Organic Chemistry
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As a graduate student majoring in organic chemistry, you can expect to participate in one of the strongest organic programs in the world. Our approach to graduate education is to combine well organized academics (courses, seminars, cumulative exams, proposal) with world class research. The goal of the organic program is to give the Ph.D. student the most modern of backgrounds in preparation for an independent career. Graduate education involves learning the latest theoretical treatments of organic reactions, the development of synthetic expertise, the ability to analyze critically physical organic and reaction mechanism problems, and the art of structure elucidation. We encourage students to join research groups before the end of their first semester. Early involvement in a research group is a good idea because experienced students in the group can be the best source of information about the department, coursework, and other important matters. Early participation in research group seminars is especially valuable and helps provide a sense of camaraderie and intellectual stimulation. At Wisconsin you will have an unusually large number of top-flight research groups to choose from for your dissertation studies. All organic research areas of current interest, including synthetic, mechanistic, bioorganic, organometallic, combinatorial, materials, catalytic, structural, and computational chemistry are represented, usually by multiple research groups. With such an extensive selection available, you should be readily able to match your interests and goals to an appropriate research advisor. A distinguishing feature of the research environment at Wisconsin is the degree of interaction and collaboration between groups. This will enhance your exposure to all of the research areas, and broaden your experience. The instrumental support for your research at Wisconsin is unsurpassed, with numerous NMR, mass spec, x-ray, and computational facilities for your use. Everyone is strongly encouraged to acquire hands-on experience with these state-of-the-art instruments which are so crucial for first-class research. New students with a strong background can finish all of the course requirements during the first academic year. As few as six courses can satisfy all requirements, two of which are specified: CHEM 641 (a course in reaction mechanisms and physical organic) and CHEM 841 (organic synthesis and synthetic methods). Four other courses can be chosen from a wide selection to satisfy the minor requirement. Most often, choices include CHEM 605 (Spectroscopic Methods; structure elucidation by use of the most modern of organic techniques) plus selections from such topics as biochemistry, transition metal chemistry, MO theory, kinetics, pharmacology, computer science, and so forth. An informal problem-solving course, CHEM 647, is also taken by organic majors to refine their "arrow pushing" ability on a variety of reactions and molecular rearrangements. The details of a student's program depend on research area and career plans, and are arranged through discussions with the thesis advisor. A series of advanced courses is available with changing content. This CHEM 800 series consists of special topics courses in areas such as bioorganic, synthetic, organometallic, materials, structural, computational, and mechanistic chemistry, among others. All students sit in on some of these courses for their own benefit and attend the numerous special lectures by distinguished visiting scientists. The success of our approach to graduate education is reflected in the fact that Wisconsin ranks as one of the largest and most respected sources of Ph.D. organic chemists for academic and industrial positions. Most major college chemistry departments have organic faculty members who have studied at Wisconsin, and dozens of companies come to Madison each fall to recruit our students. Many of our graduates have reached the highest levels of national and international distinction in their independent careers. No other university in the country has as many active research groups making fundamental contributions in organic chemistry. |
Mechanism & Theory
Synthesis
Organometallics & Catalysis |
Chemical Biology
Biopolymers & Biopolymer MimicsMaterials |