(0-40 students)
Of course, a doctoral dissertation is required by all Ph.D. programs. Most (71%) graduate programs require entering graduate students to take placement exams, although this requirement tends to be less prevalent as program size increases. The average program requires a minimum of 20 credits (semester hours, corrected for programs on the quarter system) of coursework, a number that does not vary significantly by program size. In addition to course work and dissertation, 96% of programs require at least one of the following: cumulative examinations (58%), an oral preliminary exam (54%), a comprehensive oral exam (50%), and/or a comprehensive written exam (31%). All four of these exams are required by 7% of programs; 17% of programs require three; 43% of programs require two; and 28% require only one. Large programs require cumulative exams less often and oral exams more often than small or medium programs. Only four programs (3%) require students to pass a language exam for the Ph.D.
All Programs | Small Programs (0-40 students) | Medium Programs (41-105 students) | Large Programs (106+ students) | |
Entering graduate students take placement exams | 71% | 79% | 70% | 65% |
Minimum number of credits of formal course work | 20 cr | 22 cr | 20 cr | 19 cr |
Require cumulative examination | 58% | 58% | 73% | 45% |
Require an oral preliminary examination | 54% | 37% | 53% | 69% |
Require a comprehensive written examination | 50% | 44% | 47% | 59% |
Require a comprehensive written examination | 31% | 37% | 27% | 31% |
Require a foreign language examination | 3% | 2% | 4% | 2% |
Require creation and defense of original proposal | 74% | 72% | 70% | 80% |
The mean time to the Ph.D. is 5.1 years, a number that varies neither by program size nor by public vs. private institution (data not shown). Most programs place a limit on the amount of time allowed to achieve a Ph.D. (average of 7.8 years) as well as on the number of years of departmental support allowed a student (average of 5.9 years). More than 80% of students choose a research advisor within six months of entering graduate school. A significant number of programs either require or permit laboratory rotations before a final advisor is selected.
Monetary support for Ph.D. students comes from teaching assistantships more often than from research assistantships at small and medium programs, while the reverse is true in large programs. There is wide variation in TA stipends, depending on both program size and geographic location. Most programs have a range of stipends, which on average run from $18,000 to about $20,000 per year. Teaching assistants at larger programs are more likely to teach discussion (recitation) sections than those in small or medium programs.
All Programs | Small Programs (0-40 students) | Medium Programs (41-105 students) | Large Programs (106+ students) | |
Mean time to Ph.D. degree | 5.1 years | 5.0 years | 5.2 years | 5.1 years |
Limit time allowed to achieve Ph.D. (if so, how long?) | 73% (7.8 years) | 78% (7.8 years) | 69% (8.1 years) | 73% (7.4 years) |
Limit number of years of support? (If so, how long?) | 60% (5.9 years) | 70% (5.5 years) | 56%(6.1 years) | 55% (6.2 years) |
What percentage of students select a research advisor within: Two months? Six months? Twelve months? | 20% 81% 98% | 23% 76% 97% | 17% 80% 100% | 21% 87% 100% |
Lab rotations are either allowed or required before selecting a final research advisor | 46% | 43% | 40% | 53% |
Percentage of students supported by: Teaching assistantships Research assistantships | 54% 40% | 62% 28% | 55% 40% | 45% 51% |
TA stipend Ave low Ave high | $18,000 $19,900 | $16,000 $18,500 | $18,200 $20,400 | $19,500 $20,700 |
Percentage of TAs teaching discussion sections | 45% | 32% | 41% | 60% |
In addition to chemistry knowledge and laboratory skills, it is important that all Ph.D. chemists develop skills in areas such as critical thinking, oral and written communication, and teamwork. Toward this end, 74% of all programs require students to create and defend an original research proposal (Table 2). All but six programs require students to make presentations (exclusive of the thesis defense) to audiences other than their research group; the average number of required presentations is 2.4, with little variation by program size. When asked whether any graduate students receive student-skills training outside of formal course work, 67% responded that at least some students receive specific training in communications; 59% in ethics/scientific integrity; 43% in grant writing; 37% in mentoring; 37% in intellectual property/patents; and 18% in business/economics. Students in large programs are more likely to receive some training in these skill areas than are students in other programs.
The data from this CPT survey provide a snapshot of graduate student demographics, requirements for the degree, and progression and support in chemistry Ph.D. programs. Survey results highlight similarities and differences among small, medium, and large programs across the country.
Dr. Joel I. Shulman retired as The Procter & Gamble Company's Manager of Doctoral Recruiting and University Relations in 2001 and is now an adjunct professor of chemistry at the University of Cincinnati. He serves the ACS as a consultant for the Office of Graduate Education and the Department of Career Management and Development and as a member of the Committee on Professional Training.
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I struggled with low self confidence throughout my bachelors, masters and PhD in chemical engineering. After spending two years in Masters and six years in getting a PhD degree, I am lost at what I can do with my life.
Initially, my plan was to be in academia. Though I love doing research, I don't see that as a possibility anymore.
I did not do well in my PhD. I have only two first-author journal publications in ~2.5 impact factor journals. I did not acquire significant skills. I am bad at programming, and I have a 3.7 GPA. I did not learn to drive or learn any foreign language. I did not improve my health or developed a new hobby. I even did not spend time on having a relationship. In short, I have done nothing over the past six years.
My PhD supervisor has given me a postdoc position. And I feel extremely inadequate. I feel that I won't be able to do anything after my postdoc year, and I will just be a burden and disappointment to my parents.
I am an international student living in the US.
I don't know what I should do. What should I do?
It looks to me like you did not do so badly as you think. Two publications and 3.7 GPA are not so bad. It might depend on the field, it might not be the best ever, but I have seen much worse. If your supervisor offered you a postdoc position after having you for 6 years as a PhD student, it means that they consider your work useful.
You might be suffering from impostor syndrome . Do read the question and the answers in that link and see if you identify.
If you are not sure now, you have plenty of time during your postdoc year to decide whether you want to continue in academia or get a job in industry. The pros and cons of both options have been discussed extensively, as a quick Google search for "industry vs academia" shows. I personally agree with this source .
And, in most cases, the answer to "I have wasted X years of my life because I did not do Y and Z" is "do not look at the past and do Y and Z now". Especially when, as in your case, Y and Z can be done at any stage in your career life, such as learning languages, programming or driving.
To be honest, I'm tempted to agree with Buffy. It sounds like the biggest issue you have might actually be the one you identified at the start of your post - low self-confidence. Studying for a PhD, and working in academia in general, has a tendency to have that effect on people - you're far from alone.
If I were you, I'd be tempted to take stock of my overall life situation at this point, perhaps with some input from the people around me, and try to get an objective view of how things really are - they may not actually be as bad as you think.
For example, here are some plus points:
You finished a PhD. That's already a huge deal - lots of people don't even start a PhD, and of those who do, a proportion never finish. Of those who finish, lots of people feel like they didn't change the world with their PhD, and that's fine - most people don't, and that's not required. You've got the rest of your life to worry about that, if you want to, and it's not required even then. It's ok to just live and be happy sometimes.
You've got a postdoc position lined up, if you want to stay in academia. Your supervisor wants you to stay, which means you probably did something right during your PhD. Maybe your PhD didn't actually go as badly as you think.
If you've just finished your PhD, it's quite likely (in the absence of other evidence to the contrary, which I don't have) that you're still relatively young. That means you've got time on your side - there's still a whole lot of life ahead of you in which to do all the things you want to do (learning to drive, learning a foreign language, improving your health, developing your hobbies, having a relationship, ...). It sounds like you're unhappy that you haven't been doing those things, which means you'd probably be happier if you started doing them. Pick one and go start on it right now - hopefully you'll feel better (it's generally worked for me, when I've been feeling down). Starting on one of them sounds like much more fun than carrying on feeling fed up about not doing them, at any rate.
