Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Areas

Analytical Chemistry is the study and development of methods for determining the composition of materials and substances. Analytical chemists often use sophisticated instrumentation to measure the concentration of various components in a mixture, they explore the limits of measurement of different techniques and evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of different instruments and processes. Analytical chemistry also involves the development of new methods and instrumentation that take advantage of what are sometimes very small differences in the chemical and physical properties of analytes to allow their separation, differentiation, and quantification. Analytical chemists also work to optimize analytical systems and methods to minimize errors. Computers and robots are used extensively in analytical chemistry to aid in the analysis of large numbers of samples and to minimize the errors associated with sampling and data recording and analysis.

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes occurring in living systems. It uses the methods of molecular biology, immunology, chemistry, physics, and neurochemistry to study the structure of the complex molecules found in biological material and the ways that these molecules interact. We find ourselves in an era of tremendous opportunity to apply the tools and knowledge of biochemistry to problems in medicine, agriculture, forensics, environmental sciences, and many other fields. Often biochemistry is a collaborative field, requiring biochemists to work and communicate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve their goals. Earning an advanced degree in biochemistry allows students to integrate and strengthen scientific knowledge, develop their professional and scientific skills, and contribute new knowledge to existing fields.

Chemical Education research encompasses investigations into any facets related to student learning of chemistry. Studies in this field can focus on the preparation of teachers or the activities of teachers in establishing an effective learning environment. Other studies may examine the role of students in the classroom, such as examining factors that relate to success in the class or students' previous conceptions which may hinder success. Finally, studies may develop or examine learning materials, such as textbooks, lab activities or student assessments.

Inorganic Chemistry involves the synthesis and characterization of inorganic and organometallic compounds, and the study of their chemical and physical properties. Inorganic chemistry includes the study of development of inorganic and organometallic materials to be used as catalysts in chemical reactions, the study of metals and their interactions in biological systems, the fate and transport of metals and non-metals in the environment, the development of new energy storage materials, the development of new organometallic catalysts and reactants important in synthetic routes to biologically active compounds, and the chemistry of minerals.

Organic Chemistry is the study of the structure, physical properties, and chemical reactions of carbon-containing compounds. Examples include the investigation of reaction mechanisms and catalysis, the development of new tactics and strategies for synthesizing molecules, both simple and complex, the examination of structure/activity and structure/reactivity relationships, and the development of new materials with novel properties and applications. Organic compounds include peptides, proteins, sugars, nucleic acids, and most pharmaceutical compounds. Particularly active areas in contemporary organic chemistry are the study of the interactions of such molecules with one another and the development of new compounds for application in medical and other biological contexts.

Physical Chemistry involves the study of chemical systems including gases, liquids, and solid materials, and the development of mathematical and physical methods to explain and predict how and why they behave the way they do. This can involve the study of how energy flows in chemical systems and how and why the composition and structures of these systems evolve in time. Physical chemistry seeks to understand the forces and interactions occurring at very small scales and very short times and how these influence and drive the behavior of macroscopic systems. Physical chemistry is typically divided into a few broad areas of study: thermodynamics and equilibrium, chemical kinetics, quantum mechanics and spectroscopy, and statistical thermodynamics.