best physical chemistry phd programs

Best Global Universities for Physical Chemistry in the United States

These are the top universities in the United States for physical chemistry, based on their reputation and research in the field. Read the methodology »

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Here are the best global universities for physical chemistry in the United States

Georgia institute of technology, stanford university, massachusetts institute of technology (mit), harvard university, university of california berkeley, university of california los angeles, drexel university, university of texas austin, northwestern university, university of maryland college park.

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• # 5 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 51 in Best Global Universities  (tie)

• # 6 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 3 in Best Global Universities

Stanford University was founded in 1885 and is located in California’s Bay Area, around 30 miles south of San Francisco... Read More

• # 18 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry  (tie)
• # 2 in Best Global Universities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded in 1861, is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, near Boston. Around... Read More

• # 30 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 1 in Best Global Universities

Founded in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest higher education institution in the U.S. The bulk of Harvard's... Read More

• # 31 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 4 in Best Global Universities

The University of California—Berkeley is situated roughly 15 miles from San Francisco in what is known as the Bay Area... Read More

• # 32 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 14 in Best Global Universities

The University of California—Los Angeles, commonly referred to as UCLA, is a public institution that was founded in... Read More

• # 40 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 352 in Best Global Universities  (tie)

• # 47 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 43 in Best Global Universities

• # 50 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry
• # 24 in Best Global Universities

Northwestern University is a private institution that was founded in 1851. The university has three campuses – the main... Read More

• # 60 in Best Universities for Physical Chemistry  (tie)
• # 57 in Best Global Universities  (tie)

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 study spanning contemporary subfields, including theoretical, organic, inorganic, physical, biophysical and biomedical chemistry and more. Much of the research defies easy classification along traditional divisions; cross-disciplinary collaborations with Stanford's many vibrant research departments and institutes is among factors distinguishing this world-class graduate program.

The Department of Chemistry is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development.  This advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement with mutual respect by both the adviser and advisee.

• The adviser is expected to meet at least monthly with the graduate student to discuss on-going research.
• There should be a yearly independent development plan (IDP) meeting between the graduate student and adviser. Topics include research progress, expectations for completion of PhD, areas for both the student and adviser to improve in their joint research effort.
• A research adviser should provide timely feedback on manuscripts and thesis chapters.
• Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
• If there is a significant issue concerning the graduate student’s progress in research, the adviser must communicate this to the student and to the Graduate Studies Committee in writing.  This feedback should include the issues, what needs to be done to overcome these issues and by when.

Academic advising by Stanford faculty is a critical component of all graduate students' education and additional resources can be found in the  Policies and Best Practices for Advising Relationships at Stanford  and the  Guidelines for Faculty-Student Advising at Stanford .

Learn more about the program through the links below, and by exploring the research interests of the  Chemistry Faculty  and  Courtesy Faculty .

Chemical Physics

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This program is an intriguing and exciting area of study that covers the clarification of the properties and behavior of nanostructures, the characterization of the interior workings of individual cells, the preparation of the first quantum spin liquid, research in experimental physical chemistry, and much more. Our award-winning faculty, which includes Nobel Prize and Welch Award laureates, will help you explore the theoretical and practical aspects of material sciences, engineering, and chemical engineering. The education you receive will enable you to successfully pursue a career in either academia or industry.

Students in the program have collaborated with leading scientific institutions, like the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, and with fellow students in various labs across the Harvard campus.

Examples of student projects include developing materials to create sustainable heating and cooling options to reduce greenhouse gases and the development of novel molecules that the world has never seen.

Graduates of the program have secured faculty positions at prestigious institutions like MIT, Stanford University, and Princeton University. Others have launched careers with well-known companies like Dow Chemical, Chevron, and Merck. 

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

All applicants to Chemical Physics must apply through Chemistry and Chemical Biology.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants interested in Chemical Physics apply through the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. In the online application, select “Chemistry and Chemical Biology” as your program choice and select "Chemical Physics" in the Area of Study menu.

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology .

Statement of Purpose

For applicants to chemical physics, the statement of purpose should include two sections. Please clearly delineate the two sections within the same document using the headers "statement of purpose" and "research accomplishments.”

• Statement of Purpose : Statement of your scientific and professional interests and objectives, not to exceed 300 words.
• Research Accomplishments : Statement of your research accomplishments and/or current projects, not to exceed 500 words. In the event that undergraduate research opportunities have not been available to you, please discuss other science projects, reading projects, etc., that you have undertaken.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional GRE Subject: Optional

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Chemical Physics

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Chemistry Graduate Programs in America

1-25 of 325 results

MIT School of Science

Cambridge, MA •

Massachusetts Institute of Technology •

Graduate School

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,

Graduate School ,

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

Stanford University Department of Humanities and Sciences

Stanford, CA •

Stanford University •

Stanford University ,

STANFORD, CA ,

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

New Haven, CT •

Yale University •

• • Rating 4.5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: The resources at Yale are outstanding. While some of the required courses are slow-moving and less informative, I do have more academic freedom in my second year to the program to take classes that I enjoy across all departments (including data science, statistics, computer science, and law). ... Read 2 reviews

Yale University ,

NEW HAVEN, CT ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The resources at Yale are outstanding. While some of the required courses are slow-moving and less informative, I do have more academic freedom in my second year to the program to take classes that I... .

Read 2 reviews.

Colorado School of Mines

Graduate School •

• • Rating 4.3 out of 5   10

Florida Institute of Technology

MELBOURNE, FL

• • Rating 4.61 out of 5   66

School of Science and Mathematics - Mississippi College

Mississippi College •

CLINTON, MS

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Harvard University •

• • Rating 4.56 out of 5   9 reviews

Other: I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student' in the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Through this School, I will be focusing my time at the John A. Paulson school of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Looking forward to wrapping up my final year on campus! ... Read 9 reviews

Harvard University ,

9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.

Featured Review: Other says I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student'... .

Read 9 reviews.

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ •

• • Rating 4.33 out of 5   3 reviews

Master's Student: The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help students in office hours or in sponsorship of projects. The worst part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the lack of structure for the graduate research program which can leave you feeling unsure on the direction of your research. ... Read 3 reviews

PRINCETON, NJ ,

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The best part of the Princeton University mechanical engineering graduate degree is the excellent faculty that teach the courses. They are incredibly knowledgeable and also very willing to help... .

