Letter from the Coordinator

The Department of Chemistry provides a flexible and dynamic environment in which to pursue a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemistry. Students have the opportunity to work with faculty with interests in Biochemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Education and Materials Science, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. Our faculty members have active research programs in Synthesis (inorganic, organic, polymer, and supramolecular synthesis), Surface Chemistry (catalysis and corrosion studies), Spectroscopy (IR laser spectroscopy and bioanalytical applications for Raman and Surface Enhanced Raman methods), Structural Biology (using NMR and computational methods), and Biophysical studies (including cancer drug discovery).

Environmental research programs focus on the development of novel miniature chemical sensors and on pesticide and herbicide transport, while Computational chemists are developing Ab initio and semi-empirical methods to study complex biological systems and important chemical processes. Chemical Education faculty focus on the undergraduate educational experience and explore ways to support students on their individual paths to success in science and engineering fields.

The research is supported by an array of in-house equipment. NMR spectrometers include 600-MHz and 300-MHz instruments. An EPR spectrometer and single crystal and powder X-ray diffractometers with CCD detection are maintained in the department. Students also have access to a wide range of instruments including UV-vis, FT-IR, and UV/Vis/near-IR spectrophotometers, mass spectrometers, including GC-MS, LC-MS, and quadrupole ion trap instruments. Individual research labs maintain an array of instruments including: lasers, an atomic force microscope, a Laser Raman microscope, ITC and DSC microcalorimeters, a stopped-flow UV/vis system, a spectrofluorimeter, a Circular Dichroism spectropolarimeter, a scanning electrochemical microscope, and numerous GC's and HPLC's.

Research and teaching assistantships, which entail a tuition waiver and a graduate stipend of $22,000 per year, are available for qualified applicants. For more information access //www.chemistry.msstate.edu or send electronic mail to grad@chemistry.msstate.edu.

Dr. Joe Emerson
Chemistry Department Graduate Coordinator