Graduate Students
The Chemistry department Masters programs provide post-baccalaureate training in one or more of the primary subdisciplines of chemistry, including analytical, organic, inorganic, and physical. Training is in the form of advanced coursework, advanced techniques associated with a research project, and dissemination of ideas in both written and oral communications.
We offer M.S. degree concentrations in three areas: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Neuroscience, and Environmental Chemistry.
Our primary goal is that students will either be accepted into nationally accredited graduate or professional programs or will have secured professional employment that makes significant use of their degree. M.S. students write a research-based thesis, and results from student research will appear in peer-reviewed publications or form the basis for future publications.
Learning Outcomes:
- Graduates attain a level of technical ability and knowledge to function as professionals in their discipline.
- Communication/presentation skills are consistent with professional standards.
- Graduates obtain employment or continue education in the field following graduation.
- In addition to the above intended outcomes, M.S. graduates will have performed research using technical and problem solving skills to contribute to their field.
M.S. students often are employed in chemistry or chemistry-related careers, or continue their education at the Ph.D. level or in professional schools (e.g. Medical, Law, Business, etc. schools).
All faculty members in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry can mentor M.S. students in this program. See individual faculty pages for their research specializations and opportunities that may exist in their groups. See our "Apply to Graduate Programs" page to study Chemistry at UAF. Current students should see our "For Current Students" page for information on how to progress towards their degree.
Graduate Program Coordinators William Howard 907-474-6019 wahoward@alaska.edu for Chemistry Kelly Drew 907-474-7190 kldrew@alaska.edu for Biochemistry and Neuroscience William Simpson 907-474-7235 wrsimpson@alaska.edu for Environmental Chemistry Tom Trainor 907-474-5628 tptrainor@alaska.edu for Environmental Chemistry
Biochemistry and Neuroscience Graduate Program
Biochemistry and Neuroscience (B&N) is an interdepartmental program administered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
The graduate program in Biochemistry and Neuroscience supports training and research excellence in core areas including cellular and molecular neuroscience, drug discovery and bioanalytical chemistry. The program contributes to the Biomedical and One Health Science community at the University of Alaska and seeks to better understand and develop technologies related to the Arctic. The goal of the program is to prepare students for careers in biochemistry and neuroscience to meet workforce demand within academia, industry, government and legal services. Prospective students are encouraged to contact core and associated faculty (listed below) to inquire about specific research training opportunities.
Students in the Ph.D. program are required to take graduate courses, complete a research-based thesis, and pass comprehensive and final oral examinations. Students are encouraged to take a wide range of courses. Thesis research is undertaken in collaboration with a thesis advisor who also chairs the student's graduate advisory committee. The committee helps advise the student on scientific and academic matters, oversees the various graduate exams, and approves the thesis. The major advisor and committee are chosen during the student's first year as a graduate student.
Students are generally supported throughout their appointments, either by teaching assistantships in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, or by a research assistantship. The latter are funded by grants from the state or federal agencies secured by our faculty.
Our intended learning outcomes for students in biochemistry and neuroscience are:
- Graduates attain a level of technical ability and knowledge to function as professionals in their discipline.
- Masters graduates have performed research using technical and problem solving skills to contribute to their field. Doctoral graduates demonstrate that they can independently identify a problem and devise appropriate methods for its solution, contributing original knowledge to that field.
- Communication/presentation skills are consistent with professional standards.
- Graduates obtain employment or continue education in the field following graduation.
Environmental Chemistry Graduate Program
Environmental Chemistry is a highly interdisciplinary field that focus on the chemical processes influencing the composition and chemical speciation of natural systems (air, water and soils), the chemical fate and mobility of contaminants in the environment, chemical processes that affect the toxicity and bioavailability of contaminants, and chemical aspects of contaminant remediation and pollution prevention (green chemistry). The common link to all these areas of study is a focus on the underlying chemical structure, reactivity and mechanisms that dictate the extent and rates of environmentally important chemical reactions. Environmental chemistry is a challenging field, requiring core training in physical, analytical, organic and inorganic chemistry and an understanding of how these disciplines can be applied to complex environmental systems. It is also a highly rewarding discipline, as it provides a quantitative and fundamental approach to understanding the processes that influence the quality of the environment we live and work in. See our faculty and research page to get a flavor of what projects we are doing.
