About the department
The most recent U.S. News and World Report ranking of chemistry departments places Purdue at #27 nationally, with our analytical chemistry program ranked #1 in the country. The Shanghai world-rankings lists our department #18 in the country and #44 world-wide.
The vast majority of departmental courses at all levels are taught by tenure-track faculty, the teaching laboratories and equipment are regularly upgraded, a complete range of undergraduate and graduate course offerings (including undergraduate research) are provided, and undergraduate degrees with specialty emphasis (including B.S.- certification by the American Chemical Society) are a valued part of the curriculum. The department recently became the first in the U.S. whose program is approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Purdue Chemistry remains committed to K–12 outreach and chemistry education through teacher professional development opportunities and outreach activities that include hands-on, in-person laboratory experiences. We also offer free, online programs for teachers and students, such as STEM certificates, a STEM career repository, and virtual laboratory experiences.
Our graduate program is among the largest in the country, often topping the list of institutions that graduate the most Ph.D. chemists. We take the responsibility of graduate education very seriously, taking advantage of our large faculty size to offer a wide range of graduate courses both at foundational and advanced levels. We also are working diligently to provide our students with unique opportunities to prepare themselves for their careers following graduate school. Recently, we piloted a set of three workshops and hands-on experiences, and enabled its regular participants to apply for funding to pursue a graduate career development activity of their choice. The department also encourages its students to engage in entrepreneurial activities, such as the Burton Morgan Competition and the Foundry.
Lastly, Purdue Chemistry has an outstanding tradition in transferring new knowledge and technologies generated from its research for the benefit of local, state, and national economies. In addition to the substantial impact arising from publication of research findings in the open literature, faculty and staff in the department have played key roles in the creation of more than 20 start-up companies and in the development of intellectual property that the University has subsequently licensed to the commercial sector.
Our faculty members have won numerous teaching and research awards at Purdue, including Professor Marcy Towns, a Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award winner.
Our teaching and research extends across campus in facilities that include: Herbert C. Brown Laboratory of Chemistry, Richard B. Wetherill Laboratories, Chaney-Hale Hall of Science, Drug Discovery Building, Discovery Park, and Purdue Research Park.