paired with mentors from research labs for seven-week shadowing experiences. Mentors may be graduate students or advanced undergraduate students carrying out research. At the beginning of each mini, the students and mentors will identify blocks of time each week for shadowing based on their schedules. If scheduling allows, students will also be encouraged to attend group meetings (this would count toward lab time). Shadowing will continue for seven weeks, at which time the students may rotate to a second group for another shadowing experience. We request a dedicated lecture room to ensure there is adequate space for the initial pairing and for an overview on assessments, and to allow for possible additional meetings as the course develops.
Prerequisite: 09-115 Min. grade C

09-122 Molecular Tools for Biological and Chemical Studies: Spring: 6 units
Fluorescent dyes are applied in numerous fields to aid in tasks such as mapping the course of water underground, examining the eye, and detecting biological events. This course is aimed at offering a hands-on laboratory experience in the interface of chemistry and biology, also known as bioorganic chemistry. In this lab students will learn about fluorescence and fluorescent compounds. They will prepare a dye and will measure its fluorescent properties in presence of different media. This behavior will be compared and contrasted with that of another dye that will be provided. A former student in the course says: "Molecular Tools for Biological and Chemical Studies was one of the highlights of my time at CMU! Taking this course during my freshman year allowed me to gain skill and confidence in the lab, and the concepts I learned helped me to excel in many other courses I took at CMU (including: Organic Chemistry I and amp; II, Laboratory I: Introduction to Chemical Analysis, Laboratory II: Organic Synthesis and Analysis, Biochemistry, and Modern Analytical Instrumentation). Since graduating from CMU, I have been working on a Ph.D. in chemical biology. I still use many of the skills that I learned in Molecular Tools on a daily basis." Maddie Balzarini

09-201 Undergraduate Seminar I: Fall: 1 unit
Issues and topics of importance to beginning chemistry majors are discussed in this course. It provides a general introduction to the facilities, faculty and programs of the Department of Chemistry and introduces students to career and research opportunities in the field of chemistry. Enrollment limited to students majoring in chemistry. 1 hr.

09-202 Undergraduate Seminar II: Safety and Environmental Issues for Chemists: Spring: 1 unit
Issues and topics focused on laboratory safety are discussed in this class. The topics are selected to supplement information covered in 09-221, Laboratory I. This course is intended to provide the necessary safety training for students wishing to undertake undergraduate research projects in the laboratory and is taught in collaboration with the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. Enrollment is limited to chemistry majors. 1 hr.

09-204 Professional Communication Skills in Chemistry: Spring: 3 units
This required course for chemistry majors promotes development of written and oral communication skills in various formats within the discipline. Students are expected to develop these skills by becoming more familiar with the style and format of the chemical literature, current topics in chemistry, and research projects in the Department. Other learning outcomes include developing critical reading skills, providing effective feedback to peers' written and oral communication, demonstrating the ability to revise written work, and using chemical structure drawing software. 1 hr. lec.
Prerequisite: 09-221

09-207 Techniques in Quantitative Analysis: Fall: 9 units
09-207 is the first of two chemistry lab courses required for the BS and BA degrees in biological sciences and the intercollege major in biological sciences and psychology. It is also suitable for fulfilling the requirement for two general chemistry labs for admission to programs in the health professions. The experimental work emphasizes the techniques of quantitative chemical analysis. Included are projects dealing with a variety of instrumental and wet chemical techniques. A mixture of individual and partner experiments are conducted during the semester. In addition to laboratory techniques, safety, and written communication skills are emphasized.
Prerequisites: 09-106 or 09-107 Min. grade A

09-208 Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Analysis: Intermittent: 9 units
09-208 is the second of two chemistry laboratory courses required for the BS in biological sciences and the intercollege major in psychology and biological sciences. It is also suitable for fulfilling the requirement for the laboratory experience for application to programs in the health professions. The course emphasizes experimental work in separations, synthesis, and analysis of organic compounds, including chromatography and spectroscopy. Written communication skills will be developed by means of laboratory reports and essays. 1.5 hr lec, 5 hrs lab
Prerequisites: (09-219 or 09-217) and (09-221 or 09-207 or 09-223)

09-214 Physical Chemistry: Spring: 9 units
This is a one-semester course intended primarily for students majoring in Biological Sciences, students pursuing a B.A. degree program in Chemistry, and students in the B.S.A.program with a concentration in chemistry. The course focuses on thermodynamics, transport and reaction rates and their application to chemical and biological systems. Emphasis is given to attaining a good fundamental understanding of entropy and free energy. This is more a concepts than skills building course. Topics include applications of thermodynamics to chemical and biochemical equilibria, electrochemistry, solutions, and chemical kinetics. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: 09-106 and (21-124 or 21-122) and (33-111 or 33-121 or 33-106 or 33-141)

09-215 Chemistry Tech I to Lab I Transition: Fall and Spring: 3 units
09-215 is a 3-unit course intended for students who have taken 09-207, Techniques in Quantitative Analysis, who decide later in their academic experience that they wish to pursue a degree or an additional major in chemistry. The chemistry major requires a 12-unit lab class, 09-221 Laboratory I: Introduction to Chemical Analysis. This course will utilize self-study and problem solving to introduce or reinforce key concepts covered in 09-221 that are not introduced or are de-emphasized in 09-207. Students will also propose an idea for an independent lab-based project and carry it through all stages of development but not perform the actual lab work. The project development will require written work products as well as an oral presentation. The course must be completed before the last semester of the students degree program.
Prerequisite: 09-207 Min. grade C

09-217 Organic Chemistry I: Fall: 9 units
This course presents an overview of structure and bonding as it pertains to organic molecules. Selected topics include: introduction to functional group chemistry, stereochemistry, conformational analysis, reaction mechanisms and use of retrosynthetic analysis in the development of multistep syntheses. Methods for structure determination of organic compounds by modern spectroscopic techniques are introduced. 3 hrs. lec., 1 hr. rec.
Prerequisites: 09-107 or 09-105

09-218 Organic Chemistry II: Spring: 9 units
This course further develops many of the concepts introduced in Organic Chemistry I, 09-217. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of reaction mechanisms for understanding the outcome of chemical transformations, and the employment of a wide variety of functional groups and reaction types in the synthesis of organic molecules. Also, time permitting, included in the course will be special topics selected from the following; polymers and advanced materials, biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids, and drug design. 3 hrs. lec., 1 hr. rec.
Prerequisites: 09-217 or 09-219

09-219 Modern Organic Chemistry: Fall: 10 units
Traditional introductory organic chemistry courses present structure, reactivity, mechanisms and synthesis of organic compounds. Students taking 09-219 will be exposed to the same topics, but presented in greater depth and broader context, with applications to allied fields such as (1) polymer and materials science, (2) environmental science and (3) biological sciences and medicine. This will be accomplished through an extra 50 minute lecture period, where more advanced topics and applications will be discussed. Topics will include computational chemistry, green chemistry, chiral separations, photochemistry, reaction kinetics, controlled radical polymerizations and petroleum cracking. Students who complete 09-219 will have a strong foundation in organic chemistry as well as a sophisticated understanding of how organic chemistry is currently practiced. 4 hrs. lec., 1 hr. rec.
Prerequisites: 09-106 or 09-107 Min. grade A

09-220 Modern Organic Chemistry II: Spring: 10 units
This course builds on 09-219 by introducing students to additional functional groups, chemical reaction mechanisms and synthetic strategies commonly used in the practice of organic chemistry. Advanced topics to be presented during the extra lecture will include multidimensional NMR spectroscopy, enantioselective synthesis, ionic polymerization, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry, natural products chemistry and toxicology. Students who complete 09-220 will have a strong foundation in synthetic, mechanistic and structural organic chemistry and will understand how this applies to human health and the environment. 4 hrs. lec, 1 hr. rec.
Prerequisite: 09-219

09-221 Laboratory I: Introduction to Chemical Analysis: Fall and Spring: 12 units
This course is the first in a sequence of four laboratory courses on experimental aspects of chemistry required for the B.S. and B.A. degrees in chemistry. The experimental work emphasizes the techniques of quantitative chemical analysis. Included are projects dealing with a variety of instrumental and wet chemical techniques. The course is project-oriented with the experiments becoming more complex, requiring greater student input into the experimental design as the semester progresses. A mixture of individual and team experiments are conducted during the semester. In addition to techniques, safety, written and oral communication skills, and effective teamwork are emphasized. 2 hrs. lec., 6 hrs. lab.
Prerequisites: 09-106 or 09-107 Min. grade A

09-222 Laboratory II: Organic Synthesis and Analysis: Fall and Spring: 12 units
In this second course in the laboratory sequence, students acquire laboratory skills relevant to synthesis and purification of organic compounds, as well as the practical use of chromatography and spectroscopy. Students will also further develop technical writing skills through preparation of lab reports. 2 hrs. lec., 6 hrs. lab.
Prerequisites: (09-217 or 09-219) and (09-221 or 09-223)

