The core areas of Chemistry (Analytical, Biological, Inorganic, Organic, and Physical) are the foundations for the interdisciplinary and transformative research areas below that undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Chemistry research. To enable and enhance these research efforts, the Department of Chemistry houses, maintains, and provides training for several pieces of critical equipment: FT-IR Spectrometers, High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) Mass Spectrometer, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrometers (400 & 500 MHz), UV-Vis Spectrometers, Inert Atmosphere Glovebox, and X-ray Diffractometer (XRD).  

This area explores the development of new technologies that provide improved batteries, thermoelectrics, new materials for photovoltaics, and production of new molecules from biomass.​ To enable these technologies, Chemists aim to understand how homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts control the transformation and creation of molecules by exploring the sub-atomic, atomic, electronic, and molecular scale structures and behavior of catalysts and their interactions with molecules using experimental and computational methods.

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This area explores the molecular and cellular basis of biological processes and analyzes the interaction of molecules with biology. Precise organic and inorganic synthesis are developed, understood, and used to create new molecules and materials with desired activity and specificity of action for applications such as pharmaceuticals, drug delivery vehicles, and biomaterials.

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This area focuses on understanding how students learn chemistry, how best to teach chemistry, and how to improve learning outcomes by changing teaching methods in addition to training chemistry teachers in the newest education techniques.

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This area explores the sources, effects, and reactions of chemical species in the air, water or soils by using methods to follow the fate of chemicals in the environment as well as creates new processes to remove and destroy contaminants in the environment. The department has a specific emphasis on addressing the challenges with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other persistent chemicals in the environment.

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This area explores how macromolecular, supramolecular, and nanoscale structures lead to the microscopic and macroscopic properties of materials used in applications such as polymers, coatings, catalysts, biomaterials, drug delivery, electronics, and sensors. The department focuses on both the synthetic techniques to create these materials and the analytical methods to characterize materials at the nanoscale as well as at surfaces and interfaces.

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This area explores the use of non-petroleum feedstocks to create chemicals and looks to implement the principles of green chemistry in synthesis by exploring new synthesis pathways, new catalysis, supercritical CO2 processes, new materials, and understanding the complex nature of natural sources of molecules and materials. The department has specific emphasis on understanding and manipulating the chemical structures of wood-derived molecules and utilizing these for new value-added products including sustainable packaging and fuels.

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