Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Opportunities

Research is the cornerstone of our chemical and biochemistry undergraduate programs at Central Michigan University. For over 50 years, every chemistry and biochemistry major has completed a faculty-mentored, thesis-based capstone research experience. We also collaborate with other departments in offering interdisciplinary PhD programs, including the PhD in Science of Advanced Materials and the MS or PhD in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology.

As a Chemistry graduate and undergraduate student, you'll conduct cutting-edge research, present your findings at scientific conferences, and publish papers in quality journals. You will also collaborate our faculty on research projects with interesting applications such as designing new molecules for drug delivery, molecular tools for fighting tuberculosis, designing new materials for batteries and electronic devices and for biomedical applications and improving chemistry education. Some of these research projects are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Our faculty members have also received national and regional recognition for their outstanding contributions to their research fields. Drs. Gabriel Caruntu and Benjamin Swarts have each received the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award. Dr. Ben Swarts was also honored with the Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award. Dr. Brad Fahlman recently received the Outstanding Achievement and Promotion of the Chemical Sciences Award from the Midland Section of American Chemical Society.

Grab a lab coat, a pair of goggles, and join us

Explore the different research topics below that are currently being pursued our faculty members and students. If you are an undergraduate or graduate student interested in learning more about getting involved in a faculty member's research, please feel free to contact them directly.

• Analytical Chemistry | Determine the chemical identity and quantity of unknown materials
• Biochemistry & Chemical Biology | Understand and manipulate the chemistry of biological systems
• Inorganic Chemistry | Examine the properties, behavior, and creation of metals, minerals, and organometallic compounds
  
• Materials & Nanoscience | Produce and study polymers and nanoscale architectures with specific chemical, biological, and physical properties
• Organic Chemistry | Study the structure, reactivity, and synthesis of natural and man-made carbon-containing compounds
• Physical Chemistry | Investigate how matter behaves on a molecular and atomic level and how chemical reactions occur