Environmental Chemistry program is centered in the Natural Sciences Building on the UAF campus that houses state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and computer facilities to support education and research activities. Located in the "Heart of Alaska", UAF is home to numerous research institutes and centers that focus Arctic science and engineering, and provide great opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary studies focused on the chemistry of polar and sub-arctic systems. The graduate program in Environmental Chemistry provides advanced training in the concepts and methods of Molecular Environmental Sciences. An M.S. degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Environmental Chemistry prepares students for careers in Environmental Science and Technology sector as a specialist in the analysis and interpretation of Environmental Chemical data and/or for more advanced studies in Environmental Chemistry or related disciplines. The Ph.D. provides advanced training beyond the level of a Masters degree, which is accomplished primarily through the Ph.D. dissertation that presents new findings on fore front topics related to molecular processes in the environment. The Ph.D. degree in Environmental Chemistry prepares students for careers in academia or the public and private research sectors.
- The programs' intended learning outcomes for students are: Graduates attain a level of technical ability and knowledge to function as professionals in their discipline.
- Masters graduates have performed research using technical and problem solving skills to contribute to their field. Doctoral graduates demonstrate that they can independently identify a problem and devise appropriate methods for its solution, contributing original knowledge to that field.
- Communication/presentation skills are consistent with professional standards.
- Graduates obtain employment or continue education in the field following graduation.
Funding: Graduate students in the Environmental Chemistry program are typically supported through teaching and research assistantships or fellowships. Program specifics are provided in the UAF catalog.
Graduate Courses in Environmental Chemistry
For a full listing of department courses please see the UAF course catalog:
CHEM 601/ATM 601 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences,
CHEM 605/ENVE 641 Aquatic Chemistry,
CHEM 606/ATM 606 Atmospheric Chemistry,
CHEM 609/GEOS 633 Environmental Geochemistry,
CHEM 618 Crystallography and Diffraction,
CHEM 631/ATM 631 Environmental Fate and Transport,
CHEM 632 Molecular Spectroscopy,
CHEM 655 Environmental Toxicology,
CHEM 660/MSL 660 Chemical Oceanography,
CHEM 666 Scientific Teaching,
CHEM 691 Research Presentation Techniques,
CHEM 692 Chemistry Seminar
Graduate Courses in Related Topics Students in Environmental Chemistry have a wide range of additional course offerings available in Atmospheric Sciences, Geology and Geophysics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Biology. Some of the courses commonly used to satisfy elective requirements are listed below.
ATM 606 Atmospheric Chemistry
ATM 613 Atmospheric Radiation
ATM 615 Cloud Physics
ATM 631 Environmental Fate and Transport
ATM 645 Atmospheric Dynamics
GEOS 614 Ice Physics
GEOS 615 Sea Ice
GEOS 618 Introduction to Geochemistry
GEOS 619 Advanced X-ray Spectroscopy
GEOS 633 Environmental Geochemistry
CE 663 Groundwater Dynamics
ENVE 641 Aquatic Chemistry
ENVE 642 Contaminant Hydrology
ENVE 651 Environmental Risk Assessment
ENVE 652 Introduction to Toxicology for Engineers and Scientists
ENVE 658 Energy and the Environment
MSL 660 Chemical Oceanography
Graduate Study in Chemistry and Biochemistry at UAF
The UAF Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers three graduate degrees:
Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry, Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Neuroscience, and M.S. in Chemistry
The latter includes concentrations in either Chemistry, Biochemistry and Neuroscience, or Environmental Chemistry.
The Environmental Chemistry Ph.D. program is an interdisciplinary effort that includes faculty from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, the College of Natural Science and Mathematics' Division of Research, the Geophysical Institute, the Institute of Arctic Biology, the Institute of Northern Engineering, and Federal agencies such as the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. The Biochemistry and Neuroscience Ph.D. program is ranked in the top 200 Biochemistry programs in the nation. The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Chemistry introduces students to advanced topics in chemistry and present opportunities for cutting-edge research. Students have the opportunity to adjust their curricula to meet their career goals. Graduate faculty advisors make sure to tailor every graduate degree to meet the research interests and educational goals of our graduate students.
Financial Aid: Teaching and research assistantships in chemistry, environmental and biochemistry are available to qualified graduate students. All applicants are considered for financial assistance during the department review process so applicants don't need to fill out additional paperwork to be considered for assistantships.
Prospective Students
There has never been a more exciting time to pursue a PhD at UAF. Students in Chemistry and Biochemistry find faculty who are dedicated both to research and teaching excellence in a university that promotes cutting edge discoveries relating to high-latitude biological, physical, environmental and human sciences. As the eyes of the world turn towards the fast changing Arctic, research conducted by our students and faculty becomes increasingly prominent.
Our department offers five different graduate degrees:
M.S. or Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Neuroscience
M.S. or Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry
M.S. in Chemistry
Ready to Apply?
See our "Apply to Graduate Programs" page for the easy application process. The application deadline for Fall admission into our program January 15 for domestic and international students. The application deadline for Spring admission is October 1 for domestic students (we do not accept international students for spring admission).