Graduate Study - The PhD Program
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a wide variety of courses at the graduate level. Full information and current availability is available elsewhere but these courses include advanced topics in
Inorganic Chemistry
Coverage of inorganic chemistry based on principles of bonding, structure, reaction mechanisms, and modern synthetic methods. Chemistry and general properties of representative and transition elements and their compounds. Modern coordination chemistry. Includes a description of bonding and properties of coordination compounds in terms of the ligand field and molecular orbital theories.
Atmospheric Chemistry
Basic kinetics and photochemistry of atmospheric species. Stratospheric chemistry with emphasis on processes controlling ozone abundance. Tropospheric chemistry focusing on photochemical smog, acid deposition, oxidative capacity of the atmosphere, and global climate change.
Analytical Chemistry
Coverage includes special topics in spectrochemical analysis, including atomic and molecular spectroscopy, laser analytical methods, electron spectroscopy, surface analytical methods, and their applications to environmental, atmospheric, and bioanalytical problems. Electroanalytical chemistry including a background for understanding electrochemical systems through a review of the relevant thermodynamic, kinetic, and electronic principles. Compares classical and modern electrochemical methods of analysis. Analytical separation processes, with special reference to theory and practice of liquid and gas chromatography.
Organic Chemistry
a) Synthetic Organic Chemistry.
A wide ranging survey of organic synthesis with an emphasis on important functional group transformations and carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. Selected special topics are also covered including both methods and/or the total synthesis of complex molecules.
b) Physical Organic Chemistry.
Modern concepts of physical organic chemistry and their use in interpreting data in terms of mechanisms of organic reactions and reactivities of organic compounds.
c) Advanced Spectroscopic Techniques in Organic Chemistry.
Advanced spectroscopic techniques for structure and determination in organic chemistry. Emphasizes 1D and 2D proton and carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy
Physical Chemistry with Biochemistry Applications
Introduction to thermodynamics and kinetics, emphasizing macromolecules and biochemical applications.
Physical Chemistry
Fundamental concepts of quantum and classical statistical mechanics. Applications to properties of gases, liquids, solids, spin and polymer systems. Reaction, fluctuation, nucleation, and relaxation phenomena. Discussions of mechanism and rate of chemical reactions from a fundamental point of view. Discusses nature of collision and develops concepts of cross section and rate constant. Theories of elementary bimolecular and decay processes are critically examined. Basic principles and techniques of quantum mechanics with applications to questions of chemical interest. Quantum dynamics of atoms, molecules, and spin; electronic structure of atoms and molecules.
Molecular Biophysics
Discusses techniques used to determine structure, function, and dynamics of macromolecules, including optical spectroscopy, magnetic resonance, diffraction, and scanning microscopy.
Surface Science
Principles of surface science with emphasis on fundamental surface phenomena, surface techniques, and surface chemistry. Basic description of surfaces, adsorbate-surface interactions, surface kinetics and methods of surface analysis. Surface science of interactions, surface kinetics, and methods of surface analysis. Surface science of heterogeneous catalysis, semiconductor processing, and environmental interfaces.
Advanced Molecular Spectroscopy
Rotational, vibrational, and electronic spectra of molecules, and their interpretation in terms of the quantum theory of molecular structure.
Environmental Chemistry
Analysis and quantification of environmental contaminants, atmospheric chemistry, and energy use.
Biochemistry
In-depth analysis of DNA structure and replication, RNA synthesis and processing, protein synthesis, enzyme function and mechanism, protein structure, protein dynamics, and physical chemistry of macromolecules. Detailed consideration of contemporary topics in biochemistry, including protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary), methods of structure determination and prediction, protein folding (kinetics, thermodynamics, denaturation, and renaturation), and protein dynamics (internal motions and methods of analysis). Detailed studies of the current literature relative to enzyme kinetics and mechanisms; lipids and lipoproteins; chemistry and enzymology of nucleic acids; biochemistry of nucleic acids in eukaryotic cells; and protein chemistry.
Scientific Ethics and Responsible Conduct in Research
Advanced discussion of topics in scientific ethics, including requirements for responsible conduct of research, case histories of fraud, research misconduct, ethical misconduct, and development of professional values and ethical standards.
Signal Transduction and Cell Cycle Regulation
Advanced discussion of current research and literature in signal transduction, including ligands, receptors, and intracellular signaling pathways, as well as control of transcription, chromatin structure, DNA replication, mitosis, and cell cycle progression.
Protein Sequencing and Analysis
Advanced discussion of current methods in protein sequencing, sequence analysis, and posttranslational modifications, emphasizing techniques of mass spectrometry, use of protein databases, sequence alignment and motifs, structure prediction, and modeling of signaling pathways.