09-224 Supramolecular Chemistry: Intermittent: 3 units
Supramolecular chemistry involves the use of noncovalent bonding interactions to assemble molecules into stable, well-defined structures. This course will provide students with an introduction to this exciting field of research, which is finding increasing applications in the biological and materials sciences, nanotechnology and medicine. Students will be introduced to essential background concepts such as types of noncovalent bonding and strategies for the design of supramolecular assemblies. Readings from monographs and classroom lectures by the instructor will cover this material. Students will then begin to read about applications of supramolecular chemistry from the scientific literature, learning to compare articles, to evaluate the quality of the data and interpretations reached by the authors, to use the knowledge gained from these readings and discussions to predict the outcomes of related experiments, and to ultimately be able to design their own experiments to answer research questions. Meeting hours set by instructor, enrollment limited with priority given to sophomore chemistry majors.
Prerequisites: 09-219 Min. grade C or 09-217 Min. grade C

09-225 Climate Change: Chemistry, Physics and Planetary Science: Fall: 9 units
Understanding the essential features of climate and climate change is a critical tool for modern citizens and modern scientists. In addition, the prevalence of climate skepticism in modern political discourse requires of citizens that they be able to think critically about a technical subject and also be able to distinguish reliable scientific experts from advocates. In this course we shall examine the climate of terrestrial planets (specifically Earth and Venus) through geological time and to the present, considering geochemical methods used to determine atmospheric composition over Earths history (specifically the onset of oxygen in the atmosphere as well as the relationship between carbon dioxide and global temperature over geological timescales. The shorter climate history of Venus will be considered as a counter example, where the brightening dim young sun overwhelmed negative feedbacks in the weathering cycle, leading to a runaway greenhouse amplified by complete evaporation of the onetime Venus ocean. Throughout the course, we will consider climate change driven by human activity since the industrial revolution as a unifying theme.
Prerequisites: (09-105 or 09-107) and (33-141 or 33-121 or 33-151)

09-227 The Culture of Color: Dyes, Chemistry, and Sustainability: All Semesters: 9 units
ne of the earliest forms of proto-chemistry, dyeing textiles has a long history of rich cultural traditions and technical innovations - which we will explore and practice. In this course students will focus on color through working with dyes for textiles scientifically, artistically, and culturally. You will learn the chemical science of color and techniques to isolate natural pigment for dyes as well as how to produce dyes synthetically. Students learn a variety of methods to apply our dyes to textiles to create beautiful patterns: immersion dyeing, resist and folding techniques, and printing. You will be exposed to the use of laboratory equipment and will be trained in good laboratory practices and safety. In preparation for your final project, throughout the course, we will discuss the cultural significance of colors, the origin of pigments, their production impact on the economy of the area, sustainability, and environmental impact of the waste produced by the textile dyeing industry.

Course Website: http://www.chem.cmu.edu/

09-231 Mathematical Methods for Chemists: Fall: 9 units
This course uses mathematical approaches to develop models for chemical systems and materials from the bottom up, i.e. from atoms and molecules to substances. This course focuses on statistical mechanics and does not cover quantum mechanics basics. Math will be covered in the context of chemical phenomena, and combine topics from probability theory and statistics, 3-dimensional calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: (09-107 Min. grade A or 09-106) and (21-122 or 21-124)

09-291 Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet: Fall: 9 units
This course introduces the interconnected environmental systems that regulate our climate and ecosystems, providing the resources required to sustain all life, including human societies. These systems are the fascinating connections between the oceans, atmosphere, continents, ecosystems, and people that provide our planet with resources that all life depends on. Human activities disrupt these natural systems, posing critical threats to the sustainable functioning of environmental systems. We will explore how solar and biochemical energy moves through the Earths interconnected systems, recycling nutrients; how complex environmental systems function to produce critical resources such as food and water; and how human activities interfere with these systems. Case studies include the interplay between climate change feedbacks, wildfires, and forest ecosystems; the hazards that everyday chemical toxins pose to ecosystems and human health and reproduction; and growing threats to ecosystem health and biodiversity. We will also develop the relevant information literacy required to understand current issues that are frequently debated in the public sphere, and connect these to environmental justice. This course draws on principles learned in high school science and serves as the foundational Earth and amp; Environmental Science requirement for both the Minor and Additional Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. 09-291 is intended for both non-STEM majors from any program as well as STEM majors from any program in CIT, MCS, and SCS. In addition, STEM majors are strongly encouraged to take the connected 09-381 3-unit course that provides a more technical and quantitative framework for understanding the course content. 24-381 is often required for this course to count as a technical elective for STEM programs, and is required for students from CIT, MCS, and SCS in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies programs.

09-301 Undergraduate Seminar III: Fall: 1 unit
Students attend seminars on current topics in chemistry. Students are sent a menu of choices for each week of the semester and may select topics of interest. Enrollment is restricted to students majoring in chemistry. 1 hr.

09-302 Undergraduate Seminar IV: Spring: 1 unit
This seminar focuses on professional development through critical listening and evaluation of scientific presentations. Students attend chemistry seminars presented by senior majors and invited speakers and learn how to interpret technical content, assess the effectiveness of oral scientific communication, and engage responsibly as members of a scientific audience. Through questioning and written peer evaluations, students develop skills in scientific interpretation, professional feedback, and seminar participation. This course prepares students for increased communicative and evaluative responsibilities in the senior year.

09-303 Hooked: The Molecular Basis of Addiction: Fall: 6 units
What makes us need something so much that it eclipses the most important aspects of our lives, such as family, friends, work, hobbies, health and wellness? There are many different types of addiction; this course will focus on molecular addictions, with an emphasis on those involving members of the opioid class of narcotics. The ongoing epidemic of opioid addiction, arising both from over-prescription of pain killers and recreational use of heroin, has been widely reported and continues to rise at alarming rates, ravaging our urban and rural communities. In this course, we will explore the complicated role of chemistry in this epidemic, including the good (elucidating mechanisms of action, developing clinically useful and safe opioids and non-opioids) and the bad (design and synthesis of increasingly addictive opioids). We will also discuss ethical questions faced by the pharmaceutical industry that develops, markets and sells these drugs, the medical community that prescribes them, the government agencies charged with regulating these activities and law enforcement agencies that attempt to stop the flow of drugs into and within the United States. The second half of the semester will focus on addiction to other drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, alcohol and nicotine. We will also discuss chemical approaches to treating addiction. Students who complete this course will emerge with a broad understanding and perspective on an issue that is of great scientific and societal importance. The course will be organized in units that begin with a historical/societal "big picture" overview, followed by technical discussions of the underlying chemistry and biochemistry, concluding with consideration of the societal implications of addiction to each particular substance.

09-321 Laboratory III: Molecular Design and Synthesis: Fall: 12 units
In this third course in the laboratory sequence, students will learn a variety of more advanced techniques for organic synthesis and characterization, and will gain experience with developing and designing synthetic procedures. Student writing skills are further reinforced through preparation of detailed lab reports. 2 hrs. lec., 6 hrs. lab.
Prerequisites: (09-218 or 09-220) and 09-222

09-322 Laboratory IV: Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics: Spring: 12 units
This laboratory course is devoted to physical chemistry experiments, which involve the use of modern spectroscopic instrumentation to probe the optical and magnetic properties of molecules. The experiments include the use of high-resolution infrared, laser Raman, NMR, EPR, fluorescence, and UV-visible spectroscopies. Additional experiments demonstrate methods for measuring enzyme-catalyzed reaction rate constants, and the use of scanning probe microscopy for imaging and characterization of biological macromolecules.Throughout the course the students will learn how to use computer algebra packages for rigorous data analysis and modeling and will develop the skills in basic electronics, and vacuum techniques. 2 hrs. lec., 6 hrs. lab.
Prerequisites: (09-223 or 09-221) and 09-344

09-323 Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory: 12 units
Bioorganic chemistry is concerned with the action of synthesized compounds on biological systems. In order to maximize the likelihood of identifying a biologically active compound, synthetic libraries are often employed, requiring extensive familiarity with simple, efficient chemical coupling steps and protecting group chemistry. In this inquiry based laboratory course, using a process that mimics the current practice in drug discovery by pharmaceutical companies, students will rationally design a compound library in hopes of finding a compound active against a selected biological target, search for active compounds in the library, and then quantitatively characterize any identified compounds for activity. Working in small groups, students will develop proposals for and execute the target assay selected, the library synthesis, and the screening approach. Students will write reports summarizing the results in each phase of the course. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to concepts relevant to industrial scientific research, including regulatory compliance, quality control and assurance, and intellectual property.
Prerequisites: (09-220 or 09-218) and 09-222

09-325 Special Topics in Chemistry: Environmental Systems on A Changing Planet: All Semesters: 9 units
This course introduces the interconnected Earth systems that regulate our climate and ecosystems, providing the resources required to sustain all life, including human societies. Environmental systems are the fascinating connections between the oceans, atmosphere, continents, ecosystems, and people that provide our planet with resources that all life depends on. Human activities disrupt these natural systems, posing critical threats to the sustainable functioning of environmental systems. The course will explore how solar and biochemical energy moves through the Earth's interconnected systems, recycling nutrients; how complex environmental systems function to produce critical resources such as food and water; and how human activities interfere with environmental systems. Case studies include the interplay between climate change feedbacks, wildfires, and forest ecosystems; the hazards that everyday chemical toxins pose to ecosystems and human health and reproduction; and growing threats to ecosystem health and biodiversity. We will also develop the environmental, scientific, and information literacy required to understand current environmental issues that are frequently debated in the public sphere. This course draws on principles learned in high school science and satisfies the science requirement for the interdisciplinary Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.