Best of luck!
p.s. For what it's worth, the fact that you've got a list of things you wish you'd been doing, and are unhappy that you haven't been doing them, is a good sign - there's an easy fix for that, which is go do some of them. That's much better than not having a list of things, and sitting there having existential angst and wondering whether life is pointless :)
You're faring really well.
This is not to say that what you're feeling isn't real. It is real, and there is a problem. It's just that the problem is not what you have, but who you are. What you have is a highly successful life, at the same time, you are depressed and miserable.
You don't need more things, you have it all. No Nature publication will take you out of your dark place. You need to learn to enjoy life and accept yourself.
I know the last sentence is useless in itself, because it only tells you what you need, but not how to do it. Unfortunately, that's about as far as a stranger on the internet can get you. Speak to friends, speak to a psychologist, speak to anyone willing to listen, speak to yourself and try to figure out where does this need for accomplishments comes from, so you can move on.
You need to talk to someone – be that a counsellor (as @Buffy has suggested in the comments), a family member, a friend, or even (depending on your relationship) your supervisor. It does sound like a good part (if not most!) of the problem you describe may stem from impostor syndrome, and if that's the case, then it will be crucial to have others as a sounding board, to help put things into perspective. I have never known anyone in academia who didn't struggle at some point, somehow. Academia is tough, research is hard and failures are inevitable.
You mention you love doing research. Considering that you have also successfully turned that research into publications, it rather sounds like you do have what it takes to succeed. (Again, to put things into perspective, in my field it is normal for PhD students to graduate with 0–1 publications, and the impact factor of what's considered the leading journal is about 2.3. Different fields are different, yes. But you have definitely not failed.)
The other things you mention seem more minor to me. You say you are bad at programming. But you can always improve – programming, if anything, is one of those things where practice makes perfect. You mention you have neglected your health, hobbies and interpersonal relationships. But this is not uncommon: these things happen to many people who pursue a PhD, in various ways, and it is not too late to do something about them now. You say you have done nothing over the past 6 years. This cannot be literally true (you have earned a PhD, an enormous undertaking), but even if it were, the thing to do now would be to start doing those things you have neglected in the past.
But please do consider talking to someone. Having to verbalize your own thoughts and feelings is an excellent way of beginning to understand your thoughts and feelings, and of starting to see a solution.
Get your frame of reference right.
Achieving a PhD puts you in the 5% highest educated part of the population. That's quite significant. But you're comparing yourself to the smartest people in your direct environment - an environment set up try to get together all the smartest people.
If you don't manage to be in the top 1%, surely being in the top 5% is still something to feel pretty happy with?
They are marathon runners on arrival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSZlSaPJAdQ
Do they look well? Can you imagine, how bad feeling could it be, being there, after 42km of running?
But believe me: it is uncomparably better to be there, than for us, watching them on the youtube .
Don't do any irrecoverable mistake now! Wait, at least some months, more ideally some years! Take some longer leave, if you can (probably you can), and do nothing! Only think.
For example, now you can learn to drive. Ask anybody having a driving license, but no Phd, would they switch to the other.
I know what it's like to feel like you "haven't been living" for years. Six years of my life disappeared by my being extremely sick.
I have 5 years of unemployment in my résumé, an unfinished PhD, a tiny professional network, and ongoing health problems which make many things impossible. But I'm living again.
Some people have been in prison for 10 years. Some have escaped war-torn countries. Some have recovered from drugs or alcoholism. It's very hard when you suddenly awaken from a world of constraints into a world of choices, seemingly at a huge disadvantage from others within it. (I am not saying you've got it easier than they do. I'm saying you have this in common.)
Some of them go on to do amazing things. They have a moment that will define their life, and they work and work and work and work to a level that others can't imagine, and do something great for the benefit of their fellow man.
Others are just happy to be alive, happy to have gotten away from a bad place. Nothing wrong with that.
The most important thing in life is not success or respect or glory. It is to make choices that keep you out of misery. Anything more is a bonus.
But asking the question you're asking proves you are ready to change your life.
Maybe you could go to your home country or a country in poverty, where your skills and knowledge could make a bigger difference. Remember you don't need to use your degree at all; you could enter a completely different field. It's better to do it by choice than by necessity. Doing a variety of menial jobs of different sorts can be really enriching, since you see life from so many angles.
Doing a PhD doesn't just teach you about your topic; it teaches you about being thorough, exploring the state of the art, problem-solving, organisational skills, and so on. These make you very valuable if you use them well.
I know what I want to create. And I know what's stopping me is not my 6 missing years; it's my unwillingness to confront my weaknesses (like networking and time management.) Now I'm confronting these things, and I'm surprised at my success.
Go get 'em.
Two first-authored papers is not bad, I seen a lot of people getting phd for way less and still being full of themselves. You are doing good.
You don't think you did well during your PhD, but you stuck with it anyways. That sounds like a lot of PhD students. But, it also sounds like students that stuck with something, b/c their parents were back-seat driving their futures.
As others have said, your self-esteem issues stem from something. Something makes you feel inadequate all the time, and makes you compare yourself to others all the time.
Usually, that starts from overbearing parents constantly comparing you to other kids, chastising you for not being as good as some top-tier, stellar performer in your same grade or field, etc.
My dad did that to me my whole life. I was expected to get good grades. When I got them, I didn't get a "good job!" or anything. But, if I got bad grades, I got punished. As I got older, my dad would constantly compare me and my siblings against each other and to other kids his coworkers had. "So-n-so's kid is doing XYZ." (to insinuate it's better then what I was planning on doing, or was doing).
Even when I was an adult, my dad was trying to back-seat drive my career with "advice" that wasn't so much him trying to do what was best for me, but what was best for my career. He never took me, as a person, into consideration when giving advice.
What I realized over time (chatting with my dad extensively) was that he made decisions in his career... he gave up moving up the ladder or managerial positions, because he decided to start a family. He took a back-seat position at his job where he kept his head down and kept his mouth shut so he could keep earning an income and not rock the boat while supporting his family. He made one major career shift up the ladder to get more money, and in retrospect it was an awful decision that uprooted the family and set in motion events that pretty much tore the family apart.
What I realized as I got older was that he was trying to coach me to have the career he wished he could have; he was trying to guide his dream job vicariously through me.
He would push it in ways by either telling me exactly things he thought I should do, or package it as "I was chatting with kids at the gym and giving them advice, and this one kids doing XYZ" (again, to insinuate this "one kid" was doing something better then I was).
I got sick of it.
So, I stopped chatting with him about work, school, etc. When he'd ask or press, I simply told him that I was only going to speak with him like a member of the family, not someone I was seeking career counseling from.
I eventually had a blow-up with him, because I was tired of him trying to back-seat drive my life while I was watching his life implode around him with issues he wasn't staying on top of during a situation that basically forced me to take control of his responsibilities when he ended up in the hospital.
What I learned was ... just ignore him.
In 20 years time, my dad won't be around any more. But, god-willing.. I will.
In 20 years time, will I be happy if I had followed my dad's advice and done this and that? No. I'd be miserable, because he was pushing me to go in directions that were making me miserable.
So, why bother listening to him? Why bother trying to please him?
In 20 years time I can follow his advice and be miserable while he's dead, or I can ignore it and be happy while he's also dead.
Ultimately, I have to figure out what makes me happy, though.
But, when you have someone constantly telling you that you're not doing good enough, you need to do better, you're not doing as well as so-n-so over there, you should be heading in a certain direction, you need to do it all before a certain BS time limit... you know what, you eventually turn into a hot mess that thinks very little of yourself b/c you constantly have a devil on your shoulder that never thinks what you're doing is good enough.
Tell that person (or those people) to go screw off.
Since you're international.. and you're in a STEM field.. and you went through a PhD even though it sounds like you didn't really want to .. I'm going to assume you're Indian.
You need to have a moment of clarity where you decide to be your own person and stop having your family tell you what you need to do and where you need to go in life.
That can be hard if your family is paying the bills.
But, I may be making assumptions, but your story sounds almost identical to a ton of other folks I rubbed elbows with in college... all of them Indian. They were taking STEM when really they wanted to do liberal arts or whatever they were passionate about. Their family pushed them into an "lucrative career", b/c it's all about the money and status with them.
I had a couple of Indian folks tell me they had a massive weight lifted off their shoulders when they told their family to stuff themselves. They were dating people locally, and one was wanting to marry the girl he was dating. One guy dropped his STEM and went into art which is what he really wanted to do (and he was an AMAZING artist).
Ultimately, you have to figure out what makes you happy, and stop listening to folks constantly running you down and telling you you're not good enough.
I rented a room from a gay couple, and one of the guys had a degree in aeronautic engineering. You know what he did for a living? He was the director of a high school band. His parents pushed him to do engineering, b/c he was in the closet and just kept his nose down and did what they said. When he finally got older, he got tired of them, and came out of the closet and pursued what really made him happy: music.
People have to have that moment.
So, you're asking how you'll survive over here? I think you really need to ask yourself what will make you happy. And, you need to start ignoring folks that are running you down.
With a PhD in Chemistry, you don't have to be a great programmer. There are companies that will hire you to figure out some chemistry, and team you up with Comp Sci or Info Sys folks that will do all the coding and stuff for reports, data science, etc.
If you don't like what you have a PhD in, then go figure out what you do like. Maybe you like working on motorcycles or scuba diving or whatever.. find a way to make a career out of it.
It's better to live a modest life that makes you happy, even at the expense of others, then to be rich and f'ing miserable b/c you decided to make everyone else happy.. usually folks that won't be alive in 20 years time.. which just leaves you miserable while they're dead.
Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged career-path postdocs academic-life early-career emotional-responses ..
A PhD program in Chemistry can equip you with a range of professional skills and advanced knowledge in the field. With a doctorate in chemistry on your resume, you’ll be able to find prestigious jobs in research labs, industry, academia, or government.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary of chemists and material scientists is $79,760 , and jobs are estimated to grow by 6% over the next decade, in line with growth prospects for all professions.
Which of the best PhD programs in Chemistry is right for you?
Read on to learn about the best programs, including essential information like tuition, acceptance rates, and whether you can get a degree online or not.
Table of Contents
1. massachusetts institute of technology.
PhD in Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been ranked first in the nation for Chemistry, so it’s no surprise that this is one of the best PhD in Chemistry programs. The program is flexible because students can choose courses based on their long-term research goals.
Stanford University is one of the world’s leading research institutions with innovative and flexible programs. This chemistry PhD program is world-class with a cross-disciplinary approach, collaborating with various other departments and institutes.
Caltech’s Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is renowned for its large number of faculty members conducting leading research in chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical engineering. This chemistry doctoral program aims to develop students’ creative and original research abilities.
PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Harvard University’s faculty in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology division includes several Nobel and Welch Award laureates conducting research in various areas of interest in chemistry. In this PhD program for chemistry, students can pursue interdisciplinary research in various institutes and research centers in the Boston area.
Northwestern University’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking that is adaptive, flexible, and practical in the context of the modern world. This chemistry PhD program aims to provide students with a strong foundation in chemistry and valuable exposure to research projects important to wider society.
Yale is one of the most acclaimed universities in the world, with a diverse student population, including 22% international students from a total of 115 different nations . This flexible PhD chemistry program allows students to choose their areas of study based on their research subjects rather than maintaining a rigid course list.
The chemistry department was one of the University of Chicago’s first departments to be inaugurated and currently has a strong faculty in organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry, as well as interdisciplinary studies. This is also one of the most flexible Chemistry PhD programs in the country, allowing you to study from different departments as well as giving you the freedom to choose your areas of study.
Princeton University’s prestigious Frick Chemistry Laboratory encourages faculty and students to conduct collaborative and interdisciplinary research in the field. This doctorate degree in chemistry encourages students to pursue individualized studies and conduct original research in specific areas of chemistry.
The University of California was founded with a vision for a better future and is well-known as a pioneer in various areas, including diversity and free speech. This graduate program offers three concentrations: physical chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and chemical biology.
Cornell’s Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology has a history of discovery and innovation and boasts Nobel laureates as well as National Academy Members among its faculty. The TATP (Teaching Assistant Training Program) is an integral part of this PhD program, and a satisfactory performance in this program is a mandatory part of the doctorate.
To be admitted as a PhD candidate , you’ll generally need a master’s in chemistry or a related field. As part of the application process, you’ll typically need to submit academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and a personal statement or research proposal.
Other documentation may be required depending on the program you want to apply for, so check the requirements with the admissions office.
Most PhD in chemistry programs involve a mix of coursework, which may cover chemistry courses and related sciences, and a research thesis or dissertation.
To earn your doctorate in chemistry, you typically also need to participate in seminars, pass oral and written exams, and complete a teaching assistantship.
A PhD in chemistry is a technical, relatively-difficult advanced degree, so it’s important to prepare well to get the best results. Ahead of commencing, or even applying for the program, familiarize yourself with the latest developments and research in the field.
It can be a good idea to join professional associations, take advantage of other networking opportunities, and seek out extra-curricular activities in the field. Practical experience can also be very valuable, so try to work in a lab if possible.
There are a range of chemistry doctorate programs offered by different institutions and covering several different concentrations. Before choosing the right program for you, it’s important to carefully consider your interests, passions, and career goals in order to decide on your preferred area of study.
From there, look for strong programs in this discipline with renowned faculty specializing in your area of interest.
Other key factors to consider include the following:
A PhD in chemistry is one of the most in-demand and highest-paying PhDs . Graduates with a PhD chemistry are highly employable, with most finding roles in private industry. According to Duke University , from their 242 candidates, 118 were employed in business/industry, and Boston University also tells us that most PhD Chemistry holders are employed in the private sector.
The benefits of studying for a doctorate in chemistry include:
Jobs you can land with a PhD in Chemistry include:
The tuition for a PhD in chemistry can range from $10,000 to $70,000 based on various factors, with public schools being much more affordable than private schools. On top of tuition, you also need to consider other expenses, such as fees, study materials, and living expenses. However, many chemistry doctorates offer scholarships, grants, and even full funding.
For most programs, you’ll take around five years to complete a chemistry PhD when studying full-time. However, it can take up to seven years or even longer in some cases.
You’ll build a range of advanced skills as part of a PhD in Chemistry program, most notably:
How long does a phd in chemistry take.
A PhD in Chemistry takes five years to complete on average, though the duration can typically be anywhere between three and seven years.
There is no single field that is best for a PhD in Chemistry. The best option for you will depend on your preferences, interests, and career ambitions. Common specializations include organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and computational chemistry.
A PhD in chemistry is typically considered the most advanced degree in this scientific field and opens up a range of positions in academia, research, and the private sector. Positions for graduates with PhD doctorates include lecturers, professors, research leaders, environmental scientists, and materials scientists.
Given that chemistry is a highly technical field and a PhD is an advanced degree, it’s not surprising that a PhD in chemistry is an in-depth, involved, and relatively-challenging degree. There’s no denying that you’ll need a background in the field and a certain degree of dedication to earn your doctorate in chemistry, but it’s certainly not impossible with some hard work and a little passion!
A PhD in chemistry is a valuable, advanced degree that opens up a wide range of career prospects, including senior-level positions in research, industry, and academia. There are a number of high-quality PhD programs in chemistry offered by renowned institutions across the country, covering a range of disciplines and including both on-campus and online programs .
