nyu chemistry phd program

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Department of Chemistry

as.nyu.edu/chemistry 24 Waverly Place, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10003 • 212-998-8400

Chair of the Department

Professor Tuckerman

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Professor Walters

The Department of Chemistry has a long tradition in the College of Arts and Science, dating back well before the founding of the American Chemical Society at New York University in 1876. Professor John W. Draper, the first president of the society and chair of the department, was a remarkable polymath: chemist, physician, philosopher, historian, and pioneering photographer.

The department has undertaken a major development plan, strengthening its faculty, instructional laboratories, course offerings, and research facilities in the areas of physical, biophysical, bioorganic, and biomedical chemistry, as well as in chemical biology, nanoscience, and materials sciences. Qualified undergraduates are strongly encouraged to participate in research as early as their sophomore year of study. The department houses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for its undergraduate chemistry courses.

Majoring in chemistry at NYU provides strong preparation for graduate study in chemistry and biochemistry; professional education in medicine, dentistry, or patent law; and careers in industrial or pharmaceutical chemistry and biotechnology.

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Programs, Requirements, and Deadlines

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit a complete application for admission. A complete application includes the  online application , academic transcripts, test scores (if required), letters of recommendation, a résumé or curriculum vitae, a Statement of Academic Purpose , and the application fee. Applicants also have the option of providing a short Personal History essay. Please refer to the Instructions section of the online application for full details. In addition, please see the department-specific requirements and deadlines below.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy

Each doctoral candidate must complete a minimum of 75 credits of academic work past the bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of 36 credits of dissertation research, to complete the PhD in Materials Chemistry program. A minimum of 30 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree (not including PhD dissertation and non-dissertation research credits) are required in chemistry or related subjects. Of the 30 credits, 12 are to be taken as part of the required graduate core courses in Materials Chemistry, 6 are from student seminars and a chemical information course, and 12 are taken as electives. For electives: at least 2 electives (6 credits) are to be chosen from approved CM courses, 6000-level and above. The remaining electives need to be selected in consultation with and with an explicit approval from the materials chemistry graduate adviser. In addition to the required coursework, attendance is required at departmental colloquia.

Students must also pass a comprehensive qualifying examination in materials chemistry and present a doctoral dissertation. The qualifying exam is given once a year. Additional details on the qualifying examination will be provided by the graduate adviser.

To meet graduation requirements, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, excluding dissertation credits, and must not obtain a grade of C or lower in more than two required core courses.

A student who has earned graduate level credits and/or been awarded an MS degree should consult with the graduate adviser for course registration and possible credit transfer.

Candidates for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Chemistry should plan their programs in accordance with the following requirements:

Required Core Subjects: 12 credits, 3 credits each

• CM-GY 7043 Statistical Thermodynamics and Kinetics 3 Credits
• CM-GY 9033 Physical Organic Chemistry 3 Credits
• CM-GY 8023 Principles of Spectroscopy 3 Credits OR CM-GY 8073 Organic Spectroscopy     3 Credits
• CM-GY 6013 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 Credits OR CM-GY 9413 Biochemistry I     3 Credits OR CM-GY 7723 Synthesis of Macromolecules     3 Credits

Other Required Subjects: 6 credits, 1.5 credits each

• CM-GY 9731 Seminar in Chemistry I 1.5 Credits
• CM-GY 9741 Seminar in Chemistry II 1.5 Credits
• CM-GY 9751 Seminar in Chemistry III 1.5 Credits
• CM-GY 5021 Information Sources for the Chemical Sciences 1.5 Credits

Electives: 12 Credits

At least two electives (6 credits) must be chosen from approved CM courses, 6000-level and above.

The remaining courses may be chosen from other graduate programs with the approval of the graduate adviser in Materials Chemistry.

Dissertation: 36 Credits

• CM-GY 999X PhD Dissertation in Materials Chemistry 36 Total Credits

Up to 9 credits of CM-GY 998X Research in Materials Chemistry    can be included here.

Total: 75 Credits

Additional requirements:.

•  Required safety training: All graduate students in PhD Materials Chemistry must enroll in (on BioRaft) and complete three one-hour training sessions offered by the NYU EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) Office in the first semester. The three sessions are: Lab Safety, Waste Management and Biosafety. Student must show proof (e.g. certificate) that they completed this training to their advisors. Each subsequent fall they must take three online refresher sessions until they graduate.
• CM-GY 9710 Chemical Colloquium 0 Credits must be taken each semester.

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Funding Packages for Full-Time PhD Students

If you are accepted as a full-time NYU Steinhardt PhD student, you are eligible for our generous funding package, which includes a stipend, scholarship, and healthcare coverage. Information is below and on our doctoral funding website. 

