PhD in Physical Chemistry in West Lafayette United States | Purdue University

The aim of the graduate program in chemistry is to provide an environment for individuals to develop the skills to become leaders in scientific research and education, capable of making original contributions to the advancement of chemistry and related disciplines. Programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are offered in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, chemical education, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry. Research in the department is conducted in such interdisciplinary areas as bioanalytical, bioorganic, bioinorganic chemistry, chemical biology, materials chemistry, physical organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and chemical physics. The graduate program in Analytical Chemistry is ranked first in the nation by US News. Few formal courses are required for the Ph.D. degree. The purpose of advanced course work is to build on the foundation gained in undergraduate study to give additional depth in specialty areas of interest to individual students. Students select courses that will equip them for research of high quality, broaden their general background, and aid them in preparing for doctoral exams.

Purdue Physical Chemistry prides itself on two characteristics: outstanding scientific research and a supporting and collaborative environment. Physical Chemistry at Purdue encompasses a wide range of scientific endeavors, from ultracold single-molecule chemistry, quantum computation, and ultrafast microscopy to machine learning and immunology, and biological exciton formation both in the lab and on the computer. We have particular depth in quantum chemistry research, including quantum computing (Hood, Kais), electronic structure theory and computation (Chen, Slipchenko, and Wasserman) and nonlinear spectroscopic methods (Ben Amotz, Huang, Reppert).