Undergraduate Research

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 ~120 graduate students, ~30 postdoctoral associates, and two research faculty. Chemistry faculty also actively collaborate with members of the Departments of Biology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Physics, and there are also several strong collaborations with faculty at the Schools of Medicine and Engineering.

Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged in the Department. Descriptions of research interests of all Chemistry faculty can be found in the Faculty & Staff listings. Here examples of undergraduate research opportunities in chemistry 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 261) or Chem 490/495 (if Chem 261 has been completed.) Chem 290 and 490 are graded credit/no credit, and Chem 495 is only available for the normal graded credit option (A, B, C,...); 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 prior approval of the faculty mentor and the advisor.

Chem 495 is a 3-credit research course that requires the student's commitment to submit to an oral exam at the end of the research experience.  The prerequisites and completion requirements for Chem 495 must be approved by the faculty research advisor prior to enrollment. Prerequisites may include completion of at least one prior semester of research in the same laboratory, for which credit may or may not have been awarded. Enrollment in Chem 495 also requires submission of a form. Chem 495 qualifies as a capstone experience and counts as an advanced elective toward the chemistry major with honors.

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 opportunities in chemistry, 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 (schedule announced by email) 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.

Note that certain faculty prefer to accept only students who have completed basic coursework in chemistry, particularly certain core courses Chem 151, 152, 261 and 262. 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.

Research experience outside the department may also qualify for research credit (typically under Chem 490). However, to do so, the project must be pre-approved by the Chemistry Department’s Undergraduate Work Committee. To obtain this approval, students are required to submit a brief (no more than 2 pages) description of the project. This description must describe the research objectives, provide details of the techniques to be used, and must be signed by both the student and the research mentor. The project 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; thus, the project should be of a “chemical” nature.  The project description can be submitted to the student's departmental advisor who can grant tentative approval, but will forward the description to the Undergraduate Work Committee of the Chemistry Department for a final decision.

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