Funding Opportunities

The Steinhardt Fellowship Program

The standard Steinhardt Fellowship package includes an annual stipend, tuition remission for required course work, and student health insurance through your fifth year. The fellowship is reserved for full-time doctoral students. The 2024-2025 stipend is $33,867. Complete details are provided with each offer of admission.

Research Assistantships

Some doctoral students may be appointed to a Research Assistantship. Research Assistants are funded by external grants and work with a principal investigator on a funded research project. Unlike Steinhardt Fellows, Research Assistants agree to work 20 hours per week on an ongoing research project, typically with a team of faculty and other students. Research Assistants may not perform additional work assignments such as teaching or grading.

For the duration of the assistantship, Research Assistants receive funding that includes a stipend, tuition remission for required course work, and student health insurance.

Other Expenses to Consider

Beyond what is covered by your Steinhardt Fellowship or Research Assistantship, you may have additional expenses that you should keep in mind as you plan your budget. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Late registration fees
• Tuition for undergraduate courses
• Tuition for graduate courses not applicable to your degree
• Tuition for courses in excess of the total point requirement for your degree
• Tuition for courses completed after the end of the fifth year
• Tuition for courses and fees used to maintain official enrollment for study leading to a degree after the end of the fifth year; see doctoral student policies for more information
• Student health insurance for students beyond the fifth year (note that students who are employed by NYU, such as Research Assistants or Adjunct Instructors, may receive health insurance as an employee benefit)

Chemistry (BA)

Program description, departmental objectives, general information, research opportunities, honors program.

The Department of Chemistry has a long tradition in the College of Arts and Science, dating back well before the founding of the American Chemical Society at New York University in 1876. Professor John W. Draper, the first president of the society and chair of the department, was a remarkable polymath: chemist, physician, philosopher, historian, and pioneering photographer.

The department has undertaken a major development plan, strengthening its faculty, instructional laboratories, course offerings, and research facilities in the areas of physical, biophysical, bioorganic, and biomedical chemistry, as well as in chemical biology, nanoscience, and materials sciences. Qualified undergraduates are strongly encouraged to participate in research as early as their sophomore year of study. The department houses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for its undergraduate chemistry courses.

Majoring in chemistry at NYU provides strong preparation for graduate study in chemistry and biochemistry; professional education in medicine, dentistry, or patent law; and careers in industrial or pharmaceutical chemistry and biotechnology.

Chemistry is an incredibly broad field. It is known as the central natural science because it intersects with physics, biology, engineering, materials science, and environmental science. The atomic and molecular structure and properties of matter are fundamental to the investigation of the physical world and to the understanding of living systems. Our chemistry program has an interdisciplinary approach that creates context for studying real-world problems and their solutions.

The department offers majors in chemistry, biochemistry, and global public health/science with a concentration in chemistry. Students have the opportunity to earn either a B.A. or B.S. in the chemistry major. A selection of elective advanced courses, undergraduate and graduate, can be combined (in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies) to provide a broad, varied program of study in chemistry or an undergraduate specialization in organic, biochemical, physical, or theoretical chemistry. The opportunity to participate in scientific research as an undergraduate is one of the most exciting features of a chemistry major. Research allows you to work alongside graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty to develop new ideas to solve real-world problems and make new discoveries. Many of our students produce results that lead to publications and research is also a great preparation for graduate school and a wide range of chemistry careers.

The programs of study in chemistry and biochemistry prepare students for graduate study leading to careers in research, development, and teaching and/or for further study in areas such as medicine, dentistry, basic medical sciences, and allied health fields (including forensic science). In addition, the chemistry and biochemistry majors both prepare students for alternative careers, especially when paired with a minor in economics, data science, or business studies: for example, patent law, technology investment, or management in the chemical industry.

For Majors in Chemistry and Biochemistry

Students considering a major in chemistry or biochemistry are strongly urged to seek course advisement from the undergraduate academic team as early in their academic careers as possible. Chemistry is a sequential subject with courses building on earlier courses. Delay in taking certain key prerequisite courses can make it impossible to complete a major in four years without summer attendance.

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses required for the chemistry or biochemistry major, even if they are in other departments (such as mathematics or physics). Students who do not have an average of 2.0 or better in courses required by the department by the time they have completed 64 points in all courses will be asked to change their major.

The Department of Chemistry strictly enforces all prerequisites and de-enrolls students from courses for which they do meet the prerequisites. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C (not C minus) or better.

AP, IB, and A Level credit by examination in chemistry is not accepted toward any departmental majors or minors.

