Courses

Evaluation of second year analytical chemistry students.

The preparation and presentation of student research lectures based on current journals and other research literature in biological chemistry and related areas not closed related to the student's own research.

C500 Introduction to Research (3 cr.) Objectives and techniques of chemical research. Assignment to research problem to be completed during two semesters.

Electronics as applied to chemical instrumentation; design and construction of instruments used in chemical research, analysis, recording, and control; maintenance and practice in modification to meet special needs.

Prerequisite:  C361
Chemical applications of group theory and the elucidation of structure and bonding in inorganic molecules and complexes by vibrational, nuclear magnetic resonance, Mossbauer and electronic absorption spectroscopy.

Elucidation of molecular structure utilizing IR, UV, and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and other methods.

Incoming graduate students will be exposed to three core areas: teaching skills, research skills and professional skills. Topics include classroom management for discussion/labs, grading, effective research habits and time management, CVs, ethics, library skills, grant writing, and making the most out of your PhD.

The formation and processing of organic material in natural environments. Microbiology of sediments. The global biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur. Geochemistry of organic materials. Organic geochemical evidence of evolutionary events.

P: 8 credit hours of chemistry toward graduate degree, consent of instructor. P or C: 500- level lecture course in research field. Non-majors only. Participation in scientific research to gain understanding of its philosophy and techniques.

Theory and practice of analytical separation techniques and analytical spectroscopy; chromatographic methods of separation, fundamentals of gas and liquid chromatography, overview of spectroscopic instrumentation, atomic and molecular spectroscopy for analysis.

Theory and practice of electrochemical (potentiometric and voltammetric) methods of analysis; introduction to analytical chemistry of the elements and statistics for analytical chemistry.

Prerequisite:  C362 and C342
Valence and molecule structure, electronic interpretation of organic reactions, stereochemistry.

Synthesis of organic compounds, degradation reactions, selected topics in organic reactions.

Elements of quantum theory, solution of elementary problems with chemical applications, approximate methods, atomic structure, molecular symmetry and normal vibrations, the molecular orbital description of molecules.

Prerequisite:  C561 or consent of instructor
Elements of quantum theory, solution of elementary problems with chemical applications, approximate methods, atomic structure, molecular symmetry and normal vibrations, the molecular orbital description of molecules.

Prerequisite: C360, C361 or consent of instructor
Introduction to nuclear science covering the properties, structure, and reactions of cuclei. The energetics and kinetics of radioactivity are studied. Model straggling ions in gases or solids, and other nuclear chemical phenomena.

Prerequisite:  C561 or consent of instructor
Interaction of radiation with matter. Spectroscopic probes of the rotational, vibrational, and electronic structure of molecules. Advanced laser methods.

Introduction to equilibrium and no equilibrium many-body systems using ensemble techniques. Emphasis on molecular systems and systems undergoing chemical transformation or transport. Both qualitative and rigorous approaches.

Prerequisite:  C567 or consent of instructor
Selected topics such as pair correlation functions in classical liquids, laser and reaction-transport, nonequilibrium phenomena, critical phenomena, reaction rates, condensed media, NMR, precipitation and polymer kinetics, Green's function methods, and computational methods.

P: C571 or consent of instructor. Molecular modeling: computer models of molecules and their behavior in gas and condensed phases; implicit and explicit solvation models; quantum and molecular mechanics; search strategies for conformational analysis, geometry optimization methods; information content from Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations. Statistics and chemometrics: multivariate statistics and experimental design, numerical methods, calibration and chemical analysis, optimization methods, artificial intelligence. Molecular design: de novo design techniques; quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR); comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA); docking; molecular diversity and combinatorial libraries.

Prerequisite: B501 and consent of instructor
Principals of inter-and intra-molecular interactions; structural stability of proteins and nucleic acids, thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of complex binding; experimental methods for analysis of macromolecular structure and binding. Credit given for only one of the following C581, B530.

Ligand Binding Models: Single Site Binding and Multiple and Competitive Site Binding; and Determination and Measurement of Binding Interactions and Antibody-based Interaction Methods. Credit given for only one of the following C582, B531.

Biochemistry and biophysics of lipids, membranes, and membrane proteins; fundamentals of membrane transport; interfacial catalysis; transmembrane signal transduction. Credit given for only one of the following: C585, B605.

General properties of enzymes and basic principles of enzymatic reactions are discussed. Enzyme kinetics; inhibitor types, their importance and their effects on enzymes will be covered. Students will gain facility with thermodynamics, catalytic mechanisms, kinetics and binding equilibria as they apply to proteins. Credit given for only one of the following: C588 or B540.