Read 3 reviews.

The Graduate School at Duke

Durham, NC •

Duke University •

• • Rating 4.8 out of 5   5 reviews

Current Master's student: The program is the best in the nation. It is the origin of the profession and it has helped developed it to what it is today. They seem to ver much involve alumni and are involved in your future. ... Read 5 reviews

Duke University ,

DURHAM, NC ,

5 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.

Featured Review: Current Master's student says The program is the best in the nation. It is the origin of the profession and it has helped developed it to what it is today. They seem to ver much involve alumni and are involved in your future. .

Read 5 reviews.

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Brown University Graduate School

Providence, RI •

Brown University •

Brown University ,

PROVIDENCE, RI ,

School of Arts & Sciences - University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA •

University of Pennsylvania •

University of Pennsylvania ,

PHILADELPHIA, PA ,

Wiess School of Natural Sciences

Houston, TX •

Rice University •

Blue checkmark.

Rice University ,

HOUSTON, TX ,

Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

Evanston, IL •

Northwestern University •

Northwestern University ,

EVANSTON, IL ,

College of Arts and Science

Nashville, TN •

Vanderbilt University •

Vanderbilt University ,

NASHVILLE, TN ,

Washington University in St. Louis - Arts & Sciences

St. Louis, MO •

Washington University in St. Louis •

Washington University in St. Louis ,

ST. LOUIS, MO ,

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Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies

Hanover, NH •

Dartmouth College •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   1 review

Alum: I had a beautiful life-changing experience at the grand Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. The Guarini graduate program MALS created so many beautiful opportunities in interdisciplinary learning. Guarini is well integrated within the College, which provides a unique world-class learning experience. Guarini went beyond my expectations and made this experience the best I had and will ever have in my life. The only thing I would like changed is having a GRAD diploma in Latin instead of English to keep up with College tradition. ... Read 1 review

Dartmouth College ,

HANOVER, NH ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says I had a beautiful life-changing experience at the grand Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. The Guarini graduate program MALS created so many beautiful opportunities in interdisciplinary... .

Read 1 reviews.

Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering - California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA •

California Institute of Technology •

California Institute of Technology ,

PASADENA, CA ,

College of Science - University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN •

University of Notre Dame •

University of Notre Dame ,

NOTRE DAME, IN ,

Physical Sciences Division - University of Chicago

Chicago, IL •

University of Chicago •

Master's Student: The masters in computer science at UChicago has an opportunity for students from nontraditional computer science backgrounds to take “immersion courses” to get up to speed before taking the masters level coursework, which is extremely inclusive programming. The program is also a top competitor and prepares students for professional careers. ... Read 1 review

University of Chicago ,

CHICAGO, IL ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says The masters in computer science at UChicago has an opportunity for students from nontraditional computer science backgrounds to take “immersion courses” to get up to speed before taking the masters... .

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Los Angeles, CA •

University of Southern California •

University of Southern California ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences

Ithaca, NY •

Cornell University •

Cornell University ,

ITHACA, NY ,

Rackham School of Graduate Studies

Ann Arbor, MI •

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor •

Master's Student: The Landscape Architecture program at UMich School for Environment and Sustainability is rooted in advancing sustainable design and ecological function, rather than pure aesthetics. We have some amazing faculty very dedicated to this mission, some of whom are legends within the field. This program attracts and retains students who are diverse, passionate, friendly and helpful, and the experience at this school has been very rewarding. The curriculum is challenging but thought provoking, and everyone in the studios is happy and willing to help, fostering a warm sense of comradery and support. ... Read 5 reviews

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ,

ANN ARBOR, MI ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says The Landscape Architecture program at UMich School for Environment and Sustainability is rooted in advancing sustainable design and ecological function, rather than pure aesthetics. We have some... .

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - Georgetown University

Nw Washington, DC •

Georgetown University •

• • Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

Master's Student: The program is highly practical. The professors explain concepts in class and give us home works to submit on each topic discussed on a weekly basis. This enables us to grasp the concepts more. We are informed of the professors office time and so we can email them to make inquiries and get assistance when needed. We make presentations during class which train us to become more bold and be able to communicate the concepts easily. We are able to discuss and critic writings independently. We work on projects in groups of about 3-4 and discuss findings to the entire class and professor. We review research papers and make meta-analyses inform of class projects. The program is well structured and i am gaining skills. My worst experience is having to worry about Tuition and other related school bills. ... Read 2 reviews

Georgetown University ,

NW WASHINGTON, DC ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The program is highly practical. The professors explain concepts in class and give us home works to submit on each topic discussed on a weekly basis. This enables us to grasp the concepts more. We... .

School of Arts and Sciences - Tufts University

Medford, MA •

Tufts University •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   4 reviews

Master's Student: My experience was mostly great! I felt supported by faculty and staff and became involved in student activities. It was just unfortunate that my on-campus experience was cut short due to the pandemic so I was not able to fully take advantage of all the program and graduate school had to offer. ... Read 4 reviews

Tufts University ,

MEDFORD, MA ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says My experience was mostly great! I felt supported by faculty and staff and became involved in student activities. It was just unfortunate that my on-campus experience was cut short due to the pandemic... .

Read 4 reviews.

UCLA College of Letters and Science

University of California - Los Angeles •

• • Rating 3 out of 5   1 review

University of California - Los Angeles ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 3 stars.

Krieger School of Arts & Sciences

Baltimore, MD •

Johns Hopkins University •

• • Rating 4.53 out of 5   19 reviews

Master's Student: I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student Advisor, Alexis has been extremely helpful in initiating my enrollment process and answering all of my questions in a timely matter. My intended Advanced Academic Program is the accelerated (2 semester), dual-modality, 40-credit M.S. in Biotechnology, Biodefense concentration. All of the anticipated course subjects are diverse and there's even a customizable core lab course on campus (at least until Summer 2024). I can't wait and I wish you all the best in your search for academic programs or professional certifications. ... Read 19 reviews

Johns Hopkins University ,

BALTIMORE, MD ,

19 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student... .

Read 19 reviews.