Be clear on your areas of interest and career objectives, do your research to choose the best program for you, and you can’t go wrong!
For more options, look at our guide to the best online PhD programs , or if you’re ready to start preparing your application, check out our ultimate grad school test guide .
Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.
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Rachael gunn earned a zero in breakdancing at the paris 2024 olympic games., aleksandra wrona, published aug. 13, 2024.
About this rating
Gunn's Ph.D. thesis, titled "Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: a B-girl's Experience of B-boying," did cover the topic of breakdancing. However ...
... Gunn earned her Ph.D. in cultural studies. Moreover, a "PhD in breakdancing" does not exist as an academic discipline.
On Aug. 10, 2024, a rumor spread on social media that Rachael Gunn (also known as "Raygun"), an Australian breakdancer who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, had a Ph.D. in breakdancing. "This australian breakdancer has a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture and was a ballroom dancer before taking up breaking. I don't even know what to say," one X post on the topic read .
"Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn has a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture," one X user wrote , while another asked, "Who did we send? Raygun, a 36-year-old full-time lecturer at Sydney's Macquarie University, completed a PhD in breaking culture and is a lecturer in media, creative arts, literature and language," another X user wrote .
The claim also spread on other social media platforms, such as Reddit and Instagram .
"Is she the best break dancer? No. But I have so much respect for going on an international stage to do something you love even if you're not very skilled at it," one Instagram user commented , adding that, "And, I'm pretty sure she's using this as a research endeavor and will be writing about all our reactions to her performance. Can't wait to read it!"
In short, Gunn's Ph.D. thesis, titled "Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-girl's Experience of B-boying," indeed focused on the topic of breakdancing. However, Gunn earned her Ph.D. in cultural studies, not in breakdancing. Furthermore, it's important to note that a "PhD in breakdancing" does not exist as an academic discipline.
Since Gunn's research focused on the breakdancing community, but her degree is actually in the broader field of cultural studies, we have rated this claim as a "Mixture" of truths.
Gunn "secured Australia's first ever Olympic spot in the B-Girl competition at Paris 2024 by winning the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney, NSW, Australia," the Olympics official website informed .
Gunn earned a zero in breakdancing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and clips of her routine went viral on social media, with numerous users creating memes or mocking dancer's moves. "As well as criticising her attire, social media users mocked the Australian's routine as she bounced around on stage like a kangaroo and stood on her head at times," BBC article on the topic read .
The website of the Macquarie University informed Gunn "is an interdisciplinary and practice-based researcher interested in the cultural politics of breaking" and holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies, as well as a bachelor of arts degree (Hons) in contemporary music:
Rachael Gunn is an interdisciplinary and practice-based researcher interested in the cultural politics of breaking. She holds a PhD in Cultural Studies (2017) and a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Music (2009) from Macquarie University. Her work draws on cultural theory, dance studies, popular music studies, media, and ethnography. Rachael is a practising breaker and goes by the name of 'Raygun'. She was the Australian Breaking Association top ranked bgirl in 2020 and 2021, and represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in Paris in 2021, in Seoul in 2022, and in Leuven (Belgium) in 2023. She won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.
Gunn's biography further revealed that she is a member of the Macquarie University Performance and Expertise Reasearch Centre, and has a range of teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels "across the areas of media, creative industries, music, dance, cultural studies, and work-integrated learning."
Moreover, it informed her research interests included, "Breaking, street dance, and hip-hop culture; youth cultures/scenes; constructions of the dancing body; politics of gender and gender performance; ethnography; the methodological dynamics between theory and practice."
Gunn earned her Ph.D. from the Department of Media, Music, Communications, and Cultural Studies within the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University. Below, you can find the abstract of her paper, shared by the official website of Macquarie University:
This thesis critically interrogates how masculinist practices of breakdancing offers a site for the transgression of gendered norms. Drawing on my own experiences as a female within the male-dominated breakdancing scene in Sydney, first as a spectator, then as an active crew member, this thesis questions why so few female participants engage in this creative space, and how breakdancing might be the space to displace and deterritorialise gender. I use analytic autoetthnography and interviews with scene members in collaboration with theoretical frameworks offered by Deleuze and Guttari, Butler, Bourdieu and other feminist and post-structuralist philosophers, to critically examine how the capacities of bodies are constituted and shaped in Sydney's breakdancing scene, and to also locate the potentiality for moments of transgression. In other words, I conceptualize the breaking body as not a 'body' constituted through regulations and assumptions, but as an assemblage open to new rhizomatic connections. Breaking is a space that embraces difference, whereby the rituals of the dance not only augment its capacity to deterritorialize the body, but also facilitate new possibilities for performativities beyond the confines of dominant modes of thought and normative gender construction. Consequently, this thesis attempts to contribute to what I perceive as a significant gap in scholarship on hip-hop, breakdancing, and autoethnographic explorations of Deleuze-Guattarian theory.
In a response to online criticism of her Olympics performance, Gunn wrote on her Instagram profile: "Don't be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that's gonna take you":
We have recently investigated other 2024 Paris Olympics' -related rumors, such as:
Gunn, Rachael Louise. Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-Girl's Experience of B-Boying. 2022. Macquarie University, thesis. figshare.mq.edu.au, https://doi.org/10.25949/19433291.v1.
---. Deterritorializing Gender in Sydney's Breakdancing Scene: A B-Girl's Experience of B-Boying. 2022. Macquarie University, thesis. figshare.mq.edu.au, https://doi.org/10.25949/19433291.v1.
Ibrahim, Nur. "Lifeguards Are Present at Olympic Swimming Competitions?" Snopes, 8 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/lifeguards-paris-olympics-swimming/.
"Olympic Breaking: Criticism of Viral Breakdancer Rachael Gunn - Raygun - Condemned by Australia Team." BBC Sport, 10 Aug. 2024, https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c2dgxp5n3rlo.
ORCID. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1069-4021. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.
Paris 2024. https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/-raygun_1940107. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.
Saunders, Grant Leigh, and Rachael Gunn. "Australia." Global Hip Hop Studies, vol. 3, no. 1–2, Dec. 2023, pp. 23–32. Macquarie University, https://doi.org/10.1386/ghhs_00060_1.
Wazer, Caroline. "2024 Paris Olympics Are 'Lowest-Rated' Games in Modern History?" Snopes, 1 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/paris-olympics-lowest-rated-games/.
---. "Hobby Lobby Pulled $50M in Ads from 2024 Paris Olympics?" Snopes, 8 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/olympics-hobby-lobby-ads/.
Aleksandra Wrona is a reporting fellow for Snopes, based in the Warsaw, Poland, area.
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Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]
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A chemistry degree can be worth it for many people because it leads to a range of well-paid and in-demand careers.
Be be aware that university-level chemistry is reasonably tough, so it’s best to make your choice based on interest as well as future job prospects.
In this article we’ll look at how much money you can make in a chemistry career, what majors you can study , and what you’ll learn .
A chemistry degree prepares students in both practical and theoretical skills in chemical analysis. You will learn via laboratory and lecture-based courses in mathematics and natural sciences.
As a chemistry major, students obtain viable grounding in lab work, solid interdisciplinary science education, and higher-level mathematic skills.
Chemistry students explore the structures and properties of compounds and compositions. It’s valuable for students who want to work in chemical engineering and environmental science.
According to this report , this degree is awarded to over 22,000 graduates across the United States annually.
Cities with the biggest concentration of Chemistry degree recipients are:
This major is often referred to as the “central science” due to its powerful insights into the natural sciences. But, just like any degree out there, it too has its pros and cons.
A chemistry degree has a plethora of benefits. Here are the perks of investing in a degree such as this one.
There are many reasons people would choose not to pursue this career path. These cons include:
Getting a degree in chemistry paves the way for a plethora of job opportunities, from a college lecturer to food scientist and materials engineer.
