Graduate Programs

Faculty and students in our Department specialize in one of the following four areas:

• Biochemistry
• Environmental Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry of Natural Products
• Polymer Chemistry

We offer MS, MPS and PhD degrees in Chemistry. The MS and PhD degrees are offered in each of the four tracks above, and both are research-fcoused. For information specific to the MPS degree, click here.

MS and PhD students receive tuition scholarships, health benefits, and competitive stipends.

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• To Request an Application for Admission to the Graduate Program
• To Learn More about General Features of the Graduate Programs at SUNY-ESF
• For Descriptions of Chemistry Graduate Courses at SUNY-ESF

Current research projects encompass a wide range of areas within these four areas.

Graduate Research

Biochemistry

Graduate studies in biochemistry reflect the College's interests in microbial, insect, and plant biochemistry. After completing a one-year sequence in general biochemistry, students select advanced courses from a range of offerings in chemistry, biochemistry, natural products, organismal biology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Advanced courses are available through ESF, Syracuse University and SUNY- Upstate Medical University.

A wide variety of research topics are available at ESF ranging from plant physiology to biotechnology. Selective research topics include but are not limited to: microbial and algal production of biologically active natural products and their importance in cell biology (Boyer, Giner, Nomura, Webster); chemical communication between organisms (Webster); marine algal toxins (Boyer); lipid metabolism of algae, zooplankton and zebra mussels (Boyer, Nomura, Teece); amino acid synthesis and metabolism in marine organisms (Teece); trace metal/nitrogen physiology of plants and algae (Boyer), biosynthesis of natural products (Boyer, Giner, Nomura, Webster), engineering of enzymes and metabolic pathways for the production of biofuels and bioproducts (Nomura, Tannenbaum) and the use of NMR (liquid and solid-state) and x-ray diffraction techniques to explore differences between wild type and single gene mutants related to carbohydrate synthesis in plants. (Winter)

Environmental Chemistry

Thesis research is the core of graduate studies in chemistry. As you can see from the descriptions below, chemistry research relevant to the environment engages polymer chemists, organic chemists, materials chemists, and biochemists, as well as those faculty in the environmental chemistry track. Research in the environmental chemistry track spans a wide range, from field work to laboratory work to computer modeling, and from global biogeochemical cycles to ecosystems to elementary kinetics.

Aquatic Chemistry - sources and fate of hydrophobic contaminants in water (Hassett); development of probe systems to study free radical processes in water (Kieber); photochemical transformations of natural and anthropogenic organic chemicals in natural waters (Kieber, Hassett); transformations and transport of lipids and proteins in oceans and lakes (Teece); autonomous monitoring systems for water quality and their integration in the Integrated Oceans (IOOS) and Great Lakes (GLOS) observing systems (Hassett, Boyer).

Atmospheric Chemistry - chemistry of polluted air (Dibble); air pollution control measures (Dibble); new techniques for measuring atmospheric radicals (Dibble); chemistry in marine aerosols (Kieber).

Ecosystems - food web interactions in coral reefs (Teece); stable isotope biogeochemistry of marine ecosystems (Teece); ecology of algal blooms and algal toxins (Boyer).

Energy - membranes for fuel cells (Cabasso); energy and chemicals from renewable resources (Abrams, Johnson, Nomura, Stipanovic, Winter); biodegradable polymers (Nomura, Stipanovic, Winter); photocatalysts (Abrams), biodiesel combustion (Dibble).

Global Climate Change -understanding the dynamics of the oceanic carbon cycle and the importance of sunlight-driven photochemical transformations of organic matter in sea water (Kieber); quantifying ecological responses to climate change (Teece, Boyer).

Green Chemistry - enzymatic catalysis and aqueous phase chemistry with hydrophobes (Gitsov); pheromones for pest control (Webster); enzymatic production of cellulose and chitin nanoparticles for reinforcing filler particles (Winter); closed system nutrient recovery from anaerobic digesters to create growth media for algal culture growth in photobioreactors (Johnson, Boyer).

