Prospective Graduate Students

• Download Graduate Brochure (pdf)
• Why Study Chemistry at UW-Madison?
• Research Opportunities and Atmosphere
• Facilities
• Funding and Financial Aid
• Apply Now

Why Study Chemistry at UW-Madison?

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the premier public research universities in the United States. Among all U.S. universities, public and private, Wisconsin ranks in the top five in recent evaluations of research activity and expenditures. In 2010, the university surpassed $1 billion in research spending. Among doctoral programs in the U.S., 15 UW-Madison departments, including chemistry, rank in the top 10 within their disciplines. Seventeen Nobel Prizes have been awarded to current or former UW-Madison faculty and alumni. Elected members of the National Academy of Science, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine include 121 UW-Madison faculty members; five Department of Chemistry professors are members of the National Academy of Science.

For decades, chemistry at Wisconsin has attracted outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, postdoctoral associates, and visiting scholars. This long and continuing tradition of excellence has many direct and indirect benefits for undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to having a broad choice of high quality courses, seminars, and research projects, students at all levels benefit from informal interactions with exceptional research scientists. The department also maintains a high-quality library, as well as first-rate instrumentation, shops, and laboratories. The department's reputation for excellence is nationally recognized by federal and nonprofit funding agencies such as NSF, NIH, and the Department of Energy, as well as corporate research sponsors.

Whether you expect to pursue an academic, industrial, or government career, the UW-Madison Department of Chemistry will start you on the right path. Hundreds of UW-Madison chemistry alumni have distinguished themselves as professors, research scientists, and administrators. The department's reputation in the industry is evidenced by the fact that more than 70 companies send recruiters each year to conduct placement interviews with students in our department. This is a significant career advantage for our students.

The research atmosphere at Wisconsin, and especially in chemistry, is a distinctive feature. Collegiality and cooperation are the rule. Two or more research groups typically combine for research and literature seminars, broadening students' exposures to a variety of viewpoints and techniques. This free intellectual and technical exchange, together with talent and enthusiasm for science, creates a very stimulating environment.

You will note that chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy and chemical engineering are separate departments at Wisconsin. Each, on its own, enjoys national top 10 status among doctoral programs in their respective areas. Interaction and collaboration between students and faculty in these departments are common, and our students are encouraged to take advantage of these wider opportunities in their coursework and research.

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Research Opportunities and Atmosphere

Graduate students at UW-Madison focus on one path, or area, of chemistry, such as organic, inorganic, analytical, chemical biology, materials, or physical/theoretical. These paths do not convey, however, the richness of research opportunities available to our graduate students. The following subdisciplines, which often overlap with one or more of the paths, are currently represented among our research groups. Look for more information about these subdisciplines on faculty members' research program pages.

• Astrochemistry
• Bio-organic chemistry
• Biophysical chemistry
• Catalysis
• Chemical education
• Computers and chemistry
• Electrochemistry
• Instrumentation
• Laser chemistry
• Macromolecular science
• Molecular dynamics
• Organometallic chemistry
• Photochemistry
• Physical organic chemistry
• Reaction mechanisms
• Solid state chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Structural chemistry
• Surface science
• Synchrotron radiation
• Synthetic chemistry
• X-ray crystallography
• ... and many more

First-year graduate students select from a nucleus of fundamental courses given each year in areas such as thermodynamics, organic reaction mechanisms, quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, kinetics, transition metal chemistry, instrumental analysis, MO theory of organic systems, organic synthesis, etc. Specialized courses at the advanced level are also offered; these vary from year to year. Depending on a student's path, or major area, the actual program varies widely. Each student must take four courses in areas outside his or her thesis specialization (the "minor" requirement). Coursework in the major area falls into the six paths (analytical, chemical biology, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical/theoretical). However, there is variation even within these paths, especially after the first year. For example, the advanced courses taken by physical chemists specializing in theoretical chemistry will often differ from those taken by their colleagues in spectroscopy or macromolecular chemistry. Similarly, organic chemists may choose to emphasize synthesis or physical methods of structural characterization. Interdisciplinary programs are available in theoretical chemistry (Theoretical Chemistry Institute), the cross-campus Materials Science Program, and in polymer chemistry (the Macromolecular Science and Engineering program). A brochure describing the polymer chemistry program, which includes research groups in engineering and the biochemical sciences as well as chemistry, is available from Professor Yu.

For students whose research interests extend into fields bordering chemistry, there are opportunities for course work, collaborative research, and seminars presented by experts from throughout the world in many other departments. Upon approval by the thesis adviser and any other faculty members involved, collaboration is possible with the Enzyme Institute, the molecular biology program, the biophysics program, the School of Pharmacy, the Departments of Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Sciences, and the College of Engineering.

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Facilities

View a list of UW-Madison's world-class facilities.

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Funding and Financial Aid

Graduate students are supported by teaching appointments, research assistantships, and fellowships. Most first-year chemistry graduate students have teaching assistantships. This teaching experience is valuable, as it strengthens the mastery of the subject matter taught and develops poise and maturity in working with individuals and groups. Students with fellowships benefit by doing some teaching, and can usually supplement their stipends. The department does not, however, require that graduate students teach. In later years, Ph.D. students usually serve as research assistants for their thesis advisors. Summer support for Ph.D. candidates is routinely available.

UW-Madison Graduate School Financial Aid Page

The Graduate School awards fellowships in mid-February. Students applying for graduate school in the following year who are awarded fellowships may activate their awards in June or in September. A limited number of summer research and teaching positions are also available from the department for exceptional new students who have accepted the department's offer for the following year. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office for more information on these fellowship programs.

Opportunities for Minority Graduate Students: The Chemistry Department welcomes applications for graduate study from members of minority groups. Financial assistance for minority students is available through the UW-Madison Graduate School. Contact Professor Paul Treichel for more information.

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