If you are eager to pursue a career in this field, here is a quick look at some of the jobs you can get with your degree.
Pharmacist | Providing patients with pharmacological information and medications. | |
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | Examining the workplace for physical or environmental problems that could interfere with employee’s performance, comfort and safety. | |
Chemistry Teacher | Delivering and preparing lessons for students while maintaining adequate records of student performance and skills. | |
Forensic Scientist | Examining evidence with scientific and analytic techniques. | |
Food Scientist | Using sciences to study the primary elements of food. | |
Materials Engineer | Designing and creating novel materials, conducting tests, ensuring quality control, and documentation. |
For some of the above options, you’ll need to go on to do further specialized studies after your bachelor in chemistry degree.
A chemist can make a valuable contribution across different industries. But, picking a major remains one of the most crucial aspects to selecting a career path. Here are the common majors you can pursue.
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | Studying the climate and weather behavior while interpreting, analyzing, and forecasting meteorological events. |
Soil Science | Learning about management, conservation, biology, and use of various types of soils. |
Pharmaceutical Sciences | Studying drugs with the opportunity to pursue high-level research positions. |
Environmental Science | Studying the intricate relationship between the environment and human activities. |
Clinical Laboratory Science | Examining bodies and training to supervise and conduct complex medical tests. |
Biochemistry | Understanding all living things by combining elements of chemistry and biology. |
Chemical Engineering | Learning how to put chemicals to work. |
Forensic Chemistry | Applying chemistry or other sciences to help a criminal investigation. |
To get admitted to a chemistry major in a state university in the United States, students are usually expected to have about a 2.78 average GPA. However, a good GPA score is 3.0 or higher. Getting into higher-ranked schools, a solid GPA ranges from 3.44 to 3.65. That includes options like Duke University or Brown University.
To get into Harvard or other top universities in the region, then a good GPA must exceed 4.15. To get admitted to Yale University, you would need a 4.4 GPA score. While for Columbia University, a 4.12 GPA score should be your top priority.
For a Graduate Chemist in the U.S., the average yearly pay in 2021 is $44,600 or $21 /hour. About 5% of jobs earn less than that, from $25,500 to $29,999. While some recruiters offer pay as high as $75,000 or more.
Your pay often varies based on your location. The pay is subjective according to where you work and how good your qualifications are.
The top cities where the pay for a Graduate Chemist is over the national average are Richmond (California), Stamford (Connecticut), and Bellevue (Washington).
But, with the current market, it can be difficult to land a job. Going into dentistry, for example, can be a more lucrative, although highly different, career path. There is a 19% career growth predicted in the dental field, whereas working in chemistry remains a competitive environment
In my opinion, every field has its ups and downs. So, it’s best to choose something that you feel comfortable with and excited about pursuing.
1. soft skills.
On balance, chemistry degrees are (in my opinion) one of the better degrees to obtain. They directly lead to employment in specific in-demand fields, and the pay generally ends up being higher than the national average after a few years of experience. However, the question you need to ask yourself is whether the degree will lead to a profession that will be satisfying and help you to live a happy life.
Do Further Research on your Degree Choices:
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Prospective students, application process, application faqs, for admitted students, current students, phd program requirements, thesis preparation, for first year students, student organizations, chemistry student seminars, quality of life.
Interdisciplinary programs.
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Mpox was made a public health emergency of international concern for the first time in July 2022, with this being declared over the following May. Just 15 months on, the World Health Organization has sounded the alarm again
By Carissa Wong
15 August 2024
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Our M.S. Chemistry program will prepare students in both the research laboratory and classroom for rewarding and stimulating careers in science.
We are actively looking for students to join our master’s program. We encourage women and people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply to our program.
Please explore our website to learn more about our graduate program, including our current graduate students and recent graduates.
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Science in the 21st century is rich with opportunity and challenge. Our pillars for success in this complex world are all tied to interactions—between people and between disciplines. By building both strong interpersonal connections between our students and faculty, and effective bridges between disciplines, entering graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology can thrive at the frontiers of research in the chemical and life sciences.
Our graduate programs prioritize research and exploration. With many opportunities to interact with departments, research centers, and institutions across the Boston area, our students benefit from an interdisciplinary environment that encourages curiosity and innovation. Students can choose from one of our following two graduate degree programs:
Our program in Chemistry offers research and training opportunities in many subdisciplines of chemistry, including chemical biology, inorganic, organic, physical, and theoretical.
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Graduate student Chase Kayrouz, pictured here with Professor of Chemistry Mohammad Seyedsayamdost, is a lead co-author of a paper from the Mo Lab that has been published in Nature.
Photo by Mahrad Saghafi
Graduate student Chase Kayrouz is a lead co-author of a paper published in Nature t hat suggests a deeper biological significance for selenium, a trace micronutrient that is essential for an organism’s growth and metabolism but toxic at high levels.
Princeton Chemistry's Seyedsayamdost Lab has announced the discovery of a novel selenometabolite and potential antioxidant that, together with their 2022 research also published in Nature , signals the existence of an uncharted selenometabolome.
The lab also upends for the second time in two years the long-held notion that enzymes only install selenium into large molecules, like proteins and nucleic acids. They describe another pathway for selenium insertion into small molecules by a specialized class of enzymes.
The lab’s paper, Discovery of the selenium-containing antioxidant ovoselenol derived from convergent evolution , published mid-August in Nature Chemistry , introduces the selenometabolite ovoselenol. The researchers characterize it as part of an emerging and intriguing class of biomolecules.
“We’re shifting away from the old paradigm about selenium to one that says maybe it is more prevalent in biology than people previously thought. And we are excited by that,” said Chase Kayrouz , lead co-author on the paper and a graduate student in the Mo Lab. “In our field, we don’t look for macromolecules; we look for small molecules. And since selenium is a trace element, you’ll never find it unless you’re actually looking for it. We basically just looked under the right rock.
“The takeaway is that these metabolites are out there.”
Professor of Chemistry Mohammad Seyedsayamdost said the discovery provides proof of a selenometabolome. A metabolome is a collection of small molecules required for cellular maintenance and function. “It has been known for some time that cells can incorporate selenium into large biopolymers. We asked, are there pathways that insert this element into small molecules, the kinds that are found in primary and secondary metabolic pathways?
“In our 2022 paper, we reported the first pathway for insertion of selenium into a small molecule. The molecule, selenoneine, was known but it was thought that cells accidentally incorporate selenium in place of sulfur to generate it. Our work showed that nature has evolved entirely different pathways for the selenium and sulfur isologs. In the current paper, we are reporting a new pathway and a new selenometabolite, ovoselenol. It further substantiates our idea that there is a larger selenometabolome that can now be mined.”
Kayrouz emphasized that the researchers do not yet know the function of these molecules in their native environments.
“We have promising hints that are going to guide the next steps,” Kayrouz said. “They’re definitely doing something for the producing organisms. But it’s still an open question.”
Princeton researchers collaborated with the Davis Lab out of Emory University on this work, particularly co-lead author Kendra Ireland, who investigated the structure of the new enzyme.
The Mo Lab’s latest paper offers a blueprint for charting future research into the selenometabolome. Their approach is based not on a specific modality but on a way of thinking about this trace element fueled by the concept of convergent evolution.
“The interesting thing about selenium-installing enzymes is that they’re the product of evolution,” said Kayrouz. “So, you can start with the known enzymes and then look for their close relatives. That’s what we did.”
The researchers took these relatives and constructed a phylogenetic tree to visualize how the family evolved, searching for “branches” that could represent distant relatives that evolved recently from the known enzymes. These were suspected to catalyze new reactions. The lab then zeroed in on one of these new branches by producing that enzyme in the laboratory and characterizing its function.
