About the Department
The Department of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University conducts exciting research programs that often use interdisciplinary approaches to bring insight to important problems, particularly at the interface areas related to nanotechnology and biotechnology. Faculty regularly translate their research into innovative courses and welcome undergraduates into their laboratories.
The highly collaborative culture of the department creates strong relationships that give students access to multiple mentors and a wide range of instruments and resources for outstanding scientific training. Carnegie Mellon's bachelor and doctoral chemists are well prepared for interdisciplinary approaches to research as well as to work on applications to important problems in government and industry.
For example:
- Polymer and materials chemists develop new materials for devices like sensors and solar cells and test them in collaboration with electrical engineers and materials scientists.
- Bioorganic chemists and chemical biologists collaborate with biologists to make fluorescent dyes and biosensors with applications in medical diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Atmospheric chemists are engaged in continuous dialogue with engineers to understand the impact of atmospheric particles on human health and the environment.
- Synthetic and physical chemists explore the mechanisms and applications of green oxidation catalysts to reduce toxic and polluting products entering the environment.
- Bioinorganic chemists use different types of spectroscopy to investigate metalloenzymes and metalloproteins that can inspire solutions to critical health and energy problems.
We invite you to explore our research and both undergraduate and graduate educational programs as well as the accomplishments of our faculty and students.