The Department of Chemistry faculty have a wide range of research interests and expertise. Research activities within the Department are supported by more than $5 million annually in external grant and contract support, and Departmental research groups consist of 106 graduate students, 32 postdoctoral associates, and three research faculty. Chemistry faculty also actively collaborate with members of the Departments of Biology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics, and there are also several strong collaborations with faculty at the School of Medicine.

Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged in the Department, and a list of available undergraduate research positions is available for students majoring in chemistry or an allied science or engineering discipline. Research is conducted under the direction of a faculty mentor on a project of mutual interest. Students may receive credit for research activities either by registering for Chem 290 (prior to the completion of Chem 252 and 257) or Chem 490/495 (if Chem 252 and 257 have been completed.) Chem 290 and 490 are graded credit/no credit, and Chem 495 is only available for credit; please consult the Handbook for Chemistry Majors (PDF) for more information. Chem 290 and 490 are customarily taken for three units for about 10 hours/week but can be taken for any of one to six units with the approval of the faculty mentor and the advisor.

Students can also arrange employment in one of the research laboratories, but in no case will students simultaneously receive both credit and pay. Likewise, summer research positions can often be arranged.

To arrange to participate in research activities, students should first consult the list of available undergraduate research positions, and then contact faculty to discuss the possibility of doing research under their direction in the following semester. Students are also invited to attend faculty research presentations given every Fall from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Thursdays, (for a current schedule see: here) and to take Chemistry 181, Freshman Seminar in Chemical Sciences (also in the Fall), which is also open to upper class students. If students are looking for laboratory research experience and have no preference concerning the topic, they should contact the Departmental Administrator directly, at deptadmin@wuchem.wustl.edu.

Be aware that certain faculty prefer to accept only students who have completed basic coursework in chemistry, particularly the core lab courses Chem 151, 152, and 257. These courses develop fundamental skills and teach standard lab practices often required for research in chemistry. In some cases, Bio 297A, Physics 118A, Chem 358, Chem 402, and/or other courses will be required by the research mentor.

Credit for Chem 490 can be awarded for research conducted under a faculty mentor who is not in the Department of Chemistry. For this to occur the student must receive prior permission from the Departmental Undergraduate Work Committee. The Committee must receive a brief (no more than one page) description of
the research project, the number of credits requested, and signatures of both the research mentor and student. The description should summarize the work to be performed and indicate what the student expects to gain in skill and knowledge as a result. The student should remember that the request is being made to the Department of Chemistry so the project should be of a "chemical" nature.

For information about completing a research-based Capstone Experience in Chemistry, please see the Handbook for Chemistry Majors (PDF).