Chemistry

Chair: Haobin Wang
Office: Science Building, 3071 E
Telephone: 303-315-7634
Fax: 303-315-7633
Website: clas.ucdenver.edu/chemistry/

Faculty

Professors:
Robert Damrauer, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

David Engelke, PhD, Washington University (St. Louis)
Doris Kimbrough, PhD, Cornell University
Hai Lin, PhD, University of Science and Technology of China

Scott Reed, PhD, University of Oregon

Haobin Wang, PhD, Wayne State University
Xiaotai Wang, PhD, University of Virginia

Associate Professors:
Jefferson Knight, PhD, Yale University

Yong Liu, PhD, University of Michigan

Xiaojun Ren, PhD, Jilin University

Marino Resendiz, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

Liliya Vugmeyster, PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Assistant Professors:
John D. (Nick) Fisk, PhD, University of Wisconsin

Emilie Guidez, PhD, Iowa State University
Jung-Jae Lee, PhD, University of Notre Dame

Clinical Associate Professor:
Margaret Bruehl, PhD, Northwestern University
Marta Maroń, PhD, University of Colorado Boulder

Senior Instructor:
Priscilla Burrow Crocker, PhD, University of Colorado Boulder

Instructors:
Vanessa Fishback, PhD, University of Northern Colorado
Kyoung Kim, PhD, University of Notre Dame

Undergraduate Information

Chemistry is the study of matter and its transformations, from the smallest scale - atoms and subatomic particles - to the macromolecules that provide structure and function to living organisms. Chemistry is often called the “central science” because it touches on other STEM disciplines including physics, biology, medicine, environmental science, geology, mathematics, materials science, technology, and many others. A degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry can prepare you for a wide range of meaningful careers discovering and applying scientific knowledge. Modern chemistry combines computer modeling and experimental observation using procedures that are much safer and more environment-friendly than in past generations. Learning chemistry also teaches you important critical thinking skills that can be valuable in any career.

For more information regarding the Biochemistry Major or double major options, contact the Biochemistry Major Advisor: Dr. Vanessa Fishback vanessa.fishback@ucdenver.edu.

For more information regarding the Chemistry Major or double major options contact the Chemistry Major Advisor: Dr. Marta K. Maroń marta.maron@ucdenver.edu.

All Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors should contact their respective Major Advisor every semester.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Major in Chemistry.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Major in Biochemistry.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the American Chemical Society Certified Major in Chemistry.

Departmental Honors

Qualified students are encouraged to participate in the Chemistry Honors Program. Three levels of honors are awarded by the CU Denver Chemistry Department.

To earn cum laude honors in Chemistry or in Biochemistry, a student must satisfy one of the following criteria:

an overall GPA of 3.2 or better and a chemistry GPA of 3.5 or better; or
an overall GPA of 3.2, a chemistry GPA of 3.2 or better, and six hours of CHEM 4880 Directed Research, spread over a minimum of two semesters.

To earn magna cum laude or summa cum laude honors in Chemistry or Biochemistry, a student must satisfy each of the following criteria:

an overall GPA of 3.2 or better,
a chemistry GPA of 3.5 or better;
six hours of CHEM 4880 Directed Research, spread over a minimum of two semesters with a GPA of 3.2 or better;
Presentation and approval of a thesis based on the independent study research to a faculty advisory committee. If the thesis is approved, the faculty committee can recommend graduation at either the magna cum laude (high) or summa cum laude (highest) level.

Guidelines for Thesis
The advisory committee is to include three faculty from the University, including at least one faculty member from Chemistry and at least one faculty member from outside the department. If the PI is chemistry department faculty, then the PI is the chair of the committee. If the PI is faculty in another department, the student needs to recruit a Chemistry faculty member who has familiarity with the research topic to serve as committee chair. The student should have the committee members in place during the first month of the semester in which the student plans to graduate.

The committee chairperson by agreeing to serve validates that the presented research has been performed by the student.

The thesis is written using the primary journal style of the research sub-specialty. The student gives committee members the finished thesis two weeks prior to the thesis presentation unless the student has been otherwise informed by the committee members. The student organizes the time and place of examination. The last date to schedule the oral examination of the thesis is the Friday before the last week of the regular semester. This gives the student two weeks to make corrections and changes specified by the committee. The last day to turn in a completed and signed off thesis is the Friday of finals week at 4 pm. The committee signs the Thesis Examination Form, gives a copy to departmental advisor along with a copy of the thesis.

Chemistry Minor

For more information contact the Chemistry Minor Advisor: Dr. Priscilla Burrow priscilla.burrow@ucdenver.edu. All Chemistry minors should contact the minor advisor the semester prior to the semester of planned graduation.

Click here to learn about the requirements for a Minor in Chemistry.

Certificate in Biochemistry

For more information contact the Biochemistry Major Advisor: Dr. Vanessa Fishback vanessa.fishback@ucdenver.edu. Students applying for the certificate should contact the major advisor during the semester prior to the semester of planned certificate award.

Click here to learn about the Certificate in Biochemistry.

Chemistry BS/MS Program

Click here to learn about our BS/MS Program. For more information contact the Graduate Advisor Dr. Scott Reed at scott.reed@ucdenver.edu.

Graduate Information

At the graduate level, an MS degree program is offered. Students with MS degrees have job opportunities in research and technical laboratory services. In addition, flexible programs can be designed to combine chemical knowledge and skills with other interests of the MS-level student (e.g., biology or environmental science). Please go to the Graduate catalog to read about our graduate programs.