“To our delight, we found that this enzyme installs a unique carbon-selenium bond on route to a novel selenometabolite, ovoselenol,” Kayrouz said. “Another thing we’ve confirmed over the years is that while we think there is more to discover, it’s not everywhere. You really have to look in some niche places to find selenium. They represent a very specialized set of compounds. It’s still very much a needle in the haystack process.”
By measuring the electrochemical properties of ovoselenol, the researchers found it to be an excellent reductant, suggesting it may have a heightened role as an antioxidant with conceivable therapeutic applications.
These attributes will provide the lab with new motivation for looking into the molecule in future investigations.
“Selenium has chemical properties that make it a little difficult to control,” said Seyedsayamdost. “The enzymes that have evolved to introduce carbon-selenium bonds can manage or tame the properties of selenium. These enzymes could serve as useful biocatalysts to incorporate this element into all kinds of small molecules, and that is another direction of future research for us and the field.”
Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation (Graduate Research Fellowship Program no. 1937971 and NSF CAREER award no. 184786), the National Institutes of Health (grant R35 GM147557 and grant R01 GM140034), and the Eli Lilly-Edward C. Taylor Fellowship in Chemistry.
A community for chemists and those who love chemistry
Hey everyone,
To keep it short and simple, I'm an graduating w/ three degrees in biology, biochemistry, and chemistry in the spring and I have no idea what I'm doing with any of that. I was on a pre-med track (still am I guess) but I've been slowly realizing that this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. During my time in undergrad, I absolutely fell in love with biochemistry and chemistry, but I have no exposure to career options in those fields. I'm going to complete an accelerated Masters degree in Chemistry, but I'm not really sure what to do with it, so I wanted to turn to you all for help. What are my career options? Should I expect to be on a PhD track? Just a lost undergrad looking for any advice. Thanks!
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Walz’s military record under scrutiny as Vance, GOP question his service
FILE - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, is pictured at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Republicans are questioning Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s military record after Vice President Kamala Harris named him as her running mate this week.
Here’s a look at the issue:
Walz served a total of 24 years in various units and jobs in the Army National Guard. But it’s his retirement in 2005 that’s prompting criticism from some Republicans who are suggesting he abandoned his team to pursue a campaign for Congress.
As he ramped up for a congressional bid in 2005, Walz’s campaign in March issued a statement saying he still planned to run despite a possible mobilization of Minnesota National Guard soldiers to Iraq. According to the Guard, Walz retired from service in May of that year.
In August 2005, the Department of the Army issued a mobilization order for Walz’s unit. The unit mobilized in October of that year before it deployed to Iraq in March 2006 .
There is no evidence that Walz timed his departure with the intent of avoiding deployment. But the fact remains that he left ahead of his unit’s departure. In a statement, the Harris campaign pushed back on GOP characterizations of Walz’s service, and also noted that he advocated for veterans once he was elected to the U.S. House.
“After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform — and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families,” the campaign said.
Before leaving Detroit, where she and Walz played up their support for organized labor , Harris on Thursday responded to a question about the criticism of her running mate’s record.
“Listen, I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country,” she said. “And I think that we all should.”
Earlier this week Harris’ campaign circulated on X a 2018 clip of Walz speaking out against gun violence, and saying, “We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” That comment suggests that Walz portrayed himself as someone who spent time in a combat zone.
According to the Nebraska Army National Guard, Walz enlisted in April 1981 — just two days after his 17th birthday — and entered service as an infantryman, completing a 12-week Army infantry basic training course before graduating from high school.
While attending the University of Houston in 1985, he was reclassified as a field artillery cannoneer as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, later serving as an instructor with the Arkansas Army National Guard.
In 1987, Walz returned to Nebraska’s Guard detachment, continuing field artillery assignments while he completed a college degree. By 1996, he transferred to the Minnesota Army National Guard. In 2003, he deployed to Italy in a support position of active military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he was not in a combat zone himself.
“Do not pretend to be something that you’re not,” Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance said Wednesday as he campaigned in Michigan. “I’d be ashamed if I was saying that I lied about my military service like you did.”
Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating high school, serving four years as a combat correspondent, a type of military journalist, and deploying to Iraq in that capacity in 2005.
What to know about the 2024 Election
Neither Trump nor Harris has served in the U.S. military. Trump received a series of deferments during Vietnam, including one attained with a physician’s letter stating that he suffered from bone spurs in his feet.
The Harris campaign statement said Walz “would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country” and “thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way.”
Harris’ campaign has referred to Walz as a “retired Command Sergeant Major,” one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier. He did in fact achieve that rank, but personnel files show he was reduced in rank months after retiring. That left him as a master sergeant for benefits purposes.
Minnesota National Guard officials have said that Walz retired before completing coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, along with other requirements associated with his promotion.
Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Trenton Daniel and Richard Lardner contributed to this report.
Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (8/13/2024) – Regents Professor Lawrence “Larry” Que Jr. retired from the Department of Chemistry on May 26th, 2024, after serving the University of Minnesota for more than four decades. Que’s tremendous impact in the field of bioinorganic chemistry earned him the title of Regents Professor in 2009 and election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2022.
Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Que’s chemistry career began in the undergraduate chemistry program at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines. He earned his bachelor’s degree 1969 before arriving at the University of Minnesota to continue his chemistry education in the PhD program, which he completed in 1973. During his PhD, Que was advised by Louis H. Pignolet. Throughout his doctoral studies, Que used NMR spectroscopy to research intramolecular rearrangement reactions of transition metal complexes. He went on to conduct postdoctoral research under Professor Richard H. Holm at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1973-74) and under Professor Eckard Münck at the University of Minnesota (1975-77) which set the stage for his lifelong career in bioinorganic chemistry.
With his affinity for and expertise in iron chemistry firmly in place by 1977, Que started his independent career as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Cornell University. While at Cornell, Que utilized Resonance Raman spectroscopy to study dioxygenases; these enzymes would ultimately form the bedrock of Que’s research for the next 40 years.
In 1983, Que returned to the University of Minnesota, this time as a member of the faculty. “Returning to Minnesota was the best decision I ever made for my career,” Que says. “I fell in love with this department during graduate school. I was very happy to have the opportunity to return, it’s been an honor to contribute to building our program for the last four decades.”
Described in more than 550 publications, Que’s research spanned the subfields of stereochemistry, catalysis, and crystallography. He established himself as an expert and innovator in bioinorganic chemistry, playing a pioneering role in understanding the function that nonheme iron centers play in dioxygen activation in biology. His work produced the first synthetic models for high-valent iron-oxo intermediates, which are crucial for understanding the electronic structures, spectroscopic properties, and reactivities of these units. Additionally, Que led efforts to create functional models for various iron oxygenases, including catechol dioxygenases, α-ketoglutarate-dependent oxygenases, and cis-dihydroxylating arene dioxygenases. These chemical tools aim to perform two specific types of chemical reactions that enable stereospecific alkane hydroxylation and highly enantioselective olefin cis-dihydroxylation. These advancements could lead to more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives to current heavy-metal oxidation catalysts. Que’s key dioxygen discoveries were published in ACS Chemical Reviews in 2004, in an article titled “Dioxygen Activation at Mononuclear Nonheme Iron Active Sites: Enzymes, Models, and Intermediates ;” this paper would turn out to be the most cited work of his career. His prolific research portfolio garnered invitations to present more than 400 lectures around the world.
Over the years, Que’s research group focused on the topics of iron, oxygen, and biocatalysis in the area of bioinorganic chemistry, The group’s primary effort, involving a combination of biochemical, synthetic inorganic, and spectroscopic approaches, was aimed at elucidating the oxygen activation mechanisms of nonheme iron enzymes, designing functional models for such enzymes, trapping and characterizing reaction intermediates, and developing bio-inspired oxidation catalysts for green chemistry applications. Que advised 55 graduate students and 80 postdoctoral researchers over the course of his career. Over 50 Que Group alumni have tenure-track or tenured faculty positions in colleges or universities.