09-331 Modern Analytical Instrumentation: Fall: 9 units
This course will cover all aspects of analytical instrumentation and its application to problems in materials, environmental, and biological chemistry. Topics covered will include mass spectrometry, optical spectroscopies and NMR. In addition, the course will emphasize how to select an analytical method appropriate to the problem at hand, how to optimize the signal to noise obtained by a measurement, and the quantitative analysis of experimental data. Some basic electronics will be covered as well. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: (09-207 or 09-221 or 09-223) and (33-151 or 33-121 or 33-141)

09-344 Physical Chemistry (Quantum): Microscopic Principles of Physical Chemistry: Fall: 9 units
We will connect your qualitative understanding of atoms and molecules to a more quantitative treatment, so that each of you can independently assess the extent to which chemistry is based on fundamental principles. To do this we must study the basic principles of quantum theory, because atoms and molecules are quantum particles. These principles influence every aspect of how you think of chemistry and the course will challenge you to think in different ways about the stuff around you. Throughout the course we shall apply quantum principles to develop an understanding of molecular and atomic spectroscopy, and a concurrent understanding of how spectroscopy can be used to learn about the microscopic properties of atoms and molecules. 3 hrs. lec., 1 hr. rec.
Prerequisites: (09-105 or 09-107) and (33-141 or 33-111 or 33-106 or 33-121 or 33-151)

09-345 Physical Chemistry (Thermo): Macroscopic Principles of Physical Chemistry: Spring: 9 units
The measurement and theoretical descriptions of the equilibrium properties of chemical systems are presented. Chemical thermodynamics is introduced at the upper division level. The phases of matter are discussed. The quantitative treatment of mixtures is developed. The detailed description of chemical equilibrium is elaborated. The measurement and theoretical description of the nonequilibrium properties of chemical systems are presented. Elementary transport properties are introduced. The principles of classical chemical kinetics are developed in great detail. 3 hrs. lec., 1 hr. rec.
Prerequisites: (09-107 or 09-106) and (09-231 or 21-259)

09-348 Inorganic Chemistry: Spring: 10 units
The focus of this class is understanding the properties of the elements and of the inorganic compounds. The electronic structure of elements is discussed as the basis for the element's organization in the Periodic Table and for their properties. We will discuss atomic structure, and bonding of diatomic and polyatomic molecules using different models such as Lewis structures, VSEPR and Molecular Orbital Theory (including group theory and linear combination of atomic orbitals). We will study the structure, spectroscopy, and reactivity of coordination complexes and their application in bioinorganic and organometallic chemistry. 3 hrs. lec., 1 hr. rec.
Prerequisites: (09-105 or 09-107) and 21-120

09-381 Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet: Fall: 12 units
This is 3-unit addendum to the co-requisite 09-291: Environmental Systems on a Changing Planet. These courses introduce the interconnected Earth systems that regulate our climate and ecosystems, providing the resources required to sustain all life and human societies. Please refer to the course description for 09-291 for more information. While 09-291 is designed to be accessible to students from all Colleges and majors, this addendum allows students to engage with the material with more technical depth and quantitative understanding of the function and feedbacks of complex environmental systems. The additional 3-units of 09-381 provides students with an additional weekly meeting time for further material development and discussion, and with additional assignments and exercises on top of 09-291. 09-381 is intended for students from STEM majors in CIT, MCS, and SCS, but can be taken by any student interested in exploring the environmental science topics with greater depth. Science and engineering fundamentals will be further developed and applied to develop the quantitative understanding of the function and feedbacks of complex environmental systems. A background in the natural sciences or engineering (such as introductory-level courses) is strongly recommended for students considering taking 09-381. When taken with 09-291, 09-381 will count as a technical elective for most programs in these STEM colleges, while 09-291 on its own is not considered a technical elective. 09-381 with 09-281 is the correct course for students whose home colleges are CIT, MCS, or SCS. 09-291 is the recommended course for students whose home colleges are CFA, DC, or TBS. 09-381 with 09-291 serve as the foundational Earth and amp; Environmental Science requirement for STEM majors for both the interdisciplinary Minor and Additional Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.

09-401 Undergraduate Seminar V: Fall: 1 unit
Students attend seminars on current topics in chemistry. Students are sent a menu of choices for each week of the semester and may select topics of interest. Enrollment is restricted to students majoring in chemistry. 1 hr.

09-402 Undergraduate Seminar VI: Fall and Spring: 3 units
Students enrolled in this course present a 20 - 30 minute oral report on a current topic in chemistry. This may be from the student's research work or a special chemistry topic of general interest. Presentations or papers prepared for other courses are not acceptable for this purpose. Thoroughness in the use of the chemical literature is emphasized. The use of presentation aids such as PowerPoint is required. Other students in the class submit written evaluations of the presentation. Talks are recorded for viewing by the student and instructor as a means of providing individualized feedback about presentation skills. A seminar presentation is required of all chemistry majors. No exceptions possible. Enrollment is limited to students majoring in chemistry. 1 hr.

09-403 Hooked: The Chemical Basis of Drug Addiction: Fall: 9 units
What makes us need something so much that it eclipses other important aspects of our lives, such as family, friends, work, hobbies, health and wellness? There are many different types of addiction; this course will focus on molecular addictions, specifically those involving members of the opiate class of narcotics. The ongoing epidemic of opiate addiction, arising both from over-prescription of pain killers and recreational use of heroin, has been widely reported and continues to rise at alarming rates, ravaging our urban and rural communities. In this course, we will explore the complicated role of chemistry in this epidemic, including the good (elucidating mechanisms of action, development of clinically useful and safe opiates and non-opiate pain killers) and the bad (design and synthesis of increasingly addictive opiates). We will also discuss ethical questions faced by the pharmaceutical industry that develops, markets and sells opiates, the medical community that prescribes opiates, and the government agencies charged with regulating these activities. Students who complete this course will emerge with a broad understanding and perspective on an issue that is of great scientific and societal importance. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: 09-220 or 09-218

09-425 Special Topics: Mass Spectrometry: All Semesters: 9 units
This course covers fundamentals and applications of mass spectrometry applied to solve environmental problems. Applications include detection, identification, and quantification of anthropogenic contaminants in environmental and biological samples including air, water, soil, sediment, and tissue, and characterization of complex natural mixtures such as dissolved organic matter (DOM). We will cover sample preparation concepts, separation techniques, and instrumentation spanning from traditional detectors to new developments, with an emphasis on understanding capabilities and limitations of a range of techniques. Case studies will offer opportunities to analyze and interpret real data to solve environmental problems.
Prerequisites: 09-331 and 09-217

09-435 Independent Study Chemistry: All Semesters
The course allows students to earn academic credit for concentrated study in a topic area developed in conjunction with and monitored by a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry. These topics are distinct from projects that would rise to the level of undergraduate research either because they are in unrelated areas distinct from the faculty member's research interests or may constitute the investigation and compilation of existing information from a variety of resources and may not be expected to result in the generation of new information as is a reasonable expected outcome in undergraduate research (likely is not publishable).

09-445 Undergraduate Research: Fall and Spring
Properly qualified students may undertake research projects under the direction of members of the faculty, normally 6 to 12 hrs/week. A written, detailed report describing the project and results is required. Course may be taken only with the consent of a faculty research advisor in chemistry or on occasion in another department provided that the project is chemical in nature and with permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The number of units taken generally corresponds to the actual number of hours the student actually spends in the lab doing research during the week. Maximum number of units taken per semester is 18.

09-455 Honors Thesis: Fall and Spring
Students enrolled in the departmental honors program (B.S. with Departmental Honors or combined 4-year B.S./M.S. degree) are required to enroll in this course to complete the honors degree requirements. A thesis written in an acceptable style describing an original research project, and a successful oral defense of the thesis topic before a THesis Committee are required. Limited to students accepted into the honors program. (B.S. Honors candidates normally enroll for 6 units; B.S./M.S. candidates enroll for 15 units.)

