Where students become world-class chemical engineers

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A career in chemistry is full of opportunities. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for chemists and materials scientists will grow an average of 6% from 2020 to 2030.

Michigan State University (MSU) graduates will build successful careers in this field. MSU’s Department of Chemistry has remained at the forefront of chemical research and teaching since its inception in 1964. Since then, the Department has grown to provide up-to-date, state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities that enable it to continue pursuing its world-class research and teaching programs.

“We have excellent professors in a variety of subjects,” says Marcos Dantus, MSU Foundation Professor and University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry. “The research atmosphere is quite friendly.”

World-class facilities for aspiring chemists

The chemistry department is located in an air-conditioned building with 27,000 square meters of floor space, spread over five main floors, two basement floors, a penthouse complex, an office annex and a lecture hall wing. Approximately 60% of the space is dedicated to research laboratories, instrument facilities and support shops.

The department also houses an excellent range of state-of-the-art equipment for faculty members and PhD students to carry out research activities such as compound characterization, structural studies and computational work. Notable facilities include the Max T. Rogers Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, the MSU Shared Laser Facility, the Chemistry Department X-ray Facility, and the Chemistry Visualization Facility.

All PhD students have 24/7 access to the building, its computer rooms and their respective research labs or offices.

In this collective space, interdisciplinary excellence thrives. The Biomedical and Physical Sciences (BPS) building encourages new collaborations with faculty from different departments, including the departments of Physics-Astronomy and Microbiology. It also helps improve existing collaborations between departments in research areas such as materials science, biochemistry, and biophysics.

A research-based education

Undergraduate programs—Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, and Bachelor of Science in Chemical Physics—help students build a strong foundation in seven areas of chemistry (general, organic, analytical, material, inorganic, nuclear, and physical). theoretically). These students actively participate in research with faculty in areas such as electrochemistry, environmental chemistry, protein-ligand interactions, and more.

At the graduate level, MSU offers programs in Analytical Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Inorganic Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Theoretical and Computational Chemistry. With a 200-strong student body and over $9 million in annual research funding supporting programs in fields ranging from molecular biology to materials science, these are among the most dynamic programs in the country.

Source: Michigan State University

A vibrant and welcoming research community

Passionate professors like Dantus, who teaches advanced quantum mechanics and ultrafast spectroscopy, are part of an extensive line of faculty members that span 12 research areas at MSU. You are aware of the upcoming trends in the industry. “There is currently enormous interest in building quantum computers. Similarly, ultra-fast lasers are now being rolled out from labs to industry and hospitals,” he shares.

With their expertise, they work tirelessly to prepare the next generation of MSU graduates for industry. “I’ve had students come into my lab with no laser experience, and now they’re professors at universities leading scientific groups focused on laser science,” says Dantus proudly.

Professional chemistry organizations and clubs provide members with opportunities to deepen their understanding of chemistry, network with aspiring chemical engineers, and give back to the community through a variety of service projects.

Members of the MSU Chemistry Club participate in technical lectures, scientific activities, and community service. Beyond Benign, an organization dedicated to promoting a green chemistry community, supports the Green Chemistry Commitment, which aims to unite a community of green chemists.

With these characteristics, it’s no wonder everyone is guaranteed excellent results or why MSU has a 95% placement rate for recent graduates – almost 12% above the national average.

In fact, a study by MSU showed that 62.1% of its spring and summer undergraduate graduates found full-time employment within six months of graduating in 2021. That same year, 26.6% chose to continue their studies at some of the nations top institutions, including MSU, New York University, and Cornell University.

To become a successful MSU graduate, click here to learn more about their undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry programs.

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