Mellon College of Science

Pittsburgh, PA •

Carnegie Mellon University •

Carnegie Mellon University ,

PITTSBURGH, PA ,

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA •

University of Virginia •

• • Rating 4 out of 5   1 review

Alum: Very good in some areas, excellent in other areas, many academic choices available in all areas of study ... Read 1 review

University of Virginia ,

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA ,

1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Very good in some areas, excellent in other areas, many academic choices available in all areas of study .

College of Science and Engineering - University of Houston - Clear Lake

University of Houston - Clear Lake •

HOUSTON, TX

Thomas Jefferson University

PHILADELPHIA, PA

• • Rating 4.68 out of 5   71

Florida International University

• • Rating 4.64 out of 5   296

Showing results 1 through 25 of 325

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Survey of Ph.D. Programs in Chemistry

By Joel Shulman

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 the Survey of Ph.D. Programs in Chemistry recently reported by the ACS Committee on Professional Training (CPT) . Highlights of the survey are given here.

View the full report

The primary objective of the CPT is to facilitate the maintenance and improvement of the quality of chemical education at the postsecondary level. Not only does the Committee develop and administer the guidelines that define high-quality undergraduate education, but it also produces resources such as the ACS Directory of Graduate Education and publishes data on undergraduate and graduate education. Approximately every ten years, CPT fields a survey of Ph.D. programs. The latest survey solicited data from all 196 Ph.D. programs in chemistry and received usable information (base year, 2007) from 139 of these programs.

Figure 1. Size Distribution of Ph.D. Programs

Program size and demographics of students

The 139 reporting Ph.D. programs are divided for purposes of comparison into three groups of approximately equal size according to the total number of graduate students in the program: 44 small (defined as 0 to 40 total graduate students), 46 medium (41 to 105 graduate students), and 49 large programs (106+ graduate students). The number of students in Ph.D. programs ranges from 0 to 394 (see Figure 1) with a total of 13,280 students. Eighteen departments have more than 200 students, accounting for more than one-third (4,460) of the total graduate students in chemistry. The 30 largest programs account for almost 50% of graduate students. The average program size is 96 students (and 23 faculty), while the median program size is 67 students.

Of the doctoral students in responding programs, 27.4% are women, 5.2% are underrepresented minorities, and 42.3% are international students (Table 1). Small programs tend to have a higher percentage of underrepresented minority students (averaging 7.8%), while large programs have a higher percentage of women (28.5%) and a lower percentage of international students (37.3%).

Table 1. Demographics of Graduate Students by Program Size

Requirements for degree (table 2).

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.

Table 2. Requirement in Ph.D. Program

Graduate student progression and support (table 3).

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.

Table 3. Student Progression and Support in Ph.D. Programs

Developing student skills.

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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100 Best colleges for Physical chemistry in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Physical chemistry. A graph of 39.8M citations received by 1M academic papers made by 655 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of California - Berkeley

For Physical chemistry

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3. Stanford University

4. Pennsylvania State University

5. Georgia Institute of Technology

6. University of Texas at Austin

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

8. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

10. Northwestern University

11. Purdue University

12. University of Wisconsin - Madison

13. University of California - Los Angeles

14. Texas A&M University - College Station

15. Cornell University

16. Harvard University

17. California Institute of Technology

18. University of Washington - Seattle

19. Princeton University

20. University of California - Santa Barbara

21. University of Maryland - College Park

22. University of Florida

23. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

24. University of Pennsylvania

25. University of California-San Diego

26. Ohio State University

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

28. University of Utah

29. University of California - Davis

30. Columbia University

31. Iowa State University

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

33. Yale University

34. University of Delaware

35. Washington State University

36. Carnegie Mellon University

37. University of Pittsburgh

38. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

39. University of Colorado Boulder

40. University of Arizona

41. Case Western Reserve University

42. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

43. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

44. Rice University

45. Michigan State University

46. University of Southern California

47. Johns Hopkins University

48. University of Notre Dame

49. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

50. University of California - Riverside

51. University of California - Irvine

52. University of Chicago

53. University at Buffalo

54. University of Virginia

55. University of Houston

56. University of Connecticut

57. Drexel University

58. Washington University in St Louis

59. University of South Carolina - Columbia

60. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

61. University of Cincinnati

62. Duke University

63. University of Kentucky

64. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

65. University of Rochester

66. Clemson University

67. University of Illinois at Chicago

68. Oregon State University

69. University of Iowa

70. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

71. University of Georgia

72. Auburn University

73. Vanderbilt University

74. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

75. Lehigh University

76. Stony Brook University

77. University of Central Florida

78. Providence College

79. Brown University

80. University of Alabama

81. University of New Mexico

82. Missouri University of Science and Technology

83. Wayne State University

84. University of Akron

85. Colorado School of Mines

86. Northeastern University

87. New York University

88. Boston University

89. Florida State University

90. Emory University

91. University of South Florida

92. University of Kansas

93. Kansas State University

94. University of Oklahoma - Norman

95. Texas Tech University

96. University of California - San Francisco

97. University of Miami

98. University of Missouri - Columbia

99. Brigham Young University - Provo

100. University of North Texas

The best cities to study Physical chemistry in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley , Cambridge , Stanford , and University Park .

Chemistry subfields in the United States

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• PhD Program

Chemistry PhD Program

The University of Pennsylvania is an internationally renowned research institution that attracts the best students from the United States and around the globe. The Graduate Program is designed for students who wish to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry while undertaking cutting edge research. The program provides students with the necessary theoretical background and hands-on training to become independent and highly successful scientists.  Graduate students achieve mastery of advanced chemistry topics through courses in different subdisciplines. Broad exposure to current research also occurs via four weekly departmental seminar programs and many interdisciplinary, university-wide lecture series.

Currently, faculty, students, and postdoctoral associates in Chemistry work in the fields of bioinorganic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, biophysical chemistry, bioinformatics, materials science, laser chemistry, health related chemistry, structural and dynamical studies of biological systems, X-ray scattering/diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, applications of computing and computer graphics, as well as investigations of chemical communication and hormone-receptor interactions. Many research groups combine different techniques to explore frontier areas, such as nanomaterials applied to biology, photoactive biomolecules, and single-molecule imaging. Novel synthetic procedures are under constant development for targets ranging from super-emissive nanoparticles to highly specialized drug molecules and giant dendrimers, which are being explored, for example, as drug-delivery systems. The Research Facilities in the Department of Chemistry provide a strong technology base to enable the highest level of innovation. Graduate students are a driving, integral force at Penn Chemistry.