09-502 Organic Chemistry of Polymers: Spring: 9 units
A study of the synthesis and reactions of high polymers. Emphasis is on practical polymer preparation and on the fundamental kinetics and mechanisms of polymerization reactions. Topics include: relationship of synthesis and structure, step-growth polymerization, chain-growth polymerization via radical, ionic and coordination intermediates, copolymerization, discussions of specialty polymers and reactions of polymers. 09-509, Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, is excellent preparation for this course but is not required. 3-6 hrs. lec. (Graduate Course: 12 units, 09-741)
Prerequisites: 09-218 or 09-220

09-506 Practicum in Computational Quantum Chemistry: Fall: 9 units
This course introduces students to computational approaches for modeling molecular quantum systems, with an emphasis on practical implementation, numerical methods, and interpretation of results. Rather than focusing primarily on formal derivations, the course centers on using modern computational quantum chemistry tools to explore physical and chemical properties of atoms and molecules. The course uses Mathematica integrated with electronic structure packages such as Gaussian, enabling seamless integration of symbolic and numerical calculations supported by high performance algorithms and dynamic visualization. This approach allows students to develop both intuitive and quantitative understanding of quantum phenomena while working directly with computational models. By leveraging Mathematica's functional programming and symbolic algebra capabilities, the course shifts the emphasis away from traditional programming and toward computational exploration, problem solving, and discovery. In combination with emerging AI assisted tools, this framework lowers the barrier to entry and makes the course accessible to students without prior experience in technical computing. The course incorporates core computational techniques including linear algebra, Fourier analysis, and differential equation methods, alongside an introduction to machine learning approaches for analyzing and modeling complex systems. Topics include numerical solutions to the Schr and #246;dinger equation, basis set methods, variational approaches, and electronic structure techniques such as Hartree Fock and Kohn-Sham Density Functional Theory.
Prerequisites: 33-234 or 09-344

09-507 Nanoparticles: Intermittent: 9 units
This course discusses the chemistry, physics, and biology aspects of several major types of nanoparticles, including metal, semiconductor, magnetic, carbon, and polymer nanostructures. For each type of nanoparticles, we select pedagogical examples (e.g. Au, Ag, CdSe, etc.) and introduce their synthetic methods, physical and chemical properties, self assembly, and various applications. Apart from the nanoparticle materials, other topics to be briefly covered include microscopy and spectroscopy techniques for nanoparticle characterization, and nanolithography techniques for fabricating nano-arrays. The course is primarily descriptive with a focus on understanding major concepts (such as plasmon, exciton, polaron, etc.). The lectures are power point presentation style with sufficient graphical materials to aid students to better understand the course materials. Overall, this course is intended to provide an introduction to the new frontiers of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Students will gain an understanding of the important concepts and research themes of nanoscience and nanotechnology, and develop their abilities to pursue highly disciplinary nanoscience research. The course should be of interest and accessible to advanced undergraduates and graduate students in fields of chemistry, materials science, and biology. 3 hrs. lec.

09-509 Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules: Fall: 9 units
This course develops fundamental principles of polymer science. Emphasis is placed on physio-chemical concepts associated with the macromolecular nature of polymeric materials. Engineering aspects of the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of these materials are discussed in relation to chain microstructure. Topics include an introduction to polymer science and a general discussion of commercially important polymers; molecular weight; condensation and addition synthesis mechanisms with emphasis on molecular weight distribution; solution thermodynamics and molecular conformation; rubber elasticity; and the rheological and mechanical properties of polymeric systems. (This course is also listed as 09-715, 12 units) 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: 06-310 or 09-345

09-510 Chemistry and Sustainability: Spring: 9 units
This course aims to educate students in the foundations of systematic leadership for building a sustainable world. Many sustainability challenges are associated with commercial chemicals and with operational modes of the chemical enterprise. For scientists, effectiveness in solving the technical challenges and redirecting cultural behavior is the defining substance of sustainability leadership. The course aims to challenge students to analyze and understand the root causes of unsustainability, especially in the technological and cultural dimensions of the chemical enterprise, to imagine a more sustainable world and to begin to define personal leadership missions. Students will be introduced to sustainability ethics as the foundation stone of transformative sustainability leadership, to the Collins Code of Sustainability Ethics and to other guiding tools. The Collins Bookcase of Green Science Challenges organizes the technical content. It systematizes the major chemical sustainability challenges of our time: clean synthesis, renewable feed-stocks, safe energy, elemental pollutants, persistent molecular toxicants and endocrine disruptors. Focal areas will be the technical, toxicological and cultural histories of elemental and molecular pollutants and endocrine disruptor (ED) science. EDs represent the single greatest sustainability challenge of everyday chemicals all while we are just beginning to recognize an emerging threat to health and the environment from micro- and nano-plastics which are finding their way into human tissues. The course is intended for upper level undergraduates and graduates, although many brilliant freshmen have thrived in the course. The class is limited to 25 students. The assignments are common to both undergraduate and graduate classes offerings with graduates taking additional assignments. (Undergraduate course 9 units 09-510. Graduate course 12 units 09-710) 3 hrs. lec.

09-518 Bioorganic Chemistry: Nucleic Acids and Carbohydrates: Fall: 9 units
This course will introduce students to new developments in chemistry and biology, with emphasis on the synthesis, structural and functional aspects of nucleic acids and carbohydrates, and their applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. Later in the course, students will have the opportunity to explore cutting-edge research in this exciting new field that bridges chemistry with biology. Students will be required to keep abreast of the current literature. In addition to standard homework assignments and examinations, students will have the opportunity to work in teams to tackle contemporary problems at the forefront of chemistry and biology. The difference between the 09-518 (9-unit) and 09-718 (12-unit) is that the latter is a graduate level course. Students signed up for 09-718 will be required to turn in an original research proposal at the end of the course, in addition to all the other assignments. (Graduate Course: 12 units, 09-718) 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: (03-151 or 03-121) and (09-218 or 09-220)

09-519 Bioorganic Chemistry: Peptides, Proteins and Combinatorial Chemistry: Spring: 9 units
This course will introduce students to new developments in chemistry and biology, with emphasis on the synthesis, structural and functional aspects of peptides, proteins and small molecules. Basic concepts of bioorganic chemistry will be presented in the context of the current literature and students will have the opportunity to learn about the experimental methods used in various research labs. An introduction to combinatorial chemistry in the context of drug design and drug discovery will also be presented. Students will be required to keep abreast of the current literature. Homeworks and team projects will be assigned on a regular basis. The homework assignments will require data interpretation and experimental design; and team projects will give students the opportunity to work in teams to tackle contemporary problems at the interface of chemistry and biology. Students enrolled in the graduate level course (09-719) will be required to turn in an original research proposal at the end of the course, in addition to the homework assignments, midterm, and final exam that are required for the undergraduate course. (Graduate Course: 12 units 09-719) 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: (03-151 or 03-121) and (09-218 or 09-220)

09-522 Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chemical and Enzymatic Reactions: Intermittent: 9 units
This is a practical course aimed at learning the major modern tools which are essential for investigation of mechanisms of homogeneous chemical and enzymatic reactions. Rules of formal chemical kinetics in solution are first considered followed by basic principles of kinetics of enzymatic processes including inhibition, which is a key factor in the up-to-date drug design. The relationships between electronic structures, catalytic properties, and reactivity of biologically relevant metal complexes will be provided. Electrochemical and redox features of metal complexes will be reviewed. The course includes such hot topics as Fenton chemistry, Marcus's electron transfer concept, catalysis by Collins' TAML activators of peroxides, specific and general acid/base, proximal and micellar catalysis. Mechanistic pathways of action of hydrolases, kinases, hydrogenases, oxidases, peroxidases, cytochrome P-450, and other metalloenzymes will be described. The course is supplied by the recently published text (A. D. Ryabov "Practical Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chemical and Enzymatic Reactions" Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK) which includes all the above mentioned themes (Graduate course: 09-722, 12-units) 3 hrs. lec. Prerequisite: 09-348
Prerequisite: 09-348

09-524 Environmental Chemistry: Spring: 9 units
Environmental pollutants are common consequences of human activities. These chemicals have a wide range of deleterious effects on the environment and people. This course will introduce students to a range of major environmental pollutants, with a particular focus on persistent organic pollutants. We will use chemical principles including thermodynamics, kinetics, photochemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships to understand the environmental fate of major classes of pollutants. The transport of chemicals through the environment and their partitioning between air, water, soil, and people will be described. The major environmental reaction pathways (oxidation, photolysis, hydrolysis, reduction, metabolism) of common pollutants will be explored. This will provide students with the necessary knowledge to predict the chemical fate of environmental pollutants, and improve their understanding of the environmental impacts of their everyday chemical use and exposure. Specific topics include water quality, photochemical smog, organic aerosols, atmospheric chemistry and global climate change, toxicity of pesticides, and heterogeneous and multiphase atmospheric chemistry. The 12-unit course is intended for graduate students that want to explore aspects of the course more deeply. This includes additional requirements including a final term paper and in-class presentation, and additional advanced questions on the homework assignments.
Prerequisites: 09-217 or 09-219

