Planning for Graduate Study
in Chemistry
&
Chemistry Research at UA
YOUR NAME
Department of Chemistry
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Why Graduate School?

Graduate training is needed to become
proficient enough to be a strong participant in
chemical research and the development of new
knowledge.

With a PhD, you’ll be able to rise to top
technical or administrative positions in
industrial, academic, or government labs.

An advanced degree will result in a higher
overall career earning potential.
Graduate School Can Be Fun!


It’s hard work, but you’ll be performing challenging
research in an area that interests you.
You’ll be developing lifelong friendships and
professional relationships.
Chemistry Starting Salaries




From the American Chemical Society (ACS) for 2007 graduates.
Median salaries for starting chemists.
Typically, only 2-3 years after obtaining a PhD you will recover
any salary “lost” while attending graduate school as a ~$21,000
per year GTA/GRA. After that, you’re ahead by $30,000 or
more per year over a BS/BA chemist.
For 2007 graduates, the median starting salary for a new PhD
chemist was $75,000. For 2004, this value was $65,000.
Starting salaries are increasing!
Time after
graduation
BS/BA
MS
PhD
<12 months
$36,700
$48,000
$75,000
12-36 months
$38,600
$47,000*
$70,000*
*Occasionally, starting salaries have increased so that new
hires earn more than chemists employed for 1-3 years.
Preparation for Graduate School

Undergraduate Curriculum





Undergraduate Research



ACS-Certified B.S. Degree (preferred, not required).
Take a full range of courses over all subdivisions of
chemistry, including biochemistry.
Take as many upper level math, biology, and physics
courses as time permits.
Acquire good skills in problem solving, teamwork, and
communications.
Seize the opportunity for research at your own
institution.
Become a participant in a summer research program at
an academic institution or an industrial intern or co-op.
Acquire Additional Skills


Computer skills, work processing, spreadsheets,
databases, programming.
Acquaint yourself with chemistry journals and the
scientific literature.
Admission to Graduate School






For regular admission, usually need GPA ≥ 3.0.
For regular admission, usually need Graduate
Record Exam (GRE) ≥ 1000 (Q + V). (Note:
2011 new scale: 130-170 rather than 200-800)
Most schools don’t require the Chemistry
Subject GRE exam.
Letters of Recommendation (2 or 3) – ask
faculty who you have interacted with.
Foreign Students – TOEFL ≥ 550 (paper exam,
pBT) of >79 (internet exam, iBT). Also accept
IELTS (≥ 6.5); Pearson Test (≥ 59).
Note: In Chemistry, you don’t need a Masters
degree (MS) in order to obtain a doctorate
degree (PhD).
Where to Apply?

Gain info for your selection process from:









Undergraduate professors or advisors
ACS student affiliate meetings
Seminar speakers
Speakers at scientific conferences
Publications in chemistry journals
ACS Directory of Graduate Research
Brochures and wall hangers from various
programs
Websites
Visits to departments were you are considering
graduate study
Where to Apply, continued






The most important questions to consider
are:
 (1) Where to go to school?
 (2) Who to work for?
Choose a school with multiple research
options that interest you.
If you want to work with a specific individual,
contact them before applying. E-mail faculty
whose research interest you.
Contact the Director of Graduate Recruiting
or other faculty with questions.
Academic pedigree can still be important.
Visit a school before you accept their offer of
admission.
Financial Support

Positions

UA Chemistry Current Support

You will be paid to go to graduate school, but don’t let
money be a primary deciding factor. Make your decision
based on how the overall program and its research
opportunities meet your needs.







Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)
Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)
Fellowships or Scholarships
Stipend (2010-2011 AY): $21,900 for 12 months
Full tuition waiver; no fees except for ~$60/semester
Free health insurance for the student ($1,500/yr value)
If a student remains in good academic standing, they
are guaranteed support in the PhD program for up to 5
years.
Financial Support, conti.

Put your offers on an equal footing. Compare:






Stipend: Is it for 12 months or 9/10 months with
summers being different?
Tuition: Is it a waiver or are you given tuition
money as taxable income? Must you pay it back?
Are there hidden fees?
Health Insurance: Is it free to you?
Cost of Living: May negate differences in
monetary offers.
Add-Ons/Sweeteners: Have in writing whether
these are only for initial year or for all years.
Length of Financial Support: Is continuous
support offered for the period of time in which you
can reasonably be expected to complete your
degree (e.g., 5 years for a PhD)? This is very
important.
Regional Chemistry GTA Stipends, 2010
Institution
Net Stipend
No-Cost Health Insurance
Emory U.
$22,000
Partial
Florida St. U.
$19,000
Partial
Louisiana St. U.
$19,500
Partial
Mississippi St. U.
$22,000
Partial
North Carolina St. U.
$21,000
Yes
U. of Alabama
$21,900
Yes
U. of Florida
$19,950
Yes
U. of North Carolina
$22,250
Yes
U. of Georgia
$22,000
Partial
U. of South Carolina
$21,300
Partial
U. of Tennessee
$18,900
Yes
Vanderbilt U.
$23,000
Yes
*12 month net stipends = amount paid to the student minus
tuition and fees that the student pays out of pocket
How and When to Apply?

