Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Discover chemical and biochemical phenomena through scientific inquiry.

Welcome to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at FAU. The Department offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, including the ACS-certified B.S. degree in chemistry, the B.S. degree with a Biochemistry concentration, the Honors Program in Chemistry, and the Doctoral and Master's graduate degrees in Chemistry. Research conducted by faculty in the Department contributes to most major fields of chemistry, such as organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physical chemistry, as well as cross-disciplinary research areas that include chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, biophysical chemistry, materials chemistry, natural products chemistry, and environmental chemistry. Diversity is a fundamental value of FAU and our Department. We are devoted to fostering an inclusive environment that embraces and celebrates diversity, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation and unique differences among our students and faculty. In our view, diversity encourages creativity and innovation and helps to attract and retain top talent in science. We invite you to explore and consider our variety of programs for undergraduate and graduate student research, which can lead you to a fulfilling career as a chemist in academia or industry.

Spotlights

2024 ECOS Publication Grant Supports Novel Harmful Algae Blooms Study

2024 ECOS Publication Grant Supports Novel Harmful Algae Blooms Study

Congratulations to Vivian Merk, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and College of Engineering and Computer Science. Merk was named the recipient of the School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability’s (ECOS) 2024 Publication Grant. Read more

 

New Faculty Spotlight: Natalia Malina, Ph.D.

New Faculty Spotlight: Natalia Malina, Ph.D.

The Schmidt College of Science is excited to welcome Natalia Malina, Ph.D., an assistant professor in Environmental Chemistry. Learn more about Malina in the following Q&A. Read more.

 

 

Chemistry Professor Presents Cancer Research at NCI’s 2024 DCB R15 Investigator Workshop

Chemistry Professor Presents Cancer Research at NCI’s 2024 DCB R15 Investigator Workshop

Mare Cudic, Ph. D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and director, Honors in Chemistry Program, FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, was one of seven invited scientific presentations at  the  National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) R15 Investigator Workshop this summer. Read more.

 

Meet 2024 OURI SURF Fellow Nicolás Salas

Meet 2024 OURI SURF Fellow Nicolás Salas

As part of Florida Atlantic University’s ongoing commitment to broadening research opportunities for its students, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry annually offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. Read more.

 

 

Alumnus Richard DiMarchi Honored for Pioneering Research in Obesity Drug Discovery

Alumnus Richard DiMarchi Honored for Pioneering Research in Obesity Drug Discovery

Richard DiMarchi, Ph.D., B.S. ’74, was honored with the prestigious 2024 Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The recognition celebrates his groundbreaking research which has paved the way for revolutionary drugs that have reshaped the landscape of obesity treatment on a global scale. Read more.

FAU Researchers Land $1M in FDOH Grants to Fight Alzheimer's Disease

FAU Researchers Land $1M in FDOH Grants to Fight Alzheimer's Disease

Three Florida Atlantic University researchers at the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease research have each received a $350,000 grant from the Florida Department of Health’s “Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program.” Two of the grant recipients are from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science: Mare Cudic, Ph.D., an associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and director, Honors in Chemistry Program, and Qi Zhang, Ph.D., an associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and a faculty member in the David and Lynn Nicholson Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research. Read more.

 

Grant Renewed by National Cancer Institute to Study Next Generation of Cancer Immunotherapies

Grant Renewed by National Cancer Institute to Study Next Generation of Cancer Immunotherapies 

With the goal of helping to unlock the future of cancer treatments, Mare Cudic, Ph.D., an associate professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and director, Honors in Chemistry Program, Florida Atlantic Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, recently had her funding renewed by the National Cancer Institute with a $443,151 grant. The award will allow Cudic to further research her project, “Mechanistic insight into tumor-associated MUC1 glycopeptides binding to macrophage galactose-type lectin.” Read more.

 

Chemistry Faculty’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Study Published in ‘Nature’

Chemistry Faