Independent Research

For students who are interested in research, the department offers Chemistry 87 as a course in which individual investigations are carried out under the supervision of a faculty member. Included are an initial library study of the problem, experimental work in the laboratory, and a detailed report upon completion of the project. Research in the general fields of inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, theoretical, environmental and biological chemistry is supported by modern instrumentation, computers and a first-rate library including computer-assisted literature searches. Chemistry 87 normally is elected for more than one term, and, although it can be counted only once toward the eight course major requirement, each election counts separately towards graduation. The department also offers extracurricular opportunities to do research, and undergraduates often do full-time research projects during vacation terms. Moreover, faculty members often hire interested undergraduates to work on research projects. Through work on faculty projects, undergraduate research can be funded by national grants from major foundations and organizations such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Honors Program

The departmental honors program involves the writing of an extensive thesis based on experimental or theoretical research. Students whose grades meet the minimum College requirement for honors work may apply for admission to the program and arrange for a faculty member to supervise the project. The work may be done for academic credit by electing Chemistry 87 three times, or during a vacation term of full-time effort. Combinations of Chemistry 87 and vacation time research are also possible. The program is open to qualified seniors and advanced juniors.

A student whose grades meet the minimum College requirement for honors work (see the Chemistry Department section of the ORC for details on GPA requirements) may apply to be admitted to the Honors Program. An honors major follows the basic pattern outlined in the requirements for the chemistry major but is very strongly urged to elect additional courses in chemistry and allied sciences.

The deadline for applications is the third day of the winter term of the senior year.

The application form for Chemistry 87 and/or admission to the Honor's Program is available here.

Students should also download and read this description of Chemistry 87, and Chemistry 87 Research Supervisors who are unfamiliar with the program should download this document.

The completed application should be returned to the Department Chair, to any member of the department's Undergraduate Advisory Committee, or to Deborah Carr in the main department office, 102 Burke.