How?
 Electronic applications are usually preferred over paper
forms. For online application and info, check out the
website of the department or university.
 Many departments waive application fees for domestic
students. It doesn’t hurt to ask the department’s
Director of Graduate Recruiting before sending money.

When?
 For complete consideration for all positions, including
fellowships, it’s best to submit applications for Fall
before the end of the prior calendar year.
 Although most entering graduate students begin in the
Fall semester, a few students may be admitted at the
beginning of Spring semester.
 It is never too late to apply.
Parts of the UA Application






Application Form – Online submission preferred
Statement of Purpose (SOP)  Discuss experience, career goals, research
interests.
 Toot your own horn. This is your opportunity
to tell the department anything that you want
them to know about you.
GRE – Official scores sent by ETS are needed.
TOEFL – Needed by applicants when English is
not their native language and they don’t have a
degree from a US institution.
Transcripts – Official transcripts sent by your
undergraduate institution.
Letters of Reference - Normally 3 are required.
Ask faculty who know you well to write them.
Overview of UA Chemistry





25 Research Active Faculty
~85 Graduate Students
Research in all major areas of chemistry, plus
interdisciplinary Centers and programs
Graduate Stipend: $21,900/year with waiver of
tuition and free health insurance for the
student
www.bama.ua.edu/~chem/
UA Graduate Chemistry Programs
 PhD Program
 MS Program


Plan I – Thesis Option
Plan II – Non-Thesis Option (Course work only)





Analytical Chemistry
Biochemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry

Center for Materials for Information Technology
(MINT)
Center for Green Manufacturing (CGM)
Center for Advanced Vehicle Technology (CAVT)
Coalition for Biomolecular Products (CBP)
Center for Molecular-Scale Electronic and Spintronics
(CMSES)

Divisions and Research Programs

Interdisciplinary Programs




PhD Program Degree Requirements

Usually completed in ~5 years

Courses (72 credit hours total)






Placement exams (ACS exams) upon entering
program assist in matching courses to a
student’s background
6 lecture courses - 18 credit hours

4 in major area and 2 outside major area
Research Techniques – 6 credit hours
Advanced Research Techniques – 8 credit hours
Graduate Seminars – 16 credit hours
Dissertation Research – 24 credit hours
PhD Program Degree Requirements

Research

Selection of Research Advisor





Seminars for entering students with all Chemistry
faculty
Detailed interviews with faculty of interest
Selection made by student late in their 1st
semester of study or early in their 2nd semester
Dissertation Committee


5 members selected by 3rd semester
Meet for IRR, ORP, Dissertation Defense
Start your research project under your
advisor’s supervision – This is the fun part!
PhD Program Degree Requirements

Additional Requirements

Initial Research Review (IRR)

Present to dissertation committee by the end of the first
month of your 4th semester

Cumulative Exams




2-3 hour exams offered 10 times a year in each of the 5
subdisciplines of chemistry
Must pass 4 exams by the end of the 2nd year of study (20
attempts maximum)
Usually taken in major area, but can take outside of area
Original Research Proposal (ORP)


Present an defend (in writing and orally) an original
idea outside of your own research area
Must be completed by 5th semester of study
PhD Program Degree Requirements


Seminars


Literature – during 2nd year
Research – during last semester
Dissertation


Write and defend orally - on your own
research
Must result in at least one refereed publication
MS Plan I (Research) Requirements



Usually completed in 2-2.5 years
Admission preference is usually given to PhD
applicants, except under special circumstances
Requirements similar to PhD Program except:





30 credit hours with 4 lecture courses (3 in major
area)
Only thesis committee meetings are IRR and
thesis defense in last semester
No cumulative exams, ORP, or literature seminar
Research seminar to department in last
semester
Thesis written and defended orally to thesis
committee
National Research Council Survey



178 Departments were ranked in a
survey using 2000-2006 data
Subjective Ranking based on
faculty surveys: 71st (60th percentile)
Dimensional Ranking based on
yearly department data:




Overall Research Activity: 53rd (71st %)
Publications/faculty: 3.64, ranked 33rd
Citations/paper: 2.34, ranked 75th
Funded Faculty: 80%, ranked 88th
National Research Council Survey

Student Support and Outcomes




Overall Student Support and Outcomes:
42nd (76th %)
1st year students supported: 100%
6 year PhD completion: 48.6%, ranked
48th
Median time to degree: 5.8 yr, ranked
151st
National Research Council Survey