Enzyme mechanisms demonstrate how chemical principles are employed by living organisms. The course will cover several classes of enzymes, for example, hydrolases, phosphorylases, kinases, carboxylases, and transferases. Focus will also be placed on the roles of cofactors in catalysis. Credit given for only one of the following: C589 or B541

An informal lecture of the understanding of selected aspects of biochemical regulation, while reinforcing core concepts of biochemistry as discovery-based quantitative, molecular and chemical science.

Theory and practice of electrochemical techniques (such as cyclic voltammetry, chronocoulometry, stripping analysis, thin-layer electrochemistry, and spectroelectrochemistry) used for analysis and for the characterization of inorganic and organic systems.

New instrumentation and techniques employed in spectrochemistry; indepth treatment of commonly used spectrochemical methods.

Theoretical and practical aspects of chromatographic methods of separation; fundamentals of gas and liquid chromatography, related instrumentation, and selected applications.

Survey of modern analytical techniques, including spectrochemical, electrochemical, and separation methods used in biochemical analysis and their applications. (May be offered in alternate years.)

Introduction to surface analysis methods used to characterize chemical properties and phenomena at surfaces: structure, composition, adsorption, kinetics, reactions, catalysis, and growth. Photoelectron and x-ray absorption spectroscopies, thermal desorption, ion scattering, and scanning probe methods (AFM, STM, etc.). Emphasis will be on research problems in the current literature. Meets with Chemistry C668. Credit only given for C668 or C616.

P: Consent of instructor. Individual student seminars covering new methods or applications of chemical analysis or characterization. Required of all analytical chemistry majors.

Topics related to measurement in the chemical sciences and interdisciplinary fields of science and engineering. Special attention to perspectives on advanced instrumentation and application of new hybrid techniques to areas such as biomedical, environmental, energy, or other areas of interest.

Prerequisite: C502 and C561
Applications of quantum mechanics to the electronic and geometric structure of inorganic molecules. Advanced ligand field and molecular orbital theories. The Jahn-Teller effects and orbital symmetry studies of stereochemistry. Inorganic photochemistry.

General understanding and hands-on laboratory experience in crystallography as analytical method. Topics will onsist of theory on physics and mathematical concepts used in crystallography, the relation of physical and chemical properties to structure data, common databases, utilization of appropriate software for data work-up, solution, refinement, and visualization structures.

Introduction to the field of bioinorganic chemistry and spectroscopic methods for determining structure/function relationship of metal ions in biology. Emphasis on oxygen carriers, metal ion transport and storage, as well as oxidoreductases involved in oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen metabolism.

The syntheses, structure, and industrial application of compounds and materials in which main group elements play a major role. All elements except the d-block transition metals are included as main group elements. This includes the f-block lanthanides and actinides as well.

Survey of the properties of the transition metals with emphasis on common oxidation levels, coordination geometries, and compounds with classical ligands: hard and soft acids and bases, dorbitals and their energies in different geometries; formation constants and the chelate effect; the Jahn-Teller theorem; low-intermediate, and high-spin systems; mixed valency; metal-ligand multiple bonding, metal-metal bonds; coordination clusters and their biological relevance.

Analysis of the experimental and theoretical basis for our understanding of the reactions associated with main group and transition metal ions and inorganic reagents in solution. Classes of reactions include ligand substitutions, redox reactions, electron transfer reactions, reactions within the coordination sphere of metal ions including catalysis by photochemical and electrochemical activation.

Synthesis and reactivity of organo-main group and transition metal compounds, including application to organic synthesis.

Application of X-ray diffraction, dynamic NMR and mass spectroscopy to structural and mechanistic problems throughout the periodic table, with emphasis on what techniques are optimal for particular questions, as well as the potential weaknesses of each.

P: consent of instructor. Topics not ordinarily covered by regularly scheduled courses, such as baron hydrides, X-ray diffraction, metal-metal bonds, bioinorganic chemistry, platinum metals chemistry, inorganic photochemistry, etc.

Definitions of diamagnetism, paramagnetism, magnetization and magnetic susceptibility; the Curie Law; orbital angular momentum; the Van Vleck equation; zero-field splitting; exchange interactions in dinuclear and polynuclear metal cluster, Basic concepts of paramagnetic NMR; spin delocalization mechanisms and isotropic shifts; contact and dipolar contributions. EPR of transition complexes; g-value anisotropy as a function of coordination geometry.

Prerequisite:  C540 ande C543; or consent of instructor

Synthesis and chemical-physical analysis of the structure of alkaloids, antibiotics, bacterial metabolites, plant pigments, steroids, and terpenes.

Prerequisite:  C342 and C362

Application of physical-chemistry techniques to the study of structure and mechanism of  reaction of organic compounds.

Recent developments in such areas as sulfur compounds, heterocycles, stereochemistry, polymers, and synthesis.

Prerequisite:   Consent of isntructor

Topics such as materials chemistry or chemical applications of matrix algebra and group theory, digital computing techniques, solid state chemistry, high temperature processes, electrochemistry, theory of solutions, spectroscopy, and surface chemistry. (May be repeated with different topic.)

Core Topics in solution scattering methods, electron microscopy, light microscopy/imaging, and biological mass spectrometry. Course focuses on the capabilities of each type of measurement: data analysis, sensitivity, resolution, quantitation, and limitations. Introduction to cutting-edge instrumentation available for use in thesis research, research findings or new approaches used in (C689).

Basic elements of chemical biology with a chemistry-centered focus. This course will cover peptide synthesis and ligation methods, oligonucleotide synthesis, diversity oriented synthesis and combinatorial libraries, bio-orthogonal reactions, high-throughput screening methods and their use in drug discovery, and secondary metabolism. Credit given for only one of the following: C681 or B680.

Basic elements of chemical biology applications and uses of technology. This course will cover microarray technology, protein labeling, chemical genetics, small molecule interactions with proteins/DNA, modulation of protein-protein interactions, RNA aptamers and molecular evolution. Credit given for only one of the following: B681 or B680.

Mechanistic analysis of nucleic acid metabolism, specificity and role of DNA polymerases and repair pathways; DNA replication and recombination mechanisms; RNA structural motifs and physical processing in gene expression; catalytic RNA molecules; applications of RNA molecules.

Supplements and extends B503; emphasis on stability and folding mechanisms of proteins and nucleic acids and detailed thermodynamic analysis of binding interactions. Credit given for only one of the following: C685, B603.

In biology, structure and function are intimately connected. The aim of this class is to demystify macromolecular structure determination. We will examine X-ray crystallography and EM image reconstruction in detail, solving structures and studying the theoretical underpinnings of each technique. Class will be computer and mathematics intensive. Credit given for only one of the following: C686, B604.

Topics vary yearly and include the following: physic-chemical techniques in the study of macromolecules; experimental methods in enzymology; organic chemistry of enzymatic reactions and enzyme models; conformational properties and macromolecules. May be retaken for credit with different topic. Credit given for only one of the following: C687 or B680

Prerequisite:  Consent of instructor

Recent advances in such areas as biological oxidations, energetics and equilibria, hormones, and nutrition. Meets with Bioc-B 600. Credit given for only one of the following C688, B600.

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor

Molecular dynamics and special techniques for simulating nanosystems. Nanocharacterization measurements. Applications to microbiology, drug and vaccine design, nanocapsules for drug delivery, design of nanocharacterization technologies, and contemporary problems in chemical biology and nanoscience.

Prerequisite:  CHEM-C 680, CHEM-C681, and selection as a QCB Fellow.

An independent study internship in research area/organization selected by candidate, coordinated by QCB Director.

Continued research in the field of analytical chemistry.

Continued research in the field of materials chemistry.

Continued research in the field of inorganic chemistry.

Continued research in the field of organic chemistry.

Continued research in the field of physical chemistry.

Continued research in the field of biological chemistry.

Advanced research relating to the student's chosen research topic.

To introduce the student to techniques for fabrication, characterization, and modeling of materials with an emphasis on nano-structures. Methods (top down) for the creation and characterization of nano-structures, band structure, conductivity, optical properties, and quantum confinement, assembly, liquids, and phase transitions.

To introduce the students to nano-scale and molecular materials. The first part will provide an overview of methods for bottom-up synthesis and assembly of nano-structures. The second part providing case studies from the recent literature; including: nano-particles, biological applications, molecular electronics, and machines, self-assembly in artificial and biological systems.

A one-semester overview of bottom-up fabrication of functional materials. Emphasis on the chemistry of molecularly defined assemblies constructed via non-covalent interactions. Topics include: synthetic strategies and physical properties, recognition, catalysis, sensing, switching, transport, and actuation, electron transfer and energy transfer, interfacial assemblies, mesoporous materials, polymers, dendrimers and liquid crystals.

Topics such as electrochemistry, biomaterials, polymers, solid state chemistry, computational chemistry, micro/nanofabrication, and environmental chemistry considered from the perspective of materials chemistry.

Preparation and presentation of student research lectures based on current journals and other research literature in materials chemistry and related areas on topics not closely related to the student's own research.

Preparation and presentation of second year inorganic chemistry research project.

Preparation and presentation of student research lectures based on current journals and other research literature in physical chemistry and related areas on topics not closely related to the student's own research.

Major topics in the filed of organic chemistry will be examined. A list of subjects will be provided at the beginning of the year.