The University of Wisconsin-Madison is the premier public research university in the United States. Among all universities, public and private, Wisconsin ranks in the top 5 in recent evaluations of research activity and expenditures for research and development (almost $600 million in 2001-02). Among doctoral programs in the US, fifteen UW-Madison departments, including chemistry, are ranked in the top 10. Five Nobel Prizes have been awarded to current or former UW-Madison faculty. Twelve Nobel prizes have been awarded to UW-Madison alumni. Seventeen Pulitzer Prizes have been awarded to Wisconsin faculty and alumni. Fifty-eight of the UW-Madison faculty are members of the National Academy of Science or the National Academy of Engineering.

For decades, Chemistry at Wisconsin has attracted outstanding graduate students, faculty, postdoctoral associates and visiting scholars. The long and continuing tradition of excellence in our Department has many direct and indirect benefits for graduate students. In addition to having a broad choice of high quality courses, seminars, and research projects, you will benefit from informal interactions with exceptional research scientists at all levels of experience. The reputation for excellence in our department is recognized locally and nationally by funding agencies and corporate research sponsors. This facilitates the establishment and maintenance of first-rate instrumentation, library, shops and laboratories.