Graduate Program
The department offers an Umbrella Program reflective of the depth and breadth of contemporary research undertaken within Chemistry and Biochemistry. The umbrella program encompasses seven different tracks from which students can choose. The tracks are overlapping in terms of course work and research advisors.
Analytical and Atmospheric Chemistry
This track draws on strong departmental expertise in both theoretical and experimental physical chemistry, with specific application to atmospheric chemistry. The varied use of analytical and computational techniques, ranging from molecular dynamics simulations to mass spectrometric analytical methods, results in significant collaborative efforts with other tracks within the department and beyond. The newly formed NSF sponsored Chemical Center for Innovation, Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment, provides unparalleled research and teaching opportunities for graduate students.
Cellular and Systems Biochemistry
This track draws both on traditional cellular biochemistry strengths in the department as well as recent emphases on quantitative Systems Biology, a.k.a. Systems Biochemistry. As such the collaborative web extends well into Chemical Biology, Molecular Biochemistry and many other tracks, as well as towards the departments of Biology, Pharmacology, and the Pharmacy School. The NCI Training Grant in Cellular Growth and Oncogenesis and the NIH Training Grant on Heme and Blood Proteins have supported many high achieving students. The recent founding the BioCircuits Institute (BCI) and the NIH-funded San Diego Center for Systems Biology (SDCSB) have affirmed the department’s leadership in quantitative Systems Biochemistry.
Chemical Biology
This track draws on exciting recent strengths in the department aimed at using molecular techniques to study or to create new function in biological systems. This highly interdisciplinary field includes faculty from organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry and many other departmental tracks, and often involves collaborations with faculty in the departments of Biology and Bioengineering, as well as within the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the School of Medicine.
Inorganic Chemistry
This track draws on diverse strengths in many areas of Inorganic Chemistry including: nano-materials synthesis and characterization, energy conversion and storage, bioinorganic and biomimetic chemistry, organometallic synthesis, catalysis, structure determination, magnetic materials development, spectroscopy and sensor design. Groups in this track are multi-disciplinary and utilize several departmental and campus-wide analytical facilities for characterization and fabrication of materials. Elements of the inorganic track are also heavily invested in the newly formed Department of Energy (DOE) "Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels" Hub initiative. This $125 million per year collaborative program brings together top-rate scientists from several California institutions to develop the next generation of energy technology and offers an unparalleled opportunity for students interested in cutting-edge energy research.
Organic Chemistry
This track represents a broad spectrum of traditional and emerging areas of chemistry involving the synthesis and study of small and large carbon-based molecules. The enormously diverse applications of artificial and natural organic compounds creates strong interdisciplinary efforts in organometallic, physical organic, materials, bioorganic, and natural products chemistry. Many research programs have significant overlap with Chemical Biology, Molecular Biochemistry and many other tracks, as well as efforts within the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
Structural Biology and Biophysics
This track represents a traditional strength in the department involving protein and RNA Biochemists, experimental and computational Biophysicists, and numerous collaborations with both Physics and Cellular Biochemistry and Biology faculty. The NIH-funded Molecular Biophysics and Heme Training Grants have been important anchors of this track for many of the high achieving students.
Physical Chemistry
This track draws on a strong interplay between theory and experiment in traditional and emerging areas of physical chemistry. More specifically, spectroscopy and microscopy techniques are developed and applied to elucidate molecular mechanisms related to biophysical, medical, materials, reactive kinetics and alternative energy research. Theoretical and computational methodologies are developed to address a broad range of problems related to protein folding, drug design, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, molecular simulations in the condensed phase and molecular electronics. Many research programs have significant overlap with Structural Biology and Biophysics, Chemical Biology and Analytical and Atmospheric Chemistry tracks.