09-525 Transition Metal Chemistry: Intermittent: 9 units
This class is focused understanding the structure, spectroscopy and reactivity of 3d metal complexes. Based on ligand field theory, we will analyze the electronic structure of these metal complexes and we will briefly describe the main spectroscopic techniques that will allow for studying this topic (X-ray diffraction analysis, UV-vis, EPR, NMR, EXAFS and Mossbauer). The main focus of the course will be on analyzing the reactivity of 3d metal complexes in the context of metalloenzymes and small-molecule bioinspired complexes. The natural and synthetic metal complexes involved in O2 reduction, H2O oxidation, N2 reduction, H2 formation and functionalization of organic molecules (e.g. hydroxylation of C-H bonds, dehydrogenation of alcohols, etc.), and the reaction pathways by which these important processes take place will be studied in detail. (Graduate Course: 12 units, 09-725) 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisite: 09-348

09-529 Introduction to Sustainable Energy Science: Fall: 9 units
This course focuses on the chemistry aspects of sustainable energy science. It introduces the major types of inorganic and molecular materials for various important processes of energy conversion and storage, such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, water splitting, solar fuels, batteries, and CO2 reduction. All the energy processes heavily rely on innovations in materials. This course is intended to offer perspectives on the materials/physical chemistry that are of importance in energy processes, in particular, how the atomic and electronic structures of materials impact the energy harvesting and conversion. In current energy research, intense efforts are focused on developing new strategies for achieving sustainable energy through renewable resources as opposed to the traditional oil/coal/gas compositions. This course offers students an introduction to the current energy research frontiers with a focus on solar energy conversion/ storage, electrocatalysis and artificial photosynthesis. The major types of materials to be covered include metals, semiconductors, two-dimensional materials, and hybrid perovskites, etc. The material functions in catalysis, solar cells, fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors, hydrogen production and storage are also discussed in the course. The lectures are power-point presentation style with sufficient graphical materials to aid students to better understand the course materials. Demo experiments are designed to facilitate student learning.
Prerequisites: (09-105 or 09-107) and (33-121 or 33-141 or 33-151)

09-530 Chemistry of Gene Expression: Fall: 9 units
This course examines the chemical basis of biological reactions required for the propagation of genetic information stored in DNA and the organic chemistry principles behind the structure and function of nucleic acids.Main topics of lectures and class discussion will include the chemical and biochemical syntheses, properties and analyses of natural and modified nucleic acids to investigate cellular processes such as transcription, RNA splicing, other RNA regulation and translation; an introduction to the enzymatic strategies that accelerate these chemical reactions and a comparison of protein enzymes, ribozymes and other nucleic acid based enzymes in contemporary chemistry and biology. Students will learn to critically evaluate current scientific efforts that examine various aspects of chemistry and biological chemistry, the relationship between the structure and function of biomolecular systems, propose experiments to examine biological chemistry research problems and communicate these ideas and participate in scientific discussions and debates. 3 hrs. lec.

09-534 Environmental Chemistry: Spring: 9 units
Solar energy and electrical energy from renewable resources need to be stored to resolve intermittency issues. Energy can be stored through charge transfer, changes in chemical bonding, or in electric polarization. This course will introduce students to general aspects of energy-storage technologies using these strategies, integrating scientific and engineering perspectives to discuss thermodynamics, mechanisms of energy storage, and fundamental aspects of efficiency, capacity, and power delivery. Then we will explore current and experimental technologies, covering supercapacitors, batteries, and water-splitting catalysts. By the end of the course, students will be able to apply chemical principles to understand energy-storage technologies and gain knowledge of important classes of these systems. Students enrolled in 09-734 (rather than 09-534) will also be required to write a 15-page NSF style proposal. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: (09-217 or 09-219) and (27-215 or 33-341 or 24-324 or 09-347 or 09-345)

09-538 Exposure and Risk Assessment for Environmental Pollutants: All Semesters: 9 units
Our world is full of synthetic and naturally occurring toxic chemicals, presenting an imminent but difficult-to-quantify threat for human and ecosystem health. In this papers-based course we will ask the question, "How do we decide what's 'safe'?" in the context of exposure and risk assessment for toxic environmental pollutants. We will complete a series of case studies featuring current and seminal literature, in-class activities, and project-based assignments. Each case study will focus on a distinct contaminant exposure scenario and will be linked back to the common theme of using chemistry to understand how external exposure leads to internal dose and subsequent health impacts for diverse environmental pollutants. We will discuss how knowledge generated in the laboratory can be translated and used to inform regulatory decisions. The first half of the course will focus on contaminant bioavailability, exposure, and toxic effects in aquatic organisms. In the second half of the course, we will discuss human exposure to toxic pollutants and strategies to assess risks in the human population, including the human exposome concept, -omics-based research, and strategies for discovering novel harmful contaminants.
Prerequisites: 09-107 or 09-105 or 09-106

09-563 Molecular Modeling and Computational Chemistry: Spring: 9 units
Computer modeling is playing an increasingly important role in chemical, biological and materials research. This course provides an overview of computational chemistry techniques including molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, electronic structure theory and continuum medium approaches. Sufficient theoretical background is provided for students to understand the uses and limitations of each technique. An integral part of the course is hands on experience with state-of-the-art computational chemistry tools running on graphics workstations. This course I can count towards coursework requirements for chemistry PhD candidates. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: 09-214 or 09-344 or 09-345 or 09-347

09-611 Chemical Thermodynamics: Fall: 6 units
This course provides an introduction to the general formalism of macroscopic thermodynamics and its applications to chemical systems. The main topics to be covered include: entropy maximum postulate, internal energy minimum postulate, various equilibrium conditions including chemical equilibrium, Legendre transformation and free energies, thermochemistry, phase equilibria and solution systems.
Prerequisites: 09-231 and 09-345

09-615 Computational Modeling, Statistical Analysis and Machine Learning in Science: Fall: 12 units
The purpose of this course is to provide a practical introduction to the core concepts and tools of machine learning in a manner easily understood and intuitive to STEM students. The course begins by covering fundamental concepts in ML, data science, and modern statistics such as the bias-variance tradeoff, overfitting, regularization, and generalization, before moving on to more advanced topics in both supervised and unsupervised learning. Students will choose a large dataset from a selection of biology, chemistry, math, or physics datasets hosted by PSC and use this dataset throughout the MS program. The topics of the course are taught with students analyzing the chosen dataset. An intensive knowledge of Python or another computing language is not a pre-prerequisite since students will be given at first simple scripts that they work with and then expand upon. This course is required for students enrolled in the MS program in Data Analytics for Science.
Prerequisites: (09-344 or 09-231) and (15-112 or 15-110)

09-616 Neural Networks & Deep Learning in Science: Spring: 12 units
Focus on practice and applications of deep learning by exploring foundational concepts, structuring popular networks and implementing models through modern technologies (python, Jupyter notebooks and PyTorch). Other topics may include image recognition, machine translation, natural language processing, parallelism, GPU distributed computing, cloud technologies, inference and parameter tting in deep networks. Course uses large datasets hosted by PSC.