Diversity





Overall Diversity: 103rd (42%)
Minority faculty: 5%, ranked 55th
Minority students: 19.5%, ranked 28th
Female students: 32.1%, ranked
149th (2009-10, 45%)
International students: 50% (200910, 36%)
UA Analytical Chemists
Carolyn J. Cassady
Professor
ANALYTICAL/BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY: mass
spectrometry, ion/molecule reactions, MS/MS of peptides
by FT-ICR and TOF, sequencing metallopeptides
Shanlin Pan
Assistant Professor
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY: electrochemistry, single
molecule Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy,
nanomaterials and biosensors
Shane C. Street
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Recruiting
ANALYTICAL/PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY: Nanomaterials, thin
film tribology, and surface chemistry
UA Analytical Chemists
Gregory J. Szulczewski
Associate Professor
ANALYTICAL/PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY: chemistry of
surfaces and interfaces, thin film devices, colloidal
particles for sensing applications
UA Biochemists
Laura S. Busenlehner
Assistant Professor
BIOCHEMISTRY/BIOINORGANIC CHEMISTRY: metalrelated diseases, protein structure-function studies, amide
hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry
Russell Timkovich
Professor
BIOCHEMISTRY/BIOPHYSICAL/BIOANALYTICAL
CHEMISTRY: electron transport proteins, NMR analysis of
3D protein structure, biosynthesis of novel tetrapyrroles
John B. Vincent
Professor
BIOINORGANIC CHEMISTRY/BIOCHEMISTRY:
elucidation of the structure, function, and mode of action of
metallobiomolecules, biological chromium chemistry
UA Biochemists, conti.
Stephen A. Woski
Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies
ORGANIC/BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY: non-natural
nucleoside synthesis, peptide nucleic acids, interactions of
metal complexes with DNA, synthesis of components for
molecular electronics
NEW FACULTY
Patrick A. Frantom
Assistant Professor
BIOCHEMISTRY
Structure and function of enzymes, Protein
dynamics, Mechanisms of catalysis and regulation,
Kinetic isotope effects
UA Inorganic Chemists
David E. Nikles
Professor
INORGANIC/MATERIALS CHEMISTRY: materials for
information technology, polymer coatings for magnetic tape,
porphyrin synthesis, porphyrin-dendrimers as optical devices
Robin D. Rogers
Robert Ramsay Professor of Chemistry, University Research
Professor, Director of the Center for Green Manufacturing
ANALYTICAL/INORGANIC CHEMISTRY: separation
science, ionic liquids, x-ray diffraction & crystal engineering,
self-assembled porphyrin arrays
Joseph S. Thrasher
Professor
INORGANIC/ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY: novel sulfur-fluorine
compounds, industrial fluorine chemistry, computational
chemistry
UA Inorganic Chemists
Thomas Vaid
Assistant Professor
INORGANIC/MATERIALS CHEMISTRY: inorganic and
organic electronic materials, solar energy conversion
UA Organic Chemists
Anthony J. Arduengo, III
Saxon Professor
ORGANIC/INORGANIC: the chemistry of new or unusual
bonding arrangements, material science, new reagents for
synthesis
Silas C. Blackstock
Professor
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: electron transfer chemistry, highspin polyradical ions, redox-gradient dendrimers, electron
donor-acceptor bonding, crystal engineering
Michael P. Jennings
Associate Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies
SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: total synthesis of
biologically active natural products, enantioselective
methodology development based on novel chiral ligands,
asymmetric catalysis
UA Organic Chemists, conti.
Kevin H. Shaughnessy
Associate Professor, Department Chair
ORGANIC/ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY: metalcatalyzed organic synthetic methodology, environmentally
benign reactions, High-throughput screening of reaction
selectivity
Timothy S. Snowden
Associate Professor
SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: synthetic
methodology, natural product synthesis
NEW FACULTY
Marco Bonizzoni
Assistant Professor
SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
Pattern-based recognition in molecular sensing,
molecular assembly through non-covalent interactions,
physical organic chemistry of supramolecular systems
UA Physical Chemists
Martin G. Bakker
Associate Professor
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY: EPR, radical
dynamics/reactions in organized media, surfactant
aggregation, materials
Michael K. Bowman
Associate Professor
PHYSICAL/BIOPHYSCIAL CHEMISTRY: EPR, structure
and function of metalloproteins, defect centers in crystalline
and non-crystalline solids
David A. Dixon
Robert Ramsay Professor of Chemistry
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY: computational and theoretical
chemistry, applications to organic, inorganic, bio,
environmental, industrial, and materials
UA Physical Chemists, conti.
Arunava Gupta
MINT Professor
MATERIALS and PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY: nanostructured
materials for biomedical applications and information
technology
Robert M. Metzger
Professor
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY: molecular electronics, electrical
conductivity in organic crystals, unimolecular organic
rectifiers
NEW FACULTY
Daniel J. Goebbert
Assistant Professor
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
Photoelectron imaging, ion spectroscopy, reactive
intermediates
Overhead View of the University of Alabama
Campus and Shelby Hall during Construction
Entrance to Shelby Hall
Shelby Hall Rotunda Ceiling
Shelby Hall Rotunda Floor
Center Courtyard – View of Rotunda
Hallway of a Research Wing
Research Lab – Kispert Group
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Lab
Research Lab – Shaughnessy Group
Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass
Spectrometer (FT-ICR/MS) – Cassady Group
Mass Spectrometry Lab – MALDI/TOF and
Double Focusing Sector Spectrometers
Typical Graduate Student Office
Faculty Office in Shelby Hall
UA Department of Chemistry