Que’s critical dioxygen research earned him the title of Regents Professor in 2009. A quote from the citation for the award reads “Undoubtedly, Professor Que is currently the top bioinorganic chemist in the world. In his chosen field, oxygen activation of iron-containing enzymes and biomimetic compounds, his group, in my estimation, is at least three years ahead of his closest competitors. Almost single-handedly he has developed the major fraction of the synthetic chemistry of iron in high-oxidation states. This chemistry is vital to our understanding of many processes in biochemistry, to the development of new drugs, and most importantly, to developing a green chemistry that can alleviate the problems caused by pollutants and pathogens that afflict human health." The Regents Professorship is the highest honor the University of Minnesota bestows on its faculty. The title recognizes faculty who have made exceptional contributions to the University through teaching, research, scholarship, or creative work, and contributions to the public good.
Beyond his research success, Que demonstrated significant commitment to service to the University across his career. He is credited with establishing the University of Minnesota as a world-renowned center of excellence in bioinorganic chemistry. He organized the International Conference on Oxygen Intermediates in Nonheme Metallobiochemistry (1996) and the Ninth International Conference on Biological Inorganic Chemistry (1999). From 1999 to 2002 – and again from 2008 - 2012 – he served as the inaugural PI on the National Institutes of Health Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Grant that brings faculty and students from various departments together. He also led the effort to establish the University of Minnesota Center for Metals in Biocatalysis, which allowed faculty and students from multiple units to collaborate in exploring the roles of metals in biology.
Que was longest standing editor-in-chief of the Springer Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (JBIC), serving the journal for 20 years . JBIC – the official journal of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry since 1996 – is a peer-reviewed journal promoting the field of biological inorganic chemistry internationally. The publication aims to provide insight into systems of metals in biology at biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels.
For his research, service, and mentorship, Que has been honored with many awards over the course of his career. These honors include the 3M/Alumni Distinguished Professorship (1999), the National Institutes of Health MERIT Award (2000), the UMN Distinguished Teaching Professorship (2000), the Royal Society of Chemistry Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms Award (2011), and the American Chemical Society Award in Inorganic Chemistry (2017). He was also elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2001, a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2008, and a fellow of the American Chemical Society in 2011. In 2022, Que was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Membership in the NAS is one of the highest honors given to a scientist or engineer.
In July 2023, the Department of Chemistry hosted LQ Fest: 40 Years of Fun with Iron Chemistry at the University of Minnesota in honor of Que. 19 of Que’s collaborators, mentees, and even his daughter, Emily Que – who is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin – presented lectures, stories, and memories related to Que’s research and career. When recalling the event he said “I’ve loved my job. I’ve loved the people that I’ve worked with. I spent the last 50 years of my life dedicated to chemistry, and I never looked back. The event was a wonderful opportunity to get together with many people that I’ve cared about to celebrate my career.”
“Nothing changes, really. I’ve always thought about chemistry, and I’ll continue to think about chemistry all the time,” Que said. In this next chapter of life, Que is adopting a come what may attitude. He says he is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren in Texas and embarking on new adventures with his wife.
"Larry is an extraordinary scientist who has made incredible discoveries in the field of bioinorganic chemistry that have changed the way we think about how important iron-containing enzymes work. His passion for research is unparalleled, and his infectious enthusiasm has made a difference in the lives of many students over his career. His leadership was critical in making UMN a respected centerpiece of high quality bioinorganic chemistry research and teaching, well-known across the globe. On a personal level, I am deeply grateful for his mentorship during my career at the University of Minnesota; his insights and advice made a major difference in my life! Thank you, Larry, and congratulations on your retirement!" – Professor Bill Tolman, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, St. Thomas University
"The University of Minnesota Department of Chemistry has been lucky to count Prof. Larry Que among our faculty. His chemical creativity and passion have had a big impact on bioinorganic chemistry as a field, and his thoughtfulness as a colleague has had a major impact on our department community." – Professor Christy Haynes, Chemistry Department Head
"Larry has been a standout in the bioinorganic community, rising to the highest levels of academic achievement at the University of Minnesota as a Regent’s professor, and nationally, as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. I have always appreciated his scholarly approach to studying catalysis at the fundamental level for connecting with biology. When I joined the department in 2012, starting my lab’s research program in chemical biology, I always loved hearing from the outside community of what high regard they held for him as a giant in the field of iron-mediated (bio)catalysis. I also benefited significantly from Larry’s effort for initiating our NIH T32 Chemistry and Biology Interface training grant (CBITG), for which he served as the first director, and established a trajectory of continual funding for the next 25 years. This grant has impacted the careers of well over 100 graduate students, and has been a true gem of the three departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics (BMBB) and Medicinal Chemistry. Beyond being a true iron man in his field, one of Larry’s main legacies is a long track record of highly successful trainees, which was on full display at last year’s retirement party, Larry Que Fest. He’s leaving our department having made an indelible mark and will be deeply missed. " – Professor William C.K. Pomerantz
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A master's degree in three semesters.
The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department offers the M.S. in Chemistry online and on campus. With convenient online courses, you can earn all 30 credits needed to receive your degree in as few as three semesters. Along the way, you will acquire skills and knowledge in a wide range of chemical and biochemical topics.
Our goal is to help students become highly effective and successful scientists and teachers by providing them with the interdisciplinary skills and professional development needed to enhance their career success.
This program is designed particularly for science teachers who seek to teach dual enrollment or earn additional credentials and science professionals. Our goal is to help students become highly effective and successful scientists and teachers by providing them with the interdisciplinary skills and professional development needed to enhance their career success.
Students will be taught by the same group of internationally renowned professors who teach our on-campus classes. The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department at Ohio University hosts an outstanding faculty with research interests spanning a wide range of areas in the chemical sciences. The mission of the graduate program is to provide education and research that is relevant and timely to society in an atmosphere that promotes cooperation and interaction among the students and faculty.
A thesis is not required for this degree; instead, you will write a research literature review article on a topic assigned by a faculty mentor.
Tuition and fees are assessed based on the number of credit hours of enrollment, Ohio residency and program.
Financial Aid : When graduate students take two 4-hour courses per semester, their attendance is considered half-time for financial aid purposes. U.S. citizens and permanent residents have access to federally funded loans through Ohio University's Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships . The Ohio University school code is 003100.
No, this program is fully online.
You can take any number of classes that are being offered. You can take just one class per semester if you wish to do so. Students who wish to complete the 30-credit program in three consecutive semesters start in the fall or summer and take two 4-credit courses in each of the three semesters plus 6 credit hours of CHEM 6950 Research and Thesis in their final semester.
No. The maximum time allowed between the semester when you first initiate graduate study toward a master’s degree and the semester when you complete the requirements for the master’s degree is six calendar years.
Yes, you can take classes without aiming at receiving an M.S. degree.
You can graduate once (1) you have earned 30 credits, (2) your GPA is 3.0 or higher, (3) you have passed five different 5000-level classes at a level of B or higher, and (4) you have taken 6 credits of CHEM 6950 and obtained a grade of B or higher in the class.
B- is a passing grade in the sense that the student WILL get the 4 credits associated with the course, BUT students must pass 5 out of 6 courses with a grade of B (3.0) or higher AND receive a B (3.0) or higher in CHEM 6950 to graduate.
No course with a grade below C (2.0) may be used to satisfy any graduate degree or certificate requirement.
Students who earn more than one grade of B- or lower are subject to review, academic probation and possible dismissal.
Conferral of a graduate degree or certificate requires an accumulative graduate GPA of at least a 3.0 – GPA cannot be “rounded up” to achieve a 3.0.
Taking a graduate-level course a second time does not remove or replace a grade from a previous attempt (see Grading Information ).
