Organic Chemistry

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As a graduate student in the organic chemistry path, you will participate in one of the strongest organic programs in the world. Our approach to graduate studies combines well organized academics with world class research. As a graduate student in organic chemistry, you will learn:

• 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.

Each new graduate student joins a research group before the end of his or her first semester. Early participation in research group seminars is especially valuable and helps provide a sense of camaraderie and intellectual stimulation.

At Wisconsin you will have a large selection 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, 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 among groups. The department also offers excellent instrumental support for your research, with numerous NMR, mass spectrometry, x-ray, and computational facilities for your use.

New students with strong science backgrounds 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. Organic chemistry students also tend to take an informal problem-solving course, CHEM 647, 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.

The department also offers a series of advanced courses that address 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.

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 year to recruit our students. Many of our graduates have reached the highest levels of national and international distinction in their independent careers.