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The Physical Chemistry graduate program at the University of Colorado at Boulder ranked 8th nationally (2023 US News & World Report) and has strong connections to JILA, a joint institute with NIST, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), and CIRES. Researchers here can often synthesize methods and viewpoints from academically distinct disciplines. The division has an excellent history and tradition in both theory and experiment and is rapidly developing its unique strengths in new research directions. Research efforts span a large variety of current questions in physical chemistry, from the structure and reactivity of gas-phase molecules and clusters to processes on surfaces and interfaces to ion solvation and ultrafast dynamics in photochemistry and biomolecules, often with a focus on interdisciplinary work involving research in biophysical chemistry, nanoscience or renewable energy. Faculty members use state-of-the-art experimental techniques e.g., mass spectrometry, photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution optical spectroscopy, ultrafast spectroscopy, and high-resolution microscopy. A strong group of faculty members working in various areas of theoretical chemistry seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the physical principles underlying chemistry and to obtain theoretical methods with high predictive power, explaining current experiments and guiding future studies.

Research spans the gamut from fundamental questions about reactivity and dynamics on surfaces, in gas and liquid phases, to more applied topics in materials and nanoscience, climate science, biophysical chemistry, and renewable energy. Experimental groups use and design state of the art techniques, from high-resolution microscopy to ultrafast laser spectroscopy. Theoretical groups develop both computational and analytical methods to answer complex problems that often complement experimental studies.

Faculty in this area:

Veronica Bierbaum : Physical Chemistry, Reaction Dynamics, Kinetics/Thermochemistry, Atmospheric/Astrochemistry, Trace Gases & Radicals  *no longer accepting graduate students

Jordy Bouwman : Interstellar (prebiotic) hydrocarbons, physical chemistry, (laser) spectroscopy, quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry, threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy, quantum chemical computations.

Steven Brown :  Atmospheric nitrogen oxides, nighttime tropospheric chemistry, and high sensitivity optical instrumentation

Tanja Cuk : Physical Chemistry, Heterogeneous Catalysis/Reaction Dynamics, Material Surfaces, and Renewable Energy

Niels Damrauer : Photochemical Reactions & Multi-electron Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Renewable Energy, Photochemistry, Reaction Dynamics

Gordana Dukovic : Physical Chemistry; Nanotechnology/Materials; and Renewable Energy

Joel Eaves : Biophysics; Chemical Physics; Nanotechnology/Materials; Physical Chemistry; and Theoretical Chemistry

Steven George : Surface Chemistry, Nanotechnology/Materials, Physical Chemistry, Renewable Energy

James Hynes : Biomolecules; Catalytic Reactions related to Solar Energy; Dynamics of Chemical Reactions and Energy Flow in Solution; and Theoretical Chemistry *no longer accepting graduate students

Ralph Jimenez : Biophysics, Chemical Dynamics, Fluorescence Imaging, Photophysics

David Jonas : Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Renewable Energy, Biophysics, Reaction Dynamics, Nanotechnology/Materials

Carl Lineberger : Reaction Dynamics, *no longer accepting graduate students

Josef Michl : Inorganic, Physical, Photochemistry, Organometallic Chemistry, Organic, Physical Organic

Andres Montoya-Castillo : Physical, Materials/Nanoscience

David Nesbitt : Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Spectroscopy, Atmospheric Chemistry, Astrochemistry, Biophysics, Interfaces, Nanomaterials

Arthur Nozik : Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Renewable Energy, Nanotechnology/Materials,  *no longer accepting graduate students

Jihye Park:  Inorganic; Nanotechnology/Materials; Photochemical Reactions & Multi-electron Chemistry; Physical Organic Chemistry; Renewable Energy

Robert Parson : Reaction Dynamics, Theoretical Chemistry

Garry Rumbles : Photochemistry, Kinetics/Thermochemistry, Physical, Renewable Energy

Sandeep Sharma : Physical Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry, Metalloenzymes, Gas phase Kinetics

Rex Skodje : Renewable Energy, Reaction Dynamics, Surface Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry  *no longer accepting graduate students

Veronica Vaida : Environmental Chemistry, Aerosols & Clouds, Trace Gases & Radicals, Renewable Energy, Atmospheric/Astrochemistry  *no longer accepting graduate students

J. Mathias Weber : Chemical Physics, Photochemistry, Reaction Dynamics, Nanotechnology/Materials, Renewable Energy

Wei Zhang : Organic, Nanotechnology/Materials, Renewable Energy

• Interdisciplinary Programs

Research Resource Links

• ​  CU Boulder Chemistry Library Database

PhD in Chemical Physics

The PhD in Chemical Physics is offered jointly by the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics & Astronomy . This combined program is ideal for mathematically inclined chemistry graduate students or atomic-molecularly focused physics graduate students. Our students prepare for careers at this recognized interdisciplinary boundary in areas such as designing materials for energy production and utilization, basic issues in surface interactions and catalysis, and complex issues in biochemistry.

The curriculum requirements for the PhD in Chemical Physics meld those of Chemistry with those of Physics. The curriculum has more emphasis on chemical synthesis than the core program in Physics and more electricity and magnetism than the core program in Chemistry. These greater core requirements are balanced with a greater flexibility in the elective courses. The core program consists of seven graduate-level classroom courses at least three of which must be Chemistry courses and three must be Physics courses. The core courses should be completed by the fourth semester in residence. 

Course Requirements

Core courses

• Two semesters of quantum/structure consisting of either Chemistry 133: Quantum Mechanics or Physics 163: Quantum Theory I and either Chemistry 136: Spectroscopy and Molecular Structure or Physics 164: Quantum Physics II.
• One semester of electricity and magnetism consisting of Physics 145: Classical Electromagnetic Theory I.
• One semester of statistical-thermodynamics consisting of either Chemistry 131: Statistical Thermodynamics or Physics 153: Statistical Mechanics.
• One course on structure/bonding, to be chosen from among Chemistry 150: Intermediate Organic Chemistry, Chemistry 151: Physical Organic Chemistry, Chemistry 152: Advanced Organic Synthesis, Chemistry 161: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, and Chemistry 162: Chemistry of Transition Elements.