09-621 Welcome to the Future Lab - Science in the Cloud: Fall: 6 units
You can be at home or anywhere in the world and still run experiments in a lab. This course is to introduce and train students in the use of an automated and remote cloud lab facility. Operations in the cloud lab are conducted through a computer console and internet access that allows the user to program equipment, set up experiments and analyze data. In this course, students will learn the steps to use the Wolfram language/Mathematica based Cloud Lab Command Center interface to remotely interact with the facilities and laboratory instruments in the cloud lab. Following training exercises, students will be able to select the appropriate equipment and reagents to prepare samples and solutions for laboratory analyses and experiments. (No prior knowledge of Mathematica is required but basic programming skills are helpful)

09-623 Future Lab- DNA Science in the Cloud: Fall: 6 units
This course uses an automated and remote cloud lab facility and will involve learning the steps to handle, manipulate and quantitate solutions of DNA and nucleic acids. Students will set up experiments that automate the dispensing, analysis and purification of nucleic acids and use DNA for biophysical measurements. Students will learn to remotely operate, design and execute experiments on state-of-the-art instrumentation to analyze DNA sequence and structure. Besides learning how to remotely use equipment and instruments for synthesis and analyses by spectroscopy and spectrometry, students will also learn about nucleic acids as part of their experiments. (Prior training in the use of the cloud lab is required)
Prerequisite: 09-621 Min. grade C

09-702 Statistical Mechanics and Dynamics: Intermittent: 12 units
In this course we will review basic thermodynamics and study the fundamental principles of statistical mechanics and their applications from chemistry perspective.
Prerequisites: (09-611 or 09-344) and 09-231 and 09-701

09-706 Practicum in Computational Quantum Chemistry: Fall: 12 units
This course introduces students to computational approaches for modeling molecular quantum systems, with an emphasis on practical implementation, numerical methods, and interpretation of results. Rather than focusing primarily on formal derivations, the course centers on using modern computational quantum chemistry tools to explore physical and chemical properties of atoms and molecules. The course uses Mathematica integrated with electronic structure packages such as Gaussian, enabling seamless integration of symbolic and numerical calculations supported by high performance algorithms and dynamic visualization. This approach allows students to develop both intuitive and quantitative understanding of quantum phenomena while working directly with computational models. By leveraging Mathematica's functional programming and symbolic algebra capabilities, the course shifts the emphasis away from traditional programming and toward computational exploration, problem solving, and discovery. In combination with emerging AI assisted tools, this framework lowers the barrier to entry and makes the course accessible to students without prior experience in technical computing. The course incorporates core computational techniques including linear algebra, Fourier analysis, and differential equation methods, alongside an introduction to machine learning approaches for analyzing and modeling complex systems. Topics include numerical solutions to the Schr and #246;dinger equation, basis set methods, variational approaches, and electronic structure techniques such as Hartree Fock and Kohn-Sham Density Functional Theory.

09-707 Nanoparticles: Intermittent: 12 units
This course discusses the chemistry, physics, and biology aspects of several major types of nanoparticles, including metal, semiconductor, magnetic, carbon, and polymer nanostructures. For each type of nanoparticles, we select pedagogical examples (e.g. Au, Ag, CdSe, etc.) and introduce their synthetic methods, physical and chemical properties, self assembly, and various applications. Apart from the nanoparticle materials, other topics to be briefly covered include microscopy and spectroscopy techniques for nanoparticle characterization, and nanolithography techniques for fabricating nano-arrays. The course is primarily descriptive with a focus on understanding major concepts (such as plasmon, exciton, polaron, etc.). The lectures are power point presentation style with sufficient graphical materials to aid students to better understand the course materials. Overall, this course is intended to provide an introduction to the new frontiers of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Students will gain an understanding of the important concepts and research themes of nanoscience and nanotechnology, and develop their abilities to pursue highly disciplinary nanoscience research. 3 hrs. lec.

09-710 Chemistry and Sustainability: Spring: 12 units
This course aims to educate students in the foundations of systematic leadership through chemistry and more for building a sustainable world. Many sustainability challenges are associated with commercial chemicals and with operational modes of the chemical enterprise. The course aims to challenge students to analyze and understand the root causes of unsustainability, especially in the technological dimension, to imagine a more sustainable world and to begin to define personal leadership missions. Students will be introduced to sustainability ethics as the foundation of transformative sustainability leadership, to a sustainability compass, to a Code of Sustainability Ethics and to various other helpful conceptual material as tools for analyzing the reasons our civilization has been failing to address its own unsustainability. The Collins Bookcase of Green Science Challenges organizes the technical content. It systematizes the major chemical sustainability challenges of our time: clean synthesis, renewable feed-stocks, safe energy, elemental pollutants, persistent molecular toxicants and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Focal areas will be the technical, toxicological and cultural histories of elemental and molecular pollutants with particular emphasis on EDCs. Students will experience Legacy Lectures from some of the world's leading endocrine disruption scientists. The graded substance will take the form of take-home work. Students will primarily watch classic movies and read key books and articles and will summarize and personally evaluate the material in essay assignments. The course is intended for upper-level undergraduates and graduates although it is open to all students. The class is limited to 30 students. The assignments are common to both undergraduate and graduate classes offerings and 09-710 students will engage in additional projects. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: 09-107 or 09-105

09-711 Physical Organic:Molecular Logic: Decoding and Designing Chemical Reactivity: Fall: 12 units
Molecular Logic is a cutting-edge course that reimagines traditional physical organic chemistry for the digital age. This course introduces students to the fundamental principles governing molecular structure, reactivity, and design, while equipping them with modern computational and data-driven tools to tackle complex chemical problems. Molecular Logic is designed to be field-agnostic, as the concepts and techniques covered here can be applied to problems ranging from organometallic catalysts to molecular materials and chemical biology. The course covers essential topics such as molecular orbital theory, linear free energy relationships, stereoelectronic effects, and reaction mechanisms, integrating these concepts with state-of-the-art computational methods, data science techniques, and machine learning applications. Students will gain practical experience in computational approaches to modern reaction analysis, while exploring applications in data-driven molecular design and optimization. This interactive learning strategy bridges theory with real-world applications, preparing students for the interdisciplinary nature of modern molecular research and industry. This course is suitable for: • Upper-level undergraduate students in chemistry or chemical engineering, with prerequisites being organic chemistry ( 09-220 , 09-218 , or similar) and physical chemistry ( 09-347 , 09-344 , 06-310 , or similar); • Graduate students in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, computational biology, machine learning, and related fields. There are no formal prerequisites for graduate students. Familiarity with the Python programming language is recommended but not formally required.
Prerequisites: (09-218 or 09-220) and (09-344 or 09-347)

09-714 Advanced Organic Chemistry: Spring: 12 units
This course will expose the students to modern methods of organic synthesis including insights into the basis and mechanisms of chemical reactions. Topics include but are not limited to: modern spectroscopic analysis and structure determination, synthetic methods, retrosynthesis, organic reaction mechanisms, and references to separation techniques and some analytical methods. Upon completion of the course students should be able to design reaction schemes using scientific literature sources, evaluate their suitability for use in the lab and develop an aptitude in identifying the use of modern reagents that are more efficient, specific, safer and environmentally friendly. It is assumed that at minimum students will have completed at least two semesters of undergraduate coursework in organic chemistry and suggested that they have completed 09-222 and 09-321, the organic laboratory courses. 3 hrs. lec
Prerequisites: 09-218 or 09-220

09-715 Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules: All Semesters: 12 units
This course addresses the fundamentals of polymer science with the emphasis on physicochemical consequences of chain nature of macromolecules and on the behavior of polymers in condensed state (polymers as soft condense matter). The topics to be covered include: chain structure and molecular weight; molecular weight distribution; step growth and addition polymerization mechanisms; chain conformation and behavior of polymers in solution; concentrated solutions and phase separation behavior; rubber elasticity; introduction to polymer viscoelasticity and rheology; mechanical behavior of polymers; glass transition and crystallization; multicomponent polymeric materials; liquid crystalline polymers; polymers at surfaces and interfaces; self-assembly and nanostructure formation in synthetic and biological systems; conducting and semiconducting polymers. Graduate students taking the course for 12 units will be required to write a term paper on a selected topic. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: 06-310 or 09-345

09-718 Bioorganic Chemistry: Nucleic Acids and Carbohydrates: Fall: 12 units
This course will introduce students to new developments in chemistry and biology, with emphasis on the synthesis, structural and functional aspects of nucleic acids and carbohydrates, and their applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. Later in the course, students will have the opportunity to explore cutting-edge research in this exciting new field that bridges chemistry with biology. Students will be required to keep abreast of the current literature. In addition to standard homework assignments and examinations, students will have the opportunity to work in teams to tackle contemporary problems at the forefront of chemistry and biology. The difference between the 09-518 (9-unit) and 09-718 (12-unit) is that this latter is a graduate level course. Students signed up for 09-718 will be required to turn in an original research proposal at the end of the course, in addition to all the other assignments. 3 hrs. lec.
Prerequisites: (03-151 or 03-121) and (09-218 or 09-220)

09-719 Bioorganic Chemistry: Peptides, Proteins and Combinatorial Chemistry: Spring: 12 units
This course will introduce students to new developments in chemistry and biology, with emphasis on the synthesis, structural and functional aspects of peptides, proteins and small molecules. Basic concepts of bioorganic chemistry will be presented in the context of the current literature and students will have the opportunity to learn about the experimental methods used in various research labs. An introduction to combinatorial chemistry in the context of drug design and drug discovery will also be presented. Students will be required to keep abreast of the current literature. Homeworks and team projects will be assigned on a regular basis. The homework assignments will require data interpretation and experimental design; and team projects will give students the opportunity to work in teams to tackle contemporary problems at the interface of chemistry and biology. Students enrolled in the graduate level course (09-719) will be required to turn in an original research proposal at the end of the course, in addition to the homework assignments, midterm, and final exam that are required for the undergraduate course.
Prerequisites: (03-121 or 03-151) and (09-218 or 09-220)