Three courses in environmental chemistry provide a solid foundation for all students pursuing research in the environmental chemistry track. Research problems are frequently trans-disciplinary in nature, so students select additional courses from areas of chemistry, biology, geology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science, as well as advanced courses in environmental chemistry.

For additional information on the Graduate Program in Environmental Chemistry click here.

 

Organic Chemistry of Natural Products

Graduate students in organic chemistry of natural products take a one-year course sequence in mechanistic organic chemistry and another in synthetic organic chemistry. Additionally, one-semester courses are required in advanced physical chemistry and the organic chemistry of natural products. Courses in biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, statistics and specialized courses in chemistry or biology may be arranged and selected by the student in consultation with faculty.

Research in the field of organic chemistry of natural products takes three paths. These paths are: the isolation and characterization of new natural substances; the development of new or improved syntheses of better known natural substances; and the study of the relation of molecular structure to biological response. Chemical research in each of these areas is coupled to biological testing. Research involving isolation and synthetic chemistry requires the student to develop expertise in separation techniques, such as the several methods of chromatography, and spectrometric identification of molecules. Successful investigation in structure/activity relationships requires the student to become familiar with statistical methods of analysis. Current topics of interest to the natural products faculty are the following: structure and function of natural metal chelators (Boyer); marine and freshwater algal toxins (Boyer); biosynthesis and biomimetic synthesis of natural products including an antiviral compound and a natural insecticide (Giner); synthesis and structure/activity relationships of nonvolatile, aquatic genotoxins (LaLonde); synthesis of natural products employing sulfur chemistry (Webster); and synthesis of new natural products (semiochemicals) with particular emphasis on stereochemistry (Webster).

Polymer Chemistry

Graduate students in polymer chemistry select their courses from a range of offerings in chemistry, chemical engineering, mathematics, physics, and other appropriate areas. These courses will include either the one-year sequence in physical or organic chemistry of polymers and such additional courses as the student and advisor consider necessary. Special topics in a spectrum of polymer fields are offered or can be arranged in consultation with the faculty.

Research is an essential component of any graduate degree program in polymer chemistry. Current areas of polymer research  include the following:

1. Biomass conversion to industrial polysaccharides (Stipanovic, Winter)
2. Dendrimers and hyperbranched molecules (Gitsov)
3. Diffraction methods, NMR, and dynamic molecular modeling approaches to polymer structure determination and prediction (Winter)
4. Inorganic polymers (Cabasso)
5. Novel methods of cellulose and cellulosic modification (Caluwe, Stipanovic, Winter)
6. Percolation methods in theoretical polymer chemistry (Chatterjee )
7. Polymer based nanocomposites ( Stipanovic, Winter)
8. Preparation, modification, and technology of polymeric membranes (Cabasso)
9. Preparation and characterization of functional polymers (Gitsov)
10. Preparation, properties, and applications of radiopaque polymers (Cabasso)
11. Stimuli responsive materials (Stipanovic, Winter)
12. Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of polymer systems (Chatterjee)

Research Laboratories

Graduate research laboratories moved in 1998 to the Edwin C. Jahn Laboratory adjacent to our old home, the Hugh P. Baker Laboratory.  The latter houses  the College's Academic Computing Center,  Analytical & Technical Services, and Center for Ultrastructural Studies.   The department is well-equipped for state-of-the-art polymer, chemical, and biochemical research. See our facilities list for detailed information. Spectroscopic facilities include ICP, IR, FTIR, GC/MS, UV/VIS, fluorimetric, energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence, liquid and solid-state multinuclear NMR, and ORD/CD spectrometers. Ultrastructure study facilities include X-ray diffraction equipment and several scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Chromatographic equipment includes instrumentation for analytical and preparative liquid and gas chromatography. Baker Laboratory is fully equipped for the use of radioisotopes in research with its own separate radioisotopes lab. Scintillation counters, a multichannel analyzer, and a cobalt-60 irradiation source are available. Other facilities include DSC, TGA, DMA, torsion pendulum, membrane and vapor phase osmometry, solution and solid-state light-scattering photometers, Nd: YAG laser with third harmonic generator, and excimer pumped dye laser. The computational environment includes Pentium P5/233 MHz and MAC PCs.