Elective courses

Two additional courses from among the following:

• Chemistry 132: Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics
• Chemistry 151: Physical Organic Chemistry
• Chemistry 162: Chemistry of Transition Elements
• Physics 131: Advanced Classical Mechanics
• Physics 146: Electromagnetic Theory II
• Physics 173: Introduction to Solid-State Physics I
• Physics 174: Introduction to Solid-State Physics II 
• Other appropriate courses may be substituted with the approval of the student’s advisory committee.  
• A public seminar by the end of the fourth semester. The seminar is based on current literature, can be presented in either department and is evaluated by the research committee.
• A presentation to the student’s research committee in the fifth semester. The topic for the presentation to the committee is chosen by the student in consultation with the research committee. This presentation may be waived for students having at least a 3.3 average in the core courses.  
• In addition, the student must prepare a written, original research proposal by the end of the eighth semester. This proposal shall be somewhat distinct from the thesis work and defended orally before the advisory committee.

About the Chemistry Ph.D. Program

Ph.d. in chemistry faq's.

The Chemistry PhD program is designed towards developing within each student the ability to do creative scientific research. Accordingly, the single most important facet of the curriculum for an individual is their own research project. In keeping with the goal of fostering an atmosphere of scholarly, independent study, formal course requirements are minimal and vary among disciplines; advisor's tailor course requirements to best prepare the student for the chosen research field.

The Doctoral program includes the following concentrations, each of which has specific degree requirements:

• Physical Chemistry : In general, the Physical Chemistry Graduate Program encompasses analytical, nuclear, biophysical, and theoretical chemistry.
• Synthetic Chemistry : The Synthetic Chemistry Graduate Program includes emphases in either organic or inorganic chemistry
• Chemical Biology : The Chemical Biology Graduate Program covers a range of research areas at the interface of Chemistry and Biology.

Research. A graduate student spends a good deal of time during the first week of the first semester at Berkeley talking to various faculty members about possible research projects, studying pertinent literature references, and choosing an individual project. New graduate students meet shortly after their arrival with a faculty adviser. From the faculty adviser the student obtains a list of faculty members whose research may interest the student. After visiting these and additional faculty, if necessary, the student chooses a research director, with the consent of the faculty member and the graduate adviser. By the end of the first semester most students have made a choice and are full-fledged members of research group. Students in the Chemical Biology Graduate Program will select their thesis advisor after completion of three-ten week rotations. Thereafter, all students become involved in library research on their projects and many begin actual experimental or theoretical work.

Independent Study. A student who chooses to specialize in physical chemistry is normally expected to take two courses per semester during the first year and one or two additional semesters of coursework sometimes during the second year. These may include topics such Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Group Theory, Interactions of Radiation with Matter, and many more. At the other extreme, a student specializing in inorganic chemistry will concentrate more heavily on special topics seminars and take fewer courses. The course offerings in the University are varied so that individual students have the opportunity to take other courses which serve their own needs. Such as, a student working on nuclear chemistry will probably elect additional graduate physics courses, while a student working on biophysical or bio-organic problems may take courses offered by the Biochemistry Department. Students in the Chemical Biology program will take courses from both Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology departments.

Seminars. Because of the size and diversity of the Berkeley faculty, there are many seminars on a variety of topics which students may choose to attend. There are regular weekly seminars in several major areas, including biophysical, physical, nuclear, organic, theoretical, solid state, and inorganic chemistry. These seminars are presented by members of the Berkeley faculty, as well as distinguished visitors to the campus. These seminars allow the students to become aware of the most important current research going on in the field. In addition to these regular seminars, there are several regular department seminars devoted to presentations by graduate students. One of the doctoral program requirements is that each student delivers a departmental seminar known as a graduate research conference during the second year. Individual research groups also hold regular research seminars. The format of these small, informal seminars varies. In some cases, graduate students discuss their own current research before the other members of the research group. On other occasions, the group seminars may be devoted to group discussions of recent papers which are of interest to the particular research group. In any event, small group seminars are one of the most important ways in which students learn by organizing and interpreting their own results before their peers.

Qualifying Exam. Sometime during the second year of graduate work at Berkeley, each student takes a qualifying examination. The examining board, a committee of four faculty members, is appointed to examine the student for general competence in the area of interest. The qualifying examination is centered around the defense of the individual research project. Upon satisfactory completion of the oral qualifying examination, the student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. After advancement, the student completes an original, scholarly contribution to science and writes a dissertation on the subject. Most students complete their work and received their degree within five years.

Teaching. An integral part of the graduate education at Berkeley is teaching. The department requires that each doctoral candidate assist in the instructional program of the department as a teaching assistant for two semesters during their graduate careers. The faculty regard the teaching experience as highly valuable for all graduate students, especially those who plan to teach as a career.

Financial Aid. All students admitted to our graduate program receive a stipend for the duration of study in the form of teaching and research assistantships as long as they are in residence and demonstrate good progress toward the degree. Students also receive full tution, health, dental and vision insurance. Most funds for this support derive from research contracts and grants.

For more information see the Berkeley Bulletin

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10 Top PhD Programs in Chemistry in 2024

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

Top PhD Programs in Chemistry

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.

• Courses include: Principles of inorganic chemistry, crystal structure refinement, and heterocyclic chemistry.
• Credits: 48
• Duration: 4 years +
• Tuition:  Full funding
• Financial aid: Fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships.
• Delivery: On-campus
• Acceptance rate: 7.3%
• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

2. Stanford University, School of Humanities and Sciences

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.

• Courses include: Advanced inorganic chemistry, organic polyfunctional compounds, and chemical principles.
• Duration: 5 years
• Tuition: Refer tuition page
• Financial aid: Research assistantship, teaching assistantship, fellowships, grants, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 5.2%
• Location: Stanford, California

3. California Institute of Technology, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

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.

• Courses include: Bioinorganic chemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, and advanced quantum chemistry.
• Duration: 5.5 years average
• Tuition : $56,364
• Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, work-study, fellowships, assistantships, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 6.7%
• Location: Pasadena, California

4. Harvard University, The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

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.

• Courses include: Advanced organic chemistry, materials chemistry, and advanced inorganic chemistry.
• Duration: 5-6 years
• Tuition: Full funding
• Financial aid: Scholarships, research assistantships, and fellowships.
• Acceptance rate: 5%

5. Northwestern University, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences

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.