09-720 Physical Inorganic Chemistry: Intermittent: 6 units
This course develops the principles of magnetochemistry and inorganic spectroscopy. Electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, resonance raman, NMR, EPR, Mossbauer, magnetization and x-ray methods will be introduced with application towards the determination of electronic structures of transition metal complexes.
Prerequisites: 09-348 and 09-345 and 09-344

09-722 Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chemical and Enzymatic Reactions: Intermittent: 12 units
This is a practical course aimed at learning the major modern tools which are essential for investigation of mechanisms of homogeneous chemical and enzymatic reactions. Rules of formal chemical kinetics in solution are first considered followed by basic principles of kinetics of enzymatic processes including inhibition, which is a key factor in the up-to-date drug design. The relationships between electronic structures, catalytic properties, and reactivity of biologically relevant metal complexes will be provided. Electrochemical and redox features of metal complexes will be reviewed. The course includes such hot topics as Fenton chemistry, Marcus's electron transfer concept, catalysis by Collins' TAML activators of peroxides, specific and general acid/base, proximal and micellar catalysis. Mechanistic pathways of action of hydrolases, kinases, hydrogenases, oxidases, peroxidases, cytochrome P-450, and other metalloenzymes will be described. The course is supplied by the recently published text (A. D. Ryabov "Practical Kinetics and Mechanisms of Chemical and Enzymatic Reactions" Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK) which includes all the above mentioned themes (Graduate course: 09-722, 12-units) 3 hrs. lec. Prerequisite: 09-348
Prerequisites: 09-348 and 09-220 and 09-345

09-724 Environmental Chemistry: Spring: 12 units
Environmental pollutants are common consequences of human activities. These chemicals have a wide range of deleterious effects on the environment and people. This course will introduce students to a range of major environmental pollutants, with a particular focus on persistent organic pollutants. We will use chemical principles including thermodynamics, kinetics, photochemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships to understand the environmental fate of major classes of pollutants. The transport of chemicals through the environment and their partitioning between air, water, soil, and people will be described. The major environmental reaction pathways (oxidation, photolysis, hydrolysis, reduction, metabolism) of common pollutants will be explored. This will provide students with the necessary knowledge to predict the chemical fate of environmental pollutants, and improve their understanding of the environmental impacts of their everyday chemical use and exposure. Specific topics include water quality, photochemical smog, organic aerosols, atmospheric chemistry and global climate change, toxicity of pesticides, and heterogeneous and multiphase atmospheric chemistry. This 12-unit course is intended for graduate students that want to explore aspects of the course more deeply. This includes additional requirements including a final term paper and in-class presentation, and additional advanced questions on the homework assignments. Undergraduates should register for 09-524, the 9-unit version of the class, unless they obtain specific permission from the instructor to enroll in this class.
Prerequisites: 09-219 or 09-217

09-729 Introduction to Sustainable Energy Science: Fall: 12 units
This course focuses on the chemistry aspects of sustainable energy science. It introduces the major types of inorganic and molecular materials for various important processes of energy conversion and storage, such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, water splitting, solar fuels, batteries, and CO2 reduction. All the energy processes heavily rely on innovations in materials. This course is intended to offer perspectives on the materials/physical chemistry that are of importance in energy processes, in particular, how the atomic and electronic structures of materials impact the energy harvesting and conversion. In current energy research, intense efforts are focused on developing new strategies for achieving sustainable energy through renewable resources as opposed to the traditional oil/coal/gas compositions. This course offers students an introduction to the current energy research frontiers with a focus on solar energy conversion/ storage, electrocatalysis and artificial photosynthesis. The major types of materials to be covered include metals, semiconductors, two-dimensional materials, and hybrid perovskites, etc. The material functions in catalysis, solar cells, fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors, hydrogen production and storage are also discussed in the course. The lectures are power-point presentation style with sufficient graphical materials to aid students to better understand the course materials. Demo experiments are designed to facilitate student learning.
Prerequisites: (09-107 or 09-105) and (33-121 or 33-141 or 33-151)

09-730 Chemistry of Gene Expression: Fall: 12 units
rinciples behind the structure and function of nucleic acids.Main topics of lectures and class discussion will include the chemical and biochemical syntheses, properties and analyses of natural and modified nucleic acids to investigate cellular processes such as transcription, RNA splicing, other RNA regulation and translation; an introduction to the enzymatic strategies that accelerate these chemical reactions and a comparison of protein enzymes, ribozymes and other nucleic acid based enzymes in contemporary chemistry and biology. Students will learn to critically evaluate current scientific efforts that examine various aspects of chemistry and biological chemistry, the relationship between the structure and function of biomolecular systems, propose experiments to examine biological chemistry research problems and communicate these ideas and participate in scientific discussions and debates. 3 hrs. lec.

09-732 Biocatalysis: Fundamentals, Recent Advances and Industrial Applications: Fall: 6 units
Biocatalysis is a rapidly developing field that utilizes naturally evolved and bioengineered enzymes as platforms to offer revolutionary solutions for chemical production. Modern biocatalysis relies on enzyme discovery, enzyme reaction mechanism elucidation, and high throughput screening processes for enzyme bioengineering. The recent established world's first academic cloud lab at CMU is a perfect remote-access and automated facility to be used to expand our research capacity into the biocatalysis area in both fundamental studies and biocatalytic platform development and engineering. This great research and educational opportunity calls for the development of courses to disseminate fundamental knowledge and practical skills related to biocatalysis to students so that the interested students could start engaging in this area of research. Thus, this proposed course, with the aim to introduce the field of biocatalysis in both academic studies and industrial applications, starts filling this gap. This course features an in-depth discussion of different topics in biocatalysis with examples of how biocatalysis has reshaped various aspects of modern industries including food, pharmaceuticals, consumer products and biomaterials industries. This course also provides an overview of common enzyme classes used in modern biocatalysis and their associated catalytic mechanisms and engineering. Hands-on experience of common bioinformatic and computational tools for new enzyme discovery will also be integrated into the course.
Prerequisites: (09-219 or 09-217) and (03-231 or 03-232 or 03-151 or 03-121)

09-736 Metal Mediated Chemical Reactions: Intermittent: 12 units
Transition metal catalysts are invaluable in small molecule and polymer synthesis. The course will begin with a brief overview of organometallic chemistry and a discussion of fundamental organometallic reactions. Following this, a survey of some selected topics for the formation of small molecules and polymers will be presented. Some topics to be highlighted include: (1) Hydrogenation (2) Palladium Catalyzed Cross-Coupling (3) Epoxidation (4) Olefin Metathesis (5) Olefin Polymerization
Prerequisites: (09-218 or 09-220) and 09-348

09-737 Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Development: Spring: 12 units
Organic chemistry is an intimate part of the drug discovery and design processes in areas that include structure determination (NMR, mass spectrometry), synthesis, and determination of mechanisms of action. Once a promising compound (i.e. a ?lead?) has been identified in the laboratory, it is rarely ready to be used in the clinic. Complications include poor bioavailability, rapid degradation, and off-target effects. Students will learn about lead compound optimization through structural variations, cell-specific targeting and pro-drug strategies. Several examples will be presented to illustrate the role played by organic chemistry in the development of drugs used to treat a range of diseases, including cancer, HIV-AIDS, bacterial infections and heart disease.
Prerequisites: 09-218 or 09-220

09-738 Exposure and Risk Assessment for Environmental Pollutants: Intermittent: 12 units
Our world is full of synthetic and naturally occurring toxic chemicals, presenting an imminent but difficult-to-quantify threat for human and ecosystem health. In this papers-based course we will ask the question, "How do we decide what's 'safe'?" in the context of exposure and risk assessment for toxic environmental pollutants. We will complete a series of case studies featuring current and seminal literature, in-class activities, and project-based assignments. Each case study will focus on a distinct contaminant exposure scenario and will be linked back to the common theme of using chemistry to understand how external exposure leads to internal dose and subsequent health impacts for diverse environmental pollutants. We will discuss how knowledge generated in the laboratory can be translated and used to inform regulatory decisions. The first half of the course will focus on contaminant bioavailability, exposure, and toxic effects in aquatic organisms. In the second half of the course, we will discuss human exposure to toxic pollutants and strategies to assess risks in the human population, including the human exposome concept, -omics-based research, and strategies for discovering novel harmful contaminants.
Prerequisites: 09-105 or 09-106 or 09-107

09-741 Organic Chemistry of Polymers: Spring: 12 units
A study of the synthesis and reactions of high polymers. Emphasis is on practical polymer preparation and on the fundamental kinetics and mechanisms of polymerization reactions. Topics include: relationship of synthesis and structure, step-growth polymerization, chain-growth polymerization via radical, ionic and coordination intermediates, copolymerization, discussions of specialty polymers and reactions of polymers. Students in 09-741 will take the same lectures and the same exams as those enrolled in 09-502 but, in addition, will prepare a term paper on the topic of advanced polymeric materials, to be approved by the instructor. 09-509 or 09-715, Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, is excellent preparation for this course but is not required. 3-6 hrs. lec.

