Department of Chemistry
What are living and nonliving things made of? Find out through studying the nature of matter, the composition of substances and their properties and reactions. You'll have hands-on research experience in different areas such as theoretical physical chemistry, drug discovery or organic synthesis.
Immerse yourself in the composition, structure, properties and reactions of matter, especially of atomic, elemental and molecular systems. Experience a challenging but nurturing environment and take courses in analytical, biological, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry.
Undergraduate and graduate students perform original research in a number of different areas of chemistry, from theoretical and experimental physical chemistry to organic synthesis, nanomaterials and biochemistry.
Facilities
The Department of Chemistry is located in the Center for Science and Technology (CST) on the eastern edge of campus.
The department is equipped with state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities and an outstanding technical support staff. Available instrumentation includes the following, to name a few:
- Isothermal titration calorimeter
- NMR and X-ray crystallography facilities
- Ultrafast laser laboratory
- Several high-resolution spectrophotometers and fluorimeters
- Electrochemical analyzers
- HPLC systems
- Polarimeters
- IR and Raman spectrometers
- Instrumentation for GC-MS and LC-MS measurements
Other support services include the Chemistry Stores, an on-campus source for commonly used laboratory supplies and chemicals, and electronics and glass blowing shops, where highly specific research equipment is designed and fabricated. The Science and Technology Library offers an outstanding collection of scientific literature and electronic resources.
Take chemistry out into the world
There are many career possibilities for a chemistry major. Chemical, drug and oil companies are certainly options. Here are some others:
- Manufacturing companies—such as fragrances, steel, dyes, or computers.
- Service companies offering testing, cleaning, or analysis
- Education.
- Government (national laboratories, agencies, or the military).
- Entrepreneurial opportunities, start-ups, or think tanks.
- Legal field. Lawyers with a chemistry degree are highly sought after for their expertise.
Learn more about all your options by speaking with your advisor.
There are no events in this category right now, but please check the University calendar for many other options.
Upcoming Events
Ongoing Events
(Feb. 24, 2025)
Syracuse Researchers Developed Ultrasensitive Molecular Force SensorsA&S professor Xiaoran Hu has developed molecules that undergo mechanochemical transformations, which could be used to report nanoscale stress in plastics and help scientists study mechanobiology processes.
(Jan. 14, 2025)
Innovative Researchers Join A&S In Spring 2025Meet the new professors joining the College of Arts and Sciences this spring.
(Aug. 28, 2024)
Leading Thinkers Join A&S Faculty in Fall 2024Meet the new professors teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences.
(July 22, 2024)
Remembering John BaldwinBaldwin, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of chemistry, dedicated four decades to Syracuse University.
(July 10, 2024)
Chemistry Professor Mathew Maye Collaborates with Brookhaven National Laboratory on DOE grantThe Department of Energy grant for Syracuse semiconductor research aims to advance quantum computing.
Yao, Z.; Zhang, B. S.; Steinhardt, R. C.; Mills, J. H.; Prescher, J. A. Multicomponent bioluminescence imaging with an extended pi-luciferin. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020, 142, 14080. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c01064
Kerr, W. G.; Pedicone, C.; Dormann, S. D.; Pacherille, A.; Chisholm, J. D. “Small Molecule Targeting of SHIP1 and SHIP2.” Biochem. Soc. Trans. 2020, 48, 291-300. DOI:10.1042/BST20190775.
Pedicone, C., Fernandes, S., Dungan, O. M., Dormann, S. M., Viernes, D. R., Adhikari, A. A., Choi, L. B., De Jong, E., Chisholm, J.D. and Kerr, W.G. "Pan-SHIP1/2 inhibitors promote microglia effector functions essential for CNS homeostasis." J. Cell Sci. 2020, 133, jcs238030. DOI:10.1242/jcs.238030.
Moser, B. A.; Escalante-Buendia, Y; Steinhardt, R. C.; Rosenberger, M. Cassaidy, B.; Naorem, N. Chon, A. C.; Nguyen, M.; Tran, N.; Esser-Kahn, A. P. Small Molecule NF-kB Inhibitors as Immune Potentiators for Enhancement of Vaccine Adjuvants. ChemRxiv https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.10043138.v1
Wu. M.; Moser, B. A.; Steeves, T. M.; Figueroa, A.; Wallace, B. M.; Kim, S. T.; Esser-Kahn, A. P.; Steinhardt, R. C. Photon upconversion for the enhancement of microfluidic photochemical synthesis. RSC Adv., 2019, 9, 26172–26175. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9RA03468D