Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Programs

Graham Erwin

Class of 2010
Biochemistry B.S.

"The Department of Chemistry has instilled and fostered in me a passion for scientific research. Since my freshman year, I have had the opportunity to work in the lab of Prof. Stephen Jacobson, where I have helped to develop microfluidic devices to be used for further analytical studies of bacteria. I have also been fortunate enough to participate in two different internships over the past two summers, one which involved stem cell research under a renowned cardiosurgeon, and the other which involved working with drug dissolution at Lilly Research Laboratories. Although many different skills were necessary to work in these labs, the Department of Chemistry provided the core tools necessary for success. While working in the Jacobson Group, for example, I directly utilized the knowledge I had gained from my chemistry coursework at IU. Furthermore, my experience with Prof. Jacobson provided me with laboratory knowledge that directly applied to my summer internships. In numerous ways, the Department of Chemistry has provided me with the knowledge and experience that will allow me to excel in a future research career, and it has thus been a true stepping stone to my undergraduate success"

Our department offers Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in both Biochemistry and Chemistry, as well as a minor in Chemistry. Both the BS degrees are certified by the American Chemical Society. Each year, our graduating seniors in chemistry and biochemistry go on to the best graduate schools in the nation, including Caltech, Stanford, California-Berkeley, MIT, Harvard, Yale, Columbia and all of the Big-10 universities. Close to one-third of our seniors go immediately into industrial jobs. Our department facilitates the job searches of students by providing a placement service, in which industrial recruiters hold on-campus interviews within the chemistry building. Many of our graduating seniors are accepted into medical and dental schools, and a small number of students pursue combined M.D.-Ph.D. degrees in biochemistry and medicine.

Our faculty members show a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching by opening their laboratories for Undergraduate Research. Recently, a team of faculty has redesigned our first-year chemistry courses to emphasize more current topics, such as biochemistry and polymers, that will better prepare our students for further study in modern laboratories and medical technologies. Developments in the curriculum and in teaching facilities are continuing on a regular basis.

Announcements

New IU program offers fast track to teaching for math, science majors
Chemistry and math majors now have a more efficient path to earning both a master's degree in education and teacher licensure under a new agreement between the Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education.