Natural and Synthetic Polymer Chemistry
B.S.

Undergraduates in the Natural and Synthetic Polymer Chemistry option take advanced  lecture courses in the following areas:

• reaction kinetics and mechanisms of polymerization and polymer synthesis (FCH550),
• physical properties and characterization of polymers (FCH552),
• laboratory practice in the techniques of polymer synthesis and characterization (FCH551).

Some appropriate chemistry electives are:

• Biochemistry (FCH530) is an appropriate elective for students interested in  biotechnology.
• Environmental chemistry (FCH510 or FCH 511) complements the polymer program for students interested in working on problems relating to the environmental fate of polymers and compounds used in their production and processing.
• Carbohydrate/Polysaccharide Chemistry (FCH540): excellent preparation  for chemists planning careers in paper, textiles, membranes, biotechnology and related areas.
• Biochemistry (FCH541):  another good choice for biotechnology oriented students or premedical students,
• Computational Chemistry (FCH420): an introduction into the use of computers to model polymer and other chemical structures.
• Advanced courses in mathematics, statistics.

Research opportunities in polymer chemistry through the FCH495/498 sequence are strongly encouraged.

The program offers an excellent background both for direct entry into industrial chemistry and graduate study in areas such as chemistry, biotechnology, material or polymer science. More than 50 percent of all practicing chemists work on problems involving polymer chemistry.

Degree Requirements for the Natural and Synthetic Polymer Chemistry Option

Participating Faculty

• Dr. Israel Cabasso (Polymer Chemistry and Membrane Science)
• Dr. Paul M. Caluwe
  (Organic Chemistry, Synthetic Polymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Avik Chatterjee
  (Theoretical Polymer and Physical Chemistry)
• Dr. Ivan Gitsov(Synthesis and Characterization of Dendrimers, Hyperbranched, and other Nanostructured Polymers)
• Dr. Anatole Sarko, Emeritus
  (Physical, Computational and Biopolymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Johannes Smid, Emeritus
  (Organic and Physical Polymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Kenneth J. Smith, Jr., Emeritus
  (Physical and Theoretical Polymer Chemistry)
• Dr. Arthur J. Stipanovic., Director of Analytical and Technical Services
  (Polymer Chemistry, Characterization, Rheology)
• Dr. Tore E. Timell, Emeritus
  (Wood Chemistry)
• Dr. William T. Winter
  (Structural Polymer Chemistry, NMR, Diffraction, Biopolymer and Polysaccharide Chemistry)