The department endeavors to make research opportunities available during the summer and the academic year to well-qualified students at all levels. We encourage interested students to begin research as early as freshman or sophomore year. Students are encouraged to apply for the FAST and DURF grants awarded by the College. To participate in research in the department, students must meet any prerequisites and register for the research courses Advanced Independent Study and Research (CHEM-UA 997, 998) or, if eligible, Senior Honors in Chemistry (CHEM-UA 995, 996). In either case, permission of the director of undergraduate studies is required before registering for these courses.

While the Department of Chemistry has several accelerated courses—for example, CHEM-UA 129 Accelerated General Chemistry and CHEM-UA 227 Majors Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory and CHEM-UA 228 Majors Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory —these offerings need not be taken to earn a chemistry or biochemistry degree with departmental honors. The main requirement for earning an honors degree is the completion of an honors thesis based upon independent experimental or theoretical research. Students interested in research and an honors degree must enroll in CHEM-UA 995 Senior Honors in Chem and CHEM-UA 996 . Students must first become involved in research, CHEM-UA 997 Adv Independent Study & Research or CHEM-UA 998 Adv Independent Study & Research for at least one semester or one summer prior to the senior year, as two semesters of research are generally not enough time to execute a successful project. Students seeking entry into the honors program must obtain the approval of the director of undergraduate studies prior to the end of their junior year. Candidates for a degree with honors in chemistry must have an overall GPA of 3.65 and a GPA of 3.65 in all required courses for the chemistry or biochemistry major. A senior thesis based on this work must be prepared, approved by the adviser, and presented in a seminar format during the spring term of the senior year. Please contact Carol Hollingsworth, academic program administrator, or Professor Walters, director of undergraduate studies, for more detailed information.

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU.  For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply . 

Program Requirements

Program notes.

The major in chemistry builds on a core of required courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Note: Biology is not required for any major or minor offered by the Department of Chemistry, but only for the pre-health program.

The foreign language requirement is satisfied upon successful completion through the Intermediate level of a language. This may be accomplished in fewer than 16 credits, but those credits must then be completed as elective credit.

When offered, the one-semester CHEM-UA 129 Accelerated General Chemistry may substitute for the CHEM-UA 125 General Chemistry I & Laboratory , CHEM-UA 126 General Chemistry II & Laboratory sequence.

Or Advanced Placement (or equivalent international exam) credit.

Advanced Placement credit for MATH-UA 122 Calculus II (a score of 5 on BC Calculus) is not accepted for this major requirement. Students with this AP credit must either (1) take Calculus II at NYU and forfeit 4 of the 8 AP credits, or (2) register for one of the following: CHEM-UA 140 Mathematics of Chemistry , MATH-UA 123 Calculus III , or MATH-UA 140 Linear Algebra , using the BC credits as a prerequisite.

Credit for AP Physics C: Mechanics with a score of 4 or 5 is accepted, but only for students who are not prehealth. No other AP or equivalent international credit is accepted. Because of medical, dental, etc. school admissions requirements, students on the prehealth track cannot use AP Physics C credit to place out of either or both semesters of General Physics.

Credit for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism with a score of 4 or 5 is accepted, but only for students who are not prehealth. No other AP or equivalent international credit is accepted. Because of medical, dental, etc. school admissions requirements, students on the prehealth track cannot use AP Physics C credit to place out of either or both semesters of General Physics.

CHEM-UA 997 Adv Independent Study & Research , CHEM-UA 998 Adv Independent Study & Research , CHEM-UA 995 Senior Honors in Chem , CHEM-UA 996 , and CHEM-UA 140 Mathematics of Chemistry do not count as advanced electives for the major.

CHEM-UA 140 Mathematics of Chemistry is strongly recommended as preparation for both Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy (CHEM-UA 651) and Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics (CHEM-UA 652), as well as for students interested in pursuing chemistry on the graduate level or who have an interest in theoretical chemistry or physical chemistry. Students may choose instead to take Calculus III (MATH-UA 123) and/or Linear Algebra (MATH-UA 140).

Freshmen who intend to pursue a major in chemistry and are well prepared in mathematics and the physical sciences are strongly encouraged to take General Physics I and II as their second science sequence (concurrently with general chemistry) in the first year. This allows the physical chemistry courses to be taken as early as sophomore year if the mathematics prerequisites are completed. However, if students choose to take biology with chemistry in the freshman year they may wish to defer taking physics (e.g., for students who are undecided, are considering a major in biology or neural science, and/or are on the pre-health track).