Students cannot retake an already-passed class in an attempt to raise their GPA. That is true for any class graded C or better.
Not at all. Anyone can join the program, as long as they hold a B.S. degree in chemistry (or a degree deemed equivalent by the graduate recruitment committee in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department at Ohio University).
Yes, lectures are always available. But courses have strict deadlines for homework, based on the course syllabi.
If you have applied but not been admitted yet, you will need to apply to a different term. Return to your application portal and complete a new application. New materials must accompany a new application.
If you have already been admitted, contact the Chemistry and Biochemistry graduate program director, Dr. Katherine Cimatu, at [email protected] . Note: please contact Dr. Cimatu at least three weeks prior to the start of a term.
At this time, classes are offered once year, with the exception of CHEM 6950 that is offered every semester.
Yes, all classes follow the same format, except CHEM 6950 that is a 14-week, full semester course.
The 6 credits must be taken in a single full semester, concurrently or after having passed CHEM 5200 (chemical literature) with a grade or B or higher. The Graduate Chair in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will send you specific information related to registration to CHEM 6950; please do not register to this course until you have received that information.
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I'm torn between an MS vs a PhD in chemistry Background info: I am about to finish my BS in chemistry next spring. I am certain that I want to continue studying and learning more about chemistry, however, I dont know whether to choose a MS or PhD. This summer I did an REU research, and I liked the research, but I saw how stressful I saw the grad students and I dont know I want to be like that ...
PhD or Masters in Chemistry I recently received my bachelor's in Chemistry and am working nights full time at a Pharma company. Been looking at post-grad schools and am caught between master's or PhD.
You learn how to actually do meaningful research, IE you get to do what you see is going to result in meaningful research and results. You're given a huge advantage compared to masters or BS, my experience being with tons of PhD. students for a year and a half now. The PhD. makes a huge difference.
With a graduate degree in chemistry, scientists may find jobs in laboratories, government agencies, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, colleges and universities, and more.
The two most common types of graduate degrees are master's and doctoral degrees: A master's is a 1-2 year degree that can prepare you for a multitude of careers. A PhD, or doctoral degree, takes 3-7 years to complete (depending on the country) and prepares you for a career in academic research. A master's is also the necessary first ...
PhD Program. Professor Wender discusses chemistry with his graduate students. Doctoral study in chemistry at Stanford University prepares students for research and teaching careers with diverse emphases in basic, life, medical, physical, energy, materials, and environmental sciences. The Department of Chemistry offers opportunities for graduate ...
Looking for the best universities for PhDs in Chemistry in the USA? Compare ranking tables from top sources here, along with their methodologies.
A master's in chemistry is a graduate-level degree in the science of chemistry—the study of the properties, structure, and composition of substances. You can use this degree to build on the skills and knowledge you gained in your undergraduate degree program to develop a deeper understanding of chemical principles.
Coursework is typically all chemistry specific. Focus changes after year one or two to research, committee evaluations. Key measure of success is research results (GPA must be above minimum) Individual pace - results determine the pace and progress, and finishing times vary student to student.
How does your chemistry Ph.D. program compare to others in terms of department size and student demographics? Requirements for the degree? Graduate student progression and support? Developing skills that go beyond knowledge of chemistry? Answers to these questions and many others can be gleaned from ...
Discover 12 jobs you can pursue with a master's degree in chemistry and learn about these positions, including the average salary and typical duties for each.
75 I struggled with low self confidence throughout my bachelors, masters and PhD in chemical engineering. After spending two years in Masters and six years in getting a PhD degree, I am lost at what I can do with my life.
PhD programs in chemistry can prepare you for a career in the advanced sciences. What do they cost? Read on to see which is best for you.
Raygun, a 36-year-old full-time lecturer at Sydney's Macquarie University, completed a PhD in breaking culture and is a lecturer in media, creative arts, literature and language," another X user ...
A chemistry degree can be worth it for many people because it leads to a range of well-paid and in-demand careers. Be be aware that university-level chemistry is reasonably tough, so it's best to make your choice based on interest as well as future job prospects. In this article we'll look at how much money you can make in a chemistry ...
Our PhD program equips graduate students with the skills necessary to succeed as independent researchers. A PhD from MIT means that I have been surrounded by the most influential people during my most formative years in training. There is never a shortage of creativity or motivation to do my best. - Kenny Chen, Graduate Student in the Shoulders Lab Learn more about the MIT Chemistry Graduate ...
Mpox was made a public health emergency of international concern for the first time in July 2022, with this being declared over the following May. Just 15 months on, the World Health Organization ...
Graduate Program Overview. Our M.S. Chemistry program will prepare students in both the research laboratory and classroom for rewarding and stimulating careers in science. We are actively looking for students to join our master's program. We encourage women and people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply to our program.
By building both strong interpersonal connections between our students and faculty, and effective bridges between disciplines, entering graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology can thrive at the frontiers of research in the chemical and life sciences. Our graduate programs prioritize research and exploration. With ...
Graduate student Chase Kayrouz is a lead co-author of a paper published in Nature that suggests a deeper biological significance for selenium, a trace micronutrient that is essential for an organism's growth and metabolism but toxic at high levels.. Princeton Chemistry's Seyedsayamdost Lab has announced the discovery of a novel selenometabolite and potential antioxidant that, together with ...
The PhD process is grueling and unkind for a lot of people so getting out with a Masters is attractive if they can land a job they like without completing the PhD. There's also community colleges and small colleges that will hire people with Master's degrees for mainly non-tenure roles such as adjunct teaching, running labs, etc.
Rifat Nabi, a graduate student in Dan Kim's lab in the Department of Chemistry, has been nationally recognized by the American Chemical Society for Leadership in the Promotion of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect, specifically for the CST-supported CHEMCOACH program.. This recognition category highlights outstanding efforts that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect in the ...
Harris' campaign has referred to Walz as a "retired Command Sergeant Major," one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier. He did in fact achieve that rank, but personnel files show he was reduced in rank months after retiring. That left him as a master sergeant for benefits purposes.
The Large Hadron Collider in Geneva is getting bigger. The giant particle accelerator—sometimes referred to as an atom smasher—causes collisions between beams of high-energy particles to study ...
Fluidized bed membrane reactors have been introduced in catalytic reforming hydrogen production recently. The arrangement of membrane tubes is the key factor in the gas-solid distribution in reactors, which decides the production efficiency and wearing characteristics of membrane tubes. Nevertheless, research on optimization of the arrangement of membrane tubes is still inadequate due to a ...
Hundreds of thousands of doctors have gone on strike across India to demand better protection for health workers after a trainee medic was raped and murdered in eastern West Bengal state.
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (8/13/2024) - Regents Professor Lawrence "Larry" Que Jr. retired from the Department of Chemistry on May 26th, 2024, after serving the University of Minnesota for more than four decades. Que's tremendous impact in the field of bioinorganic chemistry earned him the title of Regents Professor in 2009 and election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2022. The ...
Aashish Manglik, MD, PhD, was a Stanford University graduate student in 2011 when he tackled one of modern medicine's biggest challenges: opiate addiction and its often-lethal side effects. Determined to grasp how morphine relieves pain, Manglik created 3D models to watch how the narcotic's atoms interact with a G protein-coupled receptor ...
A master's degree in three semesters. The Chemistry & Biochemistry Department offers the M.S. in Chemistry online and on campus. With convenient online courses, you can earn all 30 credits needed to receive your degree in as few as three semesters. Along the way, you will acquire skills and knowledge in a wide range of chemical and biochemical ...
Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0. ... Cordelia Biosciences' mission is to elevate the role of chemistry in preserving our planet. This start-up enlists ocean microbes to create a clean blue chemical portfolio. Blue is a novel term for their market centered around ocean-based products. ... They recently hired a UF graduate as a lab ...