PROGRAM DEFINITION

Welcome to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, celebrating over 125 years of great chemistry since offering the first graduate program west of the Mississippi in 1882. Today, UNL Chemistry continues to offer BA and BS degrees which provide students the springboard to top-notch graduate and medical schools as well as high-paying industrial positions.

We are active in a diverse set of well-funded and nationally recognized research programs encompassing both the traditional divisions of chemistry as well as emerging interdisciplinary areas such as biophysical chemistry and materials science. A sampling of recent exciting developments from departmental research groups include ferromagnetic plastics, bone replacement discoveries, Nebraska ice (a form of ice in highly confined environments), and enzyme-based methods for catalyst screening. Our department is a crucial part of three separate UNL prioritized areas for research growth (Nanomaterials for Mesoscale Devices, Carbon Neutral Energy Science, Macromolecular Assembly, and Math/Science education.)

  NEBRASKA POINTS OF DISTINCTION
• Undergraduate teaching assistantships with competitive salaries
• Undergraduate research opportunities to earn credits and get paid
• Educational resources that include free tutoring and a computer lab with specialized software
• All enrolled chemistry majors are eligible for all Department of Chemistry scholarships
• Future career options for qualified applicants include prestigious graduate schools and direct employment in regional or international companies

FACILITIES
The Chemistry Department at UNL is literally one of the most visible in the Midwest; Hamilton Hall (nine floors, 220,000 square feet), is among the largest structures in the nation dedicated solely to Chemistry. We have outstanding facilities and technical support, including stockrooms, purchasing agents, electronics shop, machine shop, the Nebraska Center for Mass Spectrometry, and an excellent NMR facility (600, 500, 400, 300, and 200 MHz liquids. We will be able to provide you with a top-notch program that still offers close personal attention.

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS (What’s expected of you as an undergraduate student)
Often described as the “central science”, chemistry involves the study of structure, properties and synthesis of matter ranging in size from single atoms to DNA. As a Chemistry Major, it is expected that you will:
• Learn the process for scientific inquiry.
• Become proficient in proper laboratory procedures.
• Gain a broad knowledge in the five major areas of Chemistry (Organic, Inorganic, Physical, Analytical, and Biochemistry).
• Understand the practical and ethical applications of chemical principles in society.
• Bachelor of Science candidates are required (and Bachelor of Arts candidates are recommended) to complete 3 hours of Undergraduate Research.

FACULTY(http://www.chem.unl.edu/main/html/contactinformation.htm)
Twenty-one research-active faculty members, known nationally and internationally for the quality of their research programs, foster extensive faculty-student interactions and are committed to student success. Undergraduate instruction is very important to us, and undergraduates receive personalized mentoring and small group instruction as part of research projects. Our excellence in teaching has not gone unnoticed. On three occasions in the past eight years, a member of our faculty has received the Associated Students award for best overall instructor on campus. Other recent teaching awards have included the Distinguished Teacher Award (Nebraska Teaching Improvement Council), the Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (University of Nebraska), election to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers (UNL), and the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award.

Our faculty has an excellent track record in terms of funding and publications. Some of the awards recently bestowed upon our faculty include Presidential Young Investigator, Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, Alfred Sloan Fellowship, American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Research Award, American Association for Clinical Chemistry-Young Investigator, and the Korean Prize.

One of the best ways to learn a subject is to teach it. We offer a competitive salary for undergraduate teaching assistants, who do an excellent job of overseeing lab and recitation/discussion sections.