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CONTACT US
UNDERGRADUATE
ADVISOR: Peggy Erickson
OFFICE: C104 BNSN
PHONE: 801.422.6269
EMAIL: pbericks@chem.byu.edu
GRADUATE
ADVISOR: Janet Fonoimoana
OFFICE: C101 BNSN
PHONE: 801.422.4845
EMAIL: janetf@chem.byu.edu
Oh look! It's a map. It will probably tell you where to go to find important people, room numbers, buildings, etcetera,
etcetera, etcetera. It may even lead you to buried treasure, but probably not.
RESEARCH AREAS
Students in chemistry and biochemistry, including undergraduates, have the opportunity
to work closely with professors and other students on real research projects that are
exciting and consequential. Under the supervision of a faculty member, students may
begin laboratory work as early as their first year. This allows them to experience the
nature of the science at the beginning of their studies. Participation in research
substantially enhances students' education and prepares them to be independent
professionals. Click below to learn about each specific research lab.
BIOCHEMISTRY
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Chemistry and Biochemistry majors learn principles that are fundamental to the
understanding of subjects ranging from life itself to the structure of rocks and minerals.
Graduates may find employment in colleges, industry, commercial labs and the
government. Many of our students go on for advanced degrees. A degree in Chemistry
and Biochemistry prepares students well for exciting careers in research, industry,
medicine/dentistry and even law.
CLINICAL LAB SCIENTIST // $61,000
RESEARCH CHEMIST // $60,000
ANALYTICAL CHEMIST // $52,000
BIOCHEMIST // $58,000
BIOTECH RESEARCH ASSOCIATE // $50,000
RESEARCH LAB TECHNICIAN // $36,000
BIOTECH RESEARCH SCIENTIST // $74,000
SENIOR CHEMIST // $69,000
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
In the research area of analytical chemistry, you could fulfill that ever-elusive
childhood dream of becoming a professional sleuth like Sherlock Holmes as you pick
apart substances and determine their chemical make-up. Analytical chemistry is all
about developing methods and tools for studying the elements that constitute our
world. Students in our analytical groups are involved in projects ranging from using
manure to create renewable energy to manipulating and modifying diamond
surfaces. State-of-the-art facilities and quality tools aid students in their search for
answers. One especially valuable resource housed by the College is the Fourier
Transform Mass Spectrometer (FTMS). It is capable of weighing molecules with
accuracies of about one part per million! BYU is one of the few universities in the
country that can offer this machine to its students, allowing them to perform
research that would otherwise be impossible to attempt.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Jaron Hansen
Paul Famsworth
Matthew Linford
David Dearden
Milton Lee
Jeff Macedone
Adam Woolley
Daniel Austin
James Patterson
Steven Goates
BIOCHEMISTRY
Biochemistry is the study of living things, what the world is made of and how it
functions at the molecular level. Students dig deep into the occurrences of daily life
to discover how small workings combine to make the earth tick Research projects
often lead students into biomedical fields such as immunology, neurobiology, cancer
biology, pharmacology, and developmental biology. Under mentors, students in our
College use structural techniques to understand new viruses enter our systems,
cause infection, and evolve. Some specific conditions they study include cancer
development, psychological disorders, drug addictions, and better methods in
treating HIV.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
David Belnap
Gregory Burton
John Prinoe
Allen Buskirk
Emily Bates
Daniel Simmons
Steven Graves
Bany Willardson
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
All organic matter, whether isolated from natural sources or synthesized in a
laboratory, contains carbon. Chemists gain insight into how life-sustaining systems
work by studying these organic compounds, and their research often finds
application in biology and medicine. One project in the College's organic research
area involved the development of break-through antibiotics designed to closely
mimic the body's natural immune system, while the body builds a resistance against
many drugs, this BYU innovation maintains potency and avoids many typical
complications Other projects include evaluating potential antitumor drugs and
making compounds that restore the potency of cancer drugs towards stubborn cells.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Paul Savage
Matt Peterson
Scott Burt
Steven Castle
Heidi Vollmer-Snarr
Daniel Ess
Mamtt Andrus
Steven Wood
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
What is physical chemistry? Someone once described it as the study of anything
that's interesting. Researchers seek to understand the fundamental structure and
properties of matter, tackling problems using a wide variety of experimental
techniques and theoretical studies. Despite the very tangible nature of this research
area, students utilize advanced computer hardware and software to run
experiments and obtain results electronically. This is often more efficient than
performing research in a lab, and avoids the production of hazardous waste.
Specifically, students may study the magnetic and superconductive properties of key
technological materials, use lasers to remove atoms from and alter surfaces, or
create new adhesives by designing new materials at the molecular scale.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Juliana Boerio-Goates
Brian Woodfield
James Patterson
Randall Shins
Matthew Asplund
Scott Burt
Eric Sevy
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Join the ranks of inorganic chemistry researchers, and you place yourself on the
frontlines of emerging technology. The electronic industry, as well as construction
companies, relies heavily upon inorganic chemists to create new, durable, more
versatile materials to continually improve quality and efficiency. The production of
synthetic materials also finds application in combating such problems as human
illness and pollution. For example, our students studied the ability of certain
compounds to trap the contaminants found in water. Another project which may
greatly impact the production of clean energy, focuses on creating an artificial
photosynthesis system that directly harvests raw energy.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
John Lamb
Richard Watt
Roger Harrison
Francis Nordmeyer