Research and study involving polymer chemistry builds upon the fundamentals of organic, inorganic, biological, analytical and physical chemistries, applied toward the construction, characterization and utilization of macromolecules. Often, therefore, advances in polymer chemistry are best accomplished through interdisciplinary and collaborative activities.

Many independent and team-based research projects involving synthetic and natural macromolecules are being pursued in the Department of Chemistry and in collaboration with other laboratories in the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine. For instance, methodologies are being developed for the preparation of novel polymers and well-defined nanostructured materials, state-of-the-art instruments are being constructed and techniques are being developed to provide for rigorous characterization of polymer structures and properties, understanding is being gained as to the physical chemistry of biomacromolecules, and the interactions between synthetic nanoscale materials and biological systems are being determined and manipulated.