Chemistry & Biochemistry

Leadership

James V Cizdziel - Chair and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Contact

322 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
chemistry@olemiss.edu
http://chemistry.olemiss.edu

Overview

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in biochemistry, B.A. in chemistry, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in chemistry with an optional emphasis in biochemistry, B.S. in forensic chemistry, and a minor in chemistry. At the graduate level, the department offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in chemistry, Doctor of Arts (D.A.) in chemistry, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in chemistry.

Accreditation

The B.S. in chemistry program is certified by the American Chemical Society. The B.S. in forensic chemistry is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission. The B.A. in biochemistry follows the guidelines of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Academics & Admissions

Undergraduate Studies

All of the undergraduate majors in the department require CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I, CHEM 1060 General Chemistry II, CHEM 1051 General Chemistry Laboratory I, and CHEM 1061 General Chemistry Laboratory II. The prerequisite for CHEM 1050 General Chemistry I is a minimum ACT mathematics score of 25 (SAT 580), 24 (SAT 560 or SATR 580 or ALEKS PPL 76), or B minimum in CHEM 1010, or B minimum in MATH 1210 College Algebra or MATH 1230 Trigonometry, or B minimum in MATH 1250 Basic Mathematics for Science & Eng or higher. See the degree requirements under Programs.

Graduate Studies

To receive full consideration for admission, applicants should submit:

Statement of purpose
Official transcripts
Letters of recommendation and accompanying evaluations
Demonstrable evidence that they meet or exceed current Graduate School English proficiency requirements.

For admission to full standing in the M.S. program or the Ph.D. program, the above materials should reflect that applicants have completed a baccalaureate degree in chemistry or a closely related subject. All applicants should have completed the following undergraduate core requirements:

Analytical chemistry: quantitative analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis
Biochemistry: one semester
Inorganic chemistry: one-semester course plus lab
Organic chemistry: two semesters with lab
Calculus-based physical chemistry: two-semester, junior-level course

Chemistry is a multidisciplinary science, and some applicants with undergraduate degrees in closely related areas may wish to pursue an advanced degree in chemistry. Applicants who have not completed the above core requirements may still be admitted on a case-by-case basis and will be required to remedy all deficiencies. If an applicant has not completed two semesters of organic chemistry, two semesters of physics, and two semesters of calculus, they will be asked to complete these courses and then reapply.

Preliminary Examinations: All entering graduate students are required to take five orientation examinations in the discipline areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry as well as biochemistry. These exams are ACS standardized exams or equivalent and test the student's mastery of these subject areas at the undergraduate level. The results of these examinations are used to place students in the appropriate courses for their first semester of enrollment. Students who score low on a particular exam will be judged to be deficient in that area and will be required to take the appropriate remedial or intermediate courses before taking any additional coursework from that area.

Applicants for the D.A. program are expected to have received a master's degree (M.S.) in Chemistry. However, students with only an undergraduate degree in chemistry may enroll in the program provided they remedy any course deficiencies and complete two semesters (6 hours) of laboratory or theoretical thesis research (CHEM 6997A Thesis). The results of this research must be presented to the department in the form of a written report and a seminar presentation. If the doctoral thesis is based on the same project, it must be a substantial extension of the initial work presented in this report.

See the degree requirements under Programs.

Faculty in Chemistry & Biochemistry

Safo Aboaku

Instructional Associate Professor and Associate Coordinator of Undergraduate Laboratories of Chemistry & Biochemistry
333 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
saboaku@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-4038

Abby Boyd

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
279 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
eaboyd@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5981

Saumen Chakraborty

Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
305 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
saumenc@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

James V Cizdziel

Chair and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
380 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
cizdziel@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-1814

Kensha Marie Clark

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
322 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
kmclark8@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

Rushali Dargan

Instructional Asst Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
307 Coulter Hall
Oxford, MS 38677
rdargan@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5331

Michael Eller

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
311 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
mjeller@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

Ryan Clifton Fortenberry

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
322 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
r410@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5340

Nathan I Hammer

Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
180 Coulter
University, MS 38677
nhammer@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-3989

Jonah Wesley Jurss

Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
379 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
jwjurss@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

Penghao Li

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Coulter 480 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
penghao@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5337

Jinchao Lou

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
407 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
jlou@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

Daniell L Mattern

Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
411 Coulter
University, MS 38677
mattern@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5335

Sujay Ray

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
452 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
sray1@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-1939

Jason E Ritchie

Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Stefani-Miller Chair for Teaching Excellence
309 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
jritchie@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5329

Amy Lynn Rosen

Instructor and Associate Coordinator of Undergraduate Laboratories
449 Duff Ctr for Sci. & Tech. Innovation
University, MS 38677
alrosen@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

Emily Bretherick Rowland

Instructional Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
117 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
erowland@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

Gerald Bobby Rowland

Instructional Associate Professor in Chemistry & Biochemistry
105 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
rowland@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301

Kerri D Scott

Associate Chair, Instructional Professor, and Associate Coordinator of Forensic Chemistry
281 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
kscott@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5334

Vig Sundaresan

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
322 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
vsundare@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5340

Eden Tanner

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
179 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
eetanner@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-1165

Randy Mack Wadkins

Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
409 Coulter
University, MS 38677
rwadkins@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7732

John Franklin Wiginton

Instructional Professor and Coordinator of Undergraduate Laboratories
223A Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
jfwigint@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-1553

Mike Xue

Instructional Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
301 Coulter Hall
University, MS 38677
yxue@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7301