• Courses include: Organic chemistry, physical/analytical chemistry, and biological chemistry.
• Financial aid: Fellowships, graduate assistantships, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 9.3%
• Location: Evanston, Illinois

6. Yale University, Department of Chemistry

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.

• Courses include: Fundamentals of transition metal chemistry, bioinorganic spectroscopy, and organic structures & energetics.
• Financial aid: Stipends, fellowships, and grants.
• Acceptance rate: 6.5%
• Location: New Haven, Connecticut

7. The University of Chicago, Department of Chemistry

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.

• Courses include: Complex chemical systems, chemical biology, and chemical dynamics.
• Tuition : $63,936
• Financial aid: Fellowships, research assistantships, health insurance, grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.
• Location: Chicago, Illinois

8. Princeton University, Department of Chemistry

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.

• Courses include: Advanced quantum chemistry, biophysical chemistry, and synthetic organic chemistry.
• Tuition : $57,410
• Financial aid: Assistantships, fellowships, work-study, veteran benefits, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 5.6%
• Location: Princeton, New Jersey

9. The University of California, Berkeley, College 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.

• Courses include: Chemical kinetics, coordination chemistry, and organic reactions.
• Tuition : $14,476
• Financial aid: Fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, grants, and loans.
• Acceptance rate: 17.5%
• Location: Berkeley, California

10. Cornell University, Department of 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.

• Courses include: Engineering general chemistry, principles of organic chemistry, and physical chemistry of proteins.
• Financial aid: Teaching assistantship, research assistantship, fellowships, grants, stipend, and health insurance.
• Acceptance rate: 10.7%
• Location: Ithaca, New York

What Do You Need To Get a PhD in Chemistry?

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.

Preparing for a Chemistry Doctorate Program

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.

Things To Consider When Choosing a Chemistry PhD Program

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:

• Mode of delivery: on-campus, online, or hybrid
• School location, accessibility, and affordability to live in the area if you’re planning on studying on campus
• Program costs, including not only tuition but also fees and other expenses
• Financial aid options

Why Get a Doctorate in Chemistry?

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:

• High level of prestige
• Many chemistry PhD programs are fully-funded or offer access significant to financial aid
• Wide range of job prospects in academia, research, and management
• Access to senior leadership positions and opportunities to manage research projects

Jobs you can land with a PhD in Chemistry include:

• Post-doctoral Research Assistant ( $52,672 )
• Chemical Materials Scientist ( $130,008 )
• Professor of Chemistry ( $94,914 )
• Development Chemist ( $59,802 )
• Director of Research ( $107,150 )

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.

What Skills Do You Gain When Doing a Ph.D. in Chemistry?

You’ll build a range of advanced skills as part of a PhD in Chemistry program, most notably:

• Research skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Mentoring and teaching skills
• Leadership skills
• Organizational skills

PhD in Chemistry FAQs

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.

Which Field of Chemistry Is Best for a PhD?

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.

What Can You Do With a PhD in 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.

Is It Hard To Get a PhD in Chemistry?

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!

Key Takeaways

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 Marlin

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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2024 Best Physical Chemistry Schools

There was only one school in the United States to review for the 2024 Best Physical Chemistry Schools ranking.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

• Best Overall Physical Chemistry Schools List

Physical Chemistry Rankings by Degree Level

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings , including this Best Physical Chemistry Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state .

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology .

Best Schools for Physical Chemistry in the United States

The schools below may not offer all types of physical chemistry degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.

Top Schools in Physical Chemistry

Every student who is interested in physical chemistry needs to look into Iowa State University. Iowa State is a very large public university located in the small city of Ames. More information about a degree in physical chemistry from Iowa State University

Physical Chemistry by Region

View the Best Physical Chemistry Schools for a specific region near you.

Other Rankings

Doctor's degrees in physical chemistry.

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Physical Chemistry Related Rankings by Major

One of 11 majors within the Chemistry area of study, Physical Chemistry has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Physical Chemistry

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Notes and References

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ( IPEDS ) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s ( College Scorecard ).

More about our data sources and methodologies .

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Graduate Programs

• Biochem & MolBiophysics PhD

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics PhD

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics PhD Program ranks in the top 10 nationally and represents a traditional strength in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at UCSD. The goal of the program is to prepare students for careers in the biochemical sciences as researchers and educators by expanding their knowledge of structural biology, protein, RNA, and lipid biochemistry, experimental and computational biophysics, and systems biology while developing their ability for critical analysis, creativity, and independent study. A high graduation rate in an average of just over five years can be attributed to the quality of applicants admitted, the flexibility of our program of study, the opportunity for students to begin research in the first year, and the affordability of education made possible by our generous financial support policies.

Program Overview

Programs of study are tailored to the needs of individual students, based on their prior training and research interests. However, progress to degree is generally similar for all students. During the first year, students take courses, begin their teaching apprenticeships, choose research advisors, and embark on their thesis research; students whose native language is not English must pass an English proficiency examination. Beginning the first summer, the emphasis is on research, although courses of special interest may be taken throughout a student's residency. At the end of their first year, students choose the departmental members of their thesis committee and begin to prepare a written research proposal. During their second year, they complete their research proposal and defend it orally. In the third year, students advance to candidacy for the doctorate by defending the topic, preliminary findings, and future research plans for their dissertation. Subsequent years focus on thesis research and writing the dissertation. Most students graduate during their fifth year.

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities for graduate students are comprehensive and interdisciplinary, spanning biochemistry; biophysics; structural biology, protein, RNA, and lipid biochemistry, experimental and computational biophysics, and systems biology. Please refer to the faculty pages for full descriptions of the on-going research of faculty in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics PhD Program. State-of-the-art facilities and laboratories support these research programs.

UCSD is a thriving community that stretches across campus with opportunities for research and collaborations among a large number of faculty in the Division of Biology, the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the School of Medicine, the La Jolla Institute of Immunology, the Salk Institute, and many others.

Special Training Programs

Interdisciplinary research and collaboration at UCSD is enhanced through a variety of training grants. These programs provide financial support for exceptional graduate and postdoctoral scholars and also unite researchers from across campus and throughout the La Jolla research community in special seminars, retreats, and courses. Doctoral students usually apply for training grants in their second year.