09-760 The Molecular Basis of Polymer Mechanics: Spring: 12 units
This course is a graduate level course designed to prepare students for graduate research in polymer science. Based around a laboratory component, students will learn the lab skills needed to synthesize and fully characterize novel polymer materials. The classroom component will teach the theory behind the measurements made in lab, as well as an understanding of the best experiments to learn about the properties of the material. Emphasis will be placed on current literature and technical communication (written and oral). 3 hrs lec; 3 hrs lab

09-763 Molecular Modeling and Computational Chemistry: Spring: 12 units
Computer modeling is playing an increasingly important role in chemical, biological and materials research. This course provides an overview of computational chemistry techniques including molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, electronic structure theory and continuum medium approaches. Sufficient theoretical background is provided for students to understand the uses and limitations of each technique. An integral part of the course is hands on experience with state-of-the-art computational chemistry tools running on graphics workstations. This is the graduate equivalent of 09-563. Students enrolled in the graduate level course will complete an additional independent project. 3 hrs. lec.

09-768 Machine Learning for Molecular Sciences: Spring: 12 units
The emergence of contemporary artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods has the potential to substantially alter and enhance the role of computers in science. At the heart of ML applications, lie statistical algorithms whose performance, much like that of a scholar, improves with training. There is a growing infrastructure of machine learning tools for generating, testing and refining scientific models. Such techniques are suitable for addressing complex problems that involve vast combinatorial spaces or complex processes, which conventional procedures either cannot solve or can tackle only at great computational cost. The purpose of this course is to provide a practical introduction to the core concepts and tools of machine learning in a manner easily understood and intuitive to STEM students. The course begins by covering fundamental concepts in ML, data science, and modern statistics such as the bias-variance tradeoff, overfitting, regularization, and generalization, before moving on to more advanced topics in both supervised and unsupervised learning. Topics covered in the course also include ensemble models, neural networks, modern deep learning, embedding, clustering and data visualization. Throughout the course, we emphasize application of ML methods to chemical, physical and biological data. A notable aspect of the course is the hands-on use of Python Jupyter notebooks to introduce modern ML/statistical packages.
Prerequisites: (09-344 or 09-231) and (15-110 or 15-112)

Faculty

BRUCE A. ARMITAGE, Professor and Department Head of Chemistry, Co-Director Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology – Ph.D., University of Arizona; Carnegie Mellon, 1997–

STEFAN BERNHARD, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Fribourg (Switzerland); Carnegie Mellon, 2009–

MARK E. BIER, Research Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Center for Molecular Analysis – Ph.D., Purdue University; Carnegie Mellon, 1996–

EMILE BOMINAAR, Associate Research Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands); Carnegie Mellon, 1994–

TERRENCE J. COLLINS, Teresa Heinz Professor in Green Chemistry and Director of the Institute for Green Science – Ph.D., University Auckland, (New Zealand); Carnegie Mellon, 1988–

SUBHA R. DAS, Associate Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Auburn University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006–

NEIL M. DONAHUE, Thomas Lord University Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy and Director of the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research – Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Carnegie Mellon, 2000–

SIMON FAULKNER, Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University- Qatar – Ph.D., University College London (United Kingdom); Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

ISSAAC GARCIA-BOSCH, Associate Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Girona, Catalonia (Spain); Carnegie Mellon, 2021–

ROBERTO GIL, Research Professor of Chemistry and Director of the NMR Facility – Ph.D., Córdoba National University (Argentina); Carnegie Mellon, 2002–

GABRIEL DOS PASSOS GOMES, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering – Ph.D., Florida State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

YISONG (ALEX) GUO, Associate Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of California at Davis; Carnegie Mellon, 2014–

MICHAEL P. HENDRICH, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Illinois; Carnegie Mellon, 1994–

OLEXANDR ISAYEV, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Jackson State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2020–

RONGCHAO JIN, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Northwestern University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006–

ANNA KIETRYS, Assistant Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland); Carnegie Mellon, 2020–

HYUNG J. KIM, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook; Carnegie Mellon, 1992–

TOMASZ KOWALEWSKI, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland); Carnegie Mellon, 2000–

MARIA KURNIKOVA, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon, 2003–

DANITH LY, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology; Carnegie Mellon, 2001–

KRZYSZTOF MATYJASZEWSKI, J.C. Warner University Professor of Natural Sciences and Co-Director of the Center for Polymer-Based Protein Engineering and Director of the Center for Macromolecular Engineering – Ph.D., Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland); Carnegie Mellon, 1985–

CARRIE MCDONOUGH, Assistant Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Rhode Island; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

NIMER MURSHID, Assistant Teaching Professor – Ph.D. , University of Waterloo; Carnegie Mellon, 2023-–

KEVIN NOONAN, Professor of Chemistry and Associate Department Head – Ph.D., University of British Columbia (Canada); Carnegie Mellon, 2011–

LINDA A. PETEANU, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Chicago; Carnegie Mellon, 1992–

GIZELLE SHERWOOD, Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies – Ph.D. , Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2009–

GLORIA SILVA, Teaching Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina); Carnegie Mellon, 2002–

RYAN SULLIVAN, Professor of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering and Associate Director of the Institute for Green Science – Ph.D., University of California at San Diego; Carnegie Mellon, 2012–

STEFANIE SYDLIK, Associate Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Carnegie Mellon, 2015–

LEONARD VUOCOLO, Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Laboratories – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2005–

NEWELL WASHBURN, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering – Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley; Carnegie Mellon, 2004–

DAVID YARON, Professor of Chemistry – Ph.D., Harvard University; Carnegie Mellon, 1992–

Emeriti

GUY C. BERRY, University Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Polymer Science – Ph.D., University of Michigan; Carnegie Mellon, 1960–

JOSEF DADOK, Professor Emeritus of Chemical Instrumentation – Ph.D., Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences; Carnegie Mellon, 1967–

REA FREELAND – PhD, Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 1993–

SUSAN T. GRAUL, Associate Teaching Professor Emerita of Chemistry – Ph.D., Purdue University; Carnegie Mellon, 1992–

PAUL J. KAROL, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry – Ph.D., Columbia University; Carnegie Mellon, 1969–

ECKARD MÜNCK, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry – Ph.D., Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany); Carnegie Mellon, 1990–

GARY D. PATTERSON, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry – Ph.D., Stanford University; Carnegie Mellon, 1984-.–

STUART W. STALEY, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry – Ph.D., Yale University; Carnegie Mellon, 1986–

KAREN H. STUMP, Teaching Professor of Chemistry – M.S., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 1983–

Adjunct Faculty

BERNARD CRIMMINS, Adjunct Associate Professor of Chemistry and Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Clarkson University and President of Academic Environmental/Analytical Consulting Services (AEACS), LLC. – Ph.D., University of Maryland; Carnegie Mellon, 2018–

JOHN PETERSON MYERS, CEO and Chief Scientist of Environmental Health Sciences – Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley; Carnegie Mellon, 2010–

JAMES PETERSON, Adjunct Associate Professor of Chemistry and Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh – Ph.D., University of Essex, UK; Carnegie Mellon, 2004–

Courtesy

MICHAEL BOCKSTALLER, Professor of Materials Science Engineering and Faculty of Chemistry – Ph.D., Johannes Gutenberg University (Germany); Carnegie Mellon, 2005–

ANDREW GELLMAN, Lord Professor of Chemical Engineering and Co-Director W.E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation – Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley; Carnegie Mellon, 1992–

NOA MAROM, Assistant Professor of Materials Science Engineering and Faculty of Chemistry – Ph.D., Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel); Carnegie Mellon, 2016–

GORDON RULE, Professor of Biological Sciences and Head of CMU Qatar Biological Sciences Program and Faculty of Chemistry – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 1995–

ALAN J. RUSSELL, Highmark Distinguished Career Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of Disruptive Health Technology Institute – Ph.D., Imperial College of London; Carnegie Mellon, 2012–

JAMES SCHNEIDER, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Faculty of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry – Ph.D., University of Minnesota; Carnegie Mellon, 1999–

JOHN L. WOOLFORD JR., Professor of Biological Sciences; Co-Director of Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology and Faculty of Chemistry – Ph.D., Duke University; Carnegie Mellon, 1979–

Special Faculty

ANNE ARNOLD, Special Lecturer – Ph.D, Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2025–

NIHARIKA KRISHNA BOTCHA, Special Lecturer – Ph. D, University of Alabama; Carnegie Mellon, 2021–

Undergraduate Catalog