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Undergraduate Chemistry Major


Undergraduate Advising:  Prof. Dale Drueckhammer 
Student Affairs Coordinator:  Ms. Katherine Hughes

Why Choose Chemistry?

Often referred to as the central science, chemistry is a rich academic discipline, which has vibrant interfaces with biology, geology, physics and math. This central position allows chemists to explore many of the vibrant scientific and technological questions confronting current society. As a result, our chemistry graduates have gone on to excel in academia, industry, and policy.

Program Options

Students who wish to complete the B.S. degree in Chemistry must elect one of five program options (Chemical Science, Biological Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Environmental Chemistry or Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry). All the options feature a common core of basic introductory chemistry, physics and mathematics courses combined with additional courses unique to each option. A separate brochure is available describing the features of each option.

A B.A. degree in Chemistry is also available.

Research Opportunities

The Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook offers a wide range of research opportunities including cutting edge research in materials chemistry, computational biology, and pharmaceutical development, which complement our traditionally strong areas of organic, inorganic, biological and physical chemistry. The department is involved in many collaborative research projects with scientists at other area institutions including Brookhaven National Lab, the Rockefeller University, and the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. As a result of our large faculty and diverse research interests, students are likely to find a research environment that suits their interests and pushes them to excel.

Career Opportunities

We are particularly proud of what the accomplishments of our graduates. Two of the most common destinations for newly minted chemistry graduates are graduate school or medical school. We also have a significant number of graduates who take jobs in industry or education.

A selected list of graduates:

Ruth Heidelberger
Prof. of Neurobiology and Anatomy UT School of Medicine, Houston

Kenneth Leopold
Distinguished Teaching Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, Univ. of Minnesota

David Yarkony
Professor of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University

Kevin Koch
Edgewise Therapeutics, OrbiMed 
Senior Biotechnology Executive, Venture Partner, Company Founder and Board member

Alex Fiksman
Safari guide and mountain climber

Charles Bauschlicher
Center for Nanotechnology, NASA Ames Research Center

Steven Goodman
Vice Chancellor for Research, Prof of Pediatrics, Prof of Physiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center