• Molecular Biophysics Training Grant
• Contemporary Approaches to Cancer Cell Signaling and Communication
• Interfaces Graduate Training Program
• Molecular Pharmacology Training Program

Teaching apprenticeships are a vital and integral part of graduate student training, and four quarters of teaching are normally required. See the Teaching Assistants page to apply. Students can gain experience teaching both discussion and laboratory sections. Excellence in teaching is stressed, and the department provides a thorough training program covering both fundamentals and special techniques for effective instruction. Further training is provided by the Teaching and Learning Commons on campus. Performance is evaluated every quarter, and awards are bestowed quarterly for outstanding teaching performance.

Financial Support

Students in good academic standing receive a 12-month stipend; fees and tuition are also provided. Support packages come from a variety of sources, including teaching and research assistantships, training grants, fellowships, and awards. Special fellowships are awarded to outstanding students based on their admission files. See Ph.D. Program Support Policy for more information.

Health and Dental Plan

A primary health care program, major medical plan, and dental plan are among the benefits provided by the University's registration fee (see Graduate Student Health Insurance Program, GSHIP) . Minor illnesses and injuries can usually be treated at the Student Health Center . Counseling is provided free of charge through Counseling and Psychological Services .

Creative, bright, and motivated students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We admit for Fall quarter entrance only. The application deadline is in mid-December. The Admissions Committee reviews files individually and in comparison to others, and offers are made beginning mid-January. Admitted applicants are invited to visit the campus. Application information is available here . See UCSD Ph.D. Admissions FAQ page for general information.

PostGraduate Placement

Graduates typically obtain jobs in academia or in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry. La Jolla is home to the third largest Biotech/Pharmaceutical industry mecca. Many of our alumni stay in San Diego and obtain positions in one of the over 300 companies that are located near UCSD. During their PhD, students can take advantage of the many internships that are available at these companies. A large proportion of our graduates attain postdoctoral research positions in leading academic institutions. The Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Program provides career advising throughout the PhD. UCSD's Career Services Center and the Physical Sciences Student Success Center provides many resources for students, including the chance to videotape yourself in a mock interview!

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hUMNs of Chemistry #15

Christy Haynes

She/her Department Head and Distinguished McKnight University Professor

Tell us about your journey to the University of Minnesota.

I was hired as an assistant professor before I finished my PhD (I could hardly believe it!), did a brief post-doc, and then arrived to launch my research group in Summer 2005. While I was born and raised in Arizona, I had gone to college in St. Paul, so I already knew that I liked the Twin Cities as a place to live.

We would love to hear more about your research! What do you hope to accomplish with this work? What is the real-world impact for the average person?

My research group most often explores challenging analytical or nanomaterials projects in applied areas like sensing, agriculture, biology, or medicine. Our research goal is develop new materials and methods to take on important challenges like sensing pathogenic bacteria, remediating PFAS pollution, and improve agriculture yields.

What courses do you teach? What can students expect to get out of your course?

Right now, I'm not teaching anything because being Department Head is a time-consuming job. I've enjoyed teaching general chemistry, graduate-level analytical spectroscopy, and freshman seminars (one about science in dystopian literature and another about designing TED talks).

What do you hope to contribute to the chemistry community at the University?

Great science done by great people! As a large, urban public university in a department that serves so many people, we have a great opportunity to promote detailed technical education and research while combatting anti-science sentiments among the voting public.

When you visit other universities, what do you love to share about our UMN community?

I love to talk about the amazing community that we share, the high level of collaboration and multidisciplinarity, the student leadership, and all of the great things about living in the Twin Cities.

Tell us about an important mentor in your academic life?

My PhD advisor, Rick Van Duyne, was an important academic mentor. He treated me like a partner in my graduate research, making it possible for me to present in high-profile venues, write proposals, and mentor junior researchers. He had faith in my potential long before (and much more unconditionally than) I did. Rick was a real scientific visionary - always full of big ideas and not intimidated by technical challenges. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2019; I wish my current group members had the opportunity to know him.

Tell us about an important mentee in your academic life?

Goodness, that is a difficult question to answer because there are so many. I feel like you could ask me this question about any generation of my research group, and I'd have a compelling answer. For the sake of brevity, I'll pick just one: Becky Rodriguez. Becky was in my group from 2016-2021, and she did some impressive work developing sensors for toxins. What influenced me even more than Becky's science was her resilience and her clear focus on why (and for who) she was doing her PhD. Becky was also tireless in her advocacy for others and invested in her doctoral work with her whole heart.

What do you do outside of the classroom/lab/office for fun?

I'm an engaged parent to two busy kids, I like to travel, and I can often be found jogging or walking the lakes in Southwest Minneapolis.

What’s your favorite piece of chemistry/science pop culture media? Why do you love it?

I'm a big Kurt Vonnegut fan, so, even though it brings about the end of the world, I have to say "ice-nine."

What was your very first job?

Beyond babysitting, I was a bank teller from the time I was 16-19.

Where is your favorite spot in the Twin Cities?

The Lake Harriet walking trail

Tell us about who makes up your household (including pets).

My spouse and I have two kids, a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old, and we have an unintentional rescue dog named Gia.

Are there any family or cultural traditions you want to share with our community?

My family always played a lot of board games and cards. I would love to have a regular card club to play euchre, sheepshead, and samba.

What non-chemistry interest or activity might surprise department members?

Not sure if it would surprise people or not, but I have a thing for TED and TED talks. I've been to several of the events in person (amazing!) and even rented a hotel room in the Twin Cities once for several days to watch the live stream uninterrupted. I enjoy deconstructing the talks I love most to figure out how and why they grab me and inspire me.

Parker Staub

 He/Him/His or They/Them/Theirs 2nd Year Graduate Student

Tell us about your journey to the University of Minnesota. 

Before living here, I grew up in a small Civil War town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg and spent my entire childhood there. Gettysburg is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in the United States (because there was that one really big 3 day battle there like 200 years ago), but I never saw any ghosts or anything, which was disappointing :( From there, I moved west to attend the University of Pittsburgh, where I initially intended to work towards becoming a physical therapist. I quickly realized that I really didn't love the patient care field and then took organic chemistry, which was one of the best decisions of my life! I fell in love with chemistry, switched my major, and began working in the lab of Professor Yiming Wang. I studied the allylic C-H functionalization of simple alkenes and had a blast (and got published! Here's the DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202216309.) Special shoutout to Yiming and my graduate student mentor Ruihan for being so supportive and helping foster my passion for chemistry. 