The core courses listed above provide a basic background in chemistry. Students are required to complete the courses in general chemistry, physics, and calculus prior to entry into CHEM-UA 651, 652 (the physical chemistry sequence), which is usually in the third year. It is strongly advised that advanced-level chemistry course enrollment begin no later than the fifth semester of study. This allows at least three more semesters to complete all major requirements.

Students interested in careers in medicine, dentistry, or basic medical sciences may wish to consider the major in biochemistry, which recommends additional courses in biology. Together these courses satisfy admission requirements for schools of the health professions. The appropriate pre-professional adviser should be consulted for details.

Sample Plan of Study

CHEM-UA 140 Mathematics of Chemistry is recommended, but not required. Does not count toward any major requirements. May be substituted with an elective course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of program requirements, students are expected to have acquired:

• A fundamental command of chemistry, as well as of the subdisciplines of organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry.
• Facility (via elective offerings) in analytical chemistry and/or mathematical and machine computational methods.
• Mastery of laboratory skills in organic and physical chemistry.
• Familiarity with contemporary problems in chemistry and the ability to articulate these problems and to propose well-considered solutions.

Grading and GPA Policy

Prerequisite policy, laboratory policy, nyu policies, college of arts and science policies.

The Chemistry (BA) major requires six core courses (28 credits), four mathematics and physics courses (18 credits), and four chemistry courses (16 credits) completed with a grade of C or better even if they are in other departments (such as mathematics or physics). Students who do not have an average of 2.0 or better in courses required by the department by the time they have completed 64 credits in all courses will be asked to change their major.

Due to the potential hazard of any chemical experimentation, safety goggles, laboratory coats, and other protective gear must be worn at all times in the laboratories (but cannot be worn outside the laboratory). Laboratory equipment loaned to students must be replaced if damaged or broken. Students who do not return borrowed laboratory equipment at the end of a course are charged an additional fee, and their grade may be recorded as incomplete and not released until "checkout" is completed.

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

A full list of relevant academic policies can be found on the CAS Academic Policies page . 

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Graduate Program

New York University invites applications for the Shanghai Track Doctoral Program in Computational Chemistry. Students admitted to this track will work with NYU Shanghai faculty within the Center for Computational Chemistry (CCC), a research institute operated jointly by NYU, NYU Shanghai, and East China Normal University. The CCC is establishing itself as a world-class platform for research, training, and international collaboration in computational chemistry. The center has a core group of outstanding faculty members who are conducting frontier research in various fields of computational chemistry, biology, and material sciences.

Students in the Shanghai track will normally spend their first year at NYU in New York for course work, before starting the full-fledged Ph.D. program in a research group in Shanghai. Candidates who successfully complete the program will receive a Ph.D. degree from New York University. All full-time Ph.D. students are supported by fellowships, and advanced students are eligible for a number of additional awards and fellowships, as described on the Financial Aid site . Graduate Student stipends and benefits are equivalent to those on the New York track.

  Program Components

Students will typically take one year of courses in the New York University Department of Chemistry, designed to give a solid foundation in the fundamental concepts of theoretical and computational chemistry. The program offers flexibility in the choice of courses, and is designed in consultation with NYU Shanghai faculty and the director of graduate studies, taking into account each student’s specific background, experience, and field of interest. A list of graduate-level courses is available on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Site . In addition, students will attend courses on professional development, English language (as necessary), and research colloquia from leading faculty.

During the first year, students will select an NYU Shanghai faculty member to serve as thesis advisor and join their research group in Shanghai following completion of the coursework component. Current research activities in the Center for Computational Chemistry cover much of the field of computational chemistry, broadly defined, including studies of protein interactions, enzyme reactions, computer aided drug design, intermolecular interactions, light harvesting in photosynthesis, radiation damage to DNA, materials science, and quantum dynamics in complex environments. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to read the Standing Faculty Profiles before applying.

During the program, students will acquire the skills necessary for a successful career in independent research. These includes mastering computational tools to carry out world-class research, communicating research findings effectively in oral presentation and scholarly publication, and developing independent research proposals. Students will receive feedback on their progress from a thesis committee at several stages in the program, and they are expected to defend their thesis in the 5th year.

Further information on the Doctoral Program is available on the NYU Chemistry website .

  Application

Application to the NYU Shanghai Track Doctoral Program in Computational Chemistry is done online on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences site. During the application, students interested in the Shanghai track must select the Shanghai campus. The deadline for application is December 12th for enrollment in the subsequent Fall semester. Further details of the program and application requirements are available on the GSAS site . Additional questions should be directed to Prof. Zhang ( [email protected] ) or Prof. Glover ( [email protected] ).