We would love to hear more about your research interests! What do you hope to accomplish with this work? What is the real-world impact for the average person?

Broadly speaking, I work in the field of asymmetric catalysis for the synthesis of organic compounds. A good analogy for the importance of asymmetric catalysis in my opinion (and many others) is to think about hands. Imagine you need to shake someone's hand to seem all professional and stuff, and the person reaches out with their right hand. Unless you're feeling real silly and goofy, you'd want to also use your right hand to shake their hand since they fit together really well. Chemicals also have "handedness" and this is super important when thinking about designing medications to interact with specific parts of your body. Receptors can have parts of them that are either right or left handed, and if you put a left handed molecule in to bind with a right handed receptor, what you want to happen won't (and maybe something awful will happen, like with an old medication called thalidomide. Google at your own risk). 

To be more specific, I am developing chiral (or "handed") organocatalysts that can reversibly bind with chemicals through existing groups in them, and mediate metal catalyzed reactions. The organocatalysts are called transient directing groups. This is really important because oftentimes in order for metal catalyzed reactions to occur, something irreversibly bound to the chemical compound is required to mediate such processes efficiently, which limits the scope of these reactions. In simpler terms, you can't make certain compounds because they need something stuck on them. Transient directing groups aren't stuck on your molecule after the reaction. Research is going good right now too so stay tuned for a publication (hopefully) in the near future to learn some more!

Are you involved in any student groups? What inspired you to get involved?

Last year I was involved with the DEI committee and was a part of the community building working group! I am super passionate about equity in science and making people feel welcome in general. I love connecting with others and making people from everywhere feel safe. I think being able to talk and work with people from across the world is a beautiful thing and makes us better (science agrees with me so I'm right). I'm hoping to be more involved with DEI initiatives in the future; I got a little busy during preliminary exam season. 

What advice do you have for incoming chemistry students?

I'm going to try to keep this short and simple:  1. Make sure you love chemistry. Definitely will need this to get through the harder times of graduate school.  2. Find someone (or many people) to work for/with who makes you feel supported, motivated, and seen. Again, the harder times of graduate school are much easier with this.  3. Find something else to do outside of chemistry! Burnout is real and spooky, go touch grass or be a nerd about something else. 

My current advisor, Professor Chris Douglas (I just call him Chris FYI) has been a phenomenal PI in my first two years of graduate school. I struggle with anxiety and depression which can be exacerbated in STEM fields since failure is a regular experience. Chris has made me feel extremely safe and empowered to try things and has supported me in reframing failure. We work together on difficult problems that arise during research, and I feel respected, competent, and most importantly, not alone. I can talk with him about my anxieties and concerns and know that I will be supported and understood. Additionally, I appreciate that I don't have to hide my queerness at work or in front of Chris, which is always a small fear in the back of my head. I can't thank Chris enough for letting me work in his group :)

What are your plans after graduation?

I am leaning towards working at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) as a professor! I've had a lot of fun teaching (I love people, I know I said that before but I'll say it again) and I think I'm pretty good at it too. I also like that I can do research at the same time with maybe a little less stress than in an R1 setting. I would also enjoy moving to Europe for a postdoc before launching a more "permanent" career. 

I hope that I can be seen as a friendly person to say hi to, or to help make others feel comfortable. I also want to be a mentor for younger graduate students to ask advice from. I've received great advice and support from a number of older graduate students from aroun the department and I want to pay it forward!

I love Professor Andre Isaacs. He is such a slay. (@drdre4000 on instagram)

So much! I boulder (when my fingers aren't injured), bike (when it's not cold), play piano, listen to a lot of music, cook, snowboard, and more!

What non-chemistry interest or activity of yours might surprise department members?

I've been learning some gymnastics over the last few months and can now almost do a backflip off of solid ground! 

lake of the isles. I love biking around lake of the isles. 

Me and my lil plants :) I also have a plush panda named bozo whom I love and adore.

If you ever go to southern Netherlands, make sure to get Zoerfleis. I have a bunch of Dutch family and they put me onto Zoerfleis - it tastes like a warm hug from grandma :)

Stephanie Stathopoulos

She/her Assistant to the DGS and DUGS, Campus Mom 

Please give a brief description of your role within the UMN Chemistry department.

I started in the department in 1986 working with our majors. In 2004 I was asked to add Graduate Recruiting to my duties. We became the first department to review graduate applications online. When the internet was just beginning I designed our first web pages. For several years I taught a one credit course on Chemistry Careers. I have 3-5 years left and I plan to focus on alumni relations and bringing their career information to a website that can help our students navigate their careers. I also want to ensure our majors are getting the advanced lab opportunities that fit those careers.

I started as a student here in 1981 and changed my major three times. I ended up with a BS degree in education.

What professional successes are most important to you?

I was in four of our student's weddings and I am godmother to one of their kids.

A warm and welcoming atmosphere for our students is my number one priority. (Of course a few faculty over my time here have found you don't have to be a student for me to listen/care.) Those relationships have paid off - I have connected with over 500 former students on LinkedIn and they are coming back to help our students. 

Mowing lawns

Since October of 2022 I have been dating a structural engineer and having the time of my life! We go to a lot of concerts and breweries (we even brew beers together - our first was a clone of Futon's Lonely Blond - we called it "Not So Lonely Blond"). For my 60th birthday he surprised me and took me to Wolf Trap Park (the only National Park devoted to the performing arts) and we saw John Legend - AMAZING! We are going to Red Rocks this summer to see The Revivalist and Spoon and going up to Duluth for our annual trip to the "All Pints North" festival.

Wednesday nights I work with a group of 13-14 year old girls at our church. It's great to be a part of their lives and watch them mature.

First Avenue - just saw Saint Motel there.

Currently my 24 year old daughter Julia lives with me along with our dog Bella (a 13 year old Beagle Jack Russell). My son James (26) works for Charles Schwab and lives in Alabama with his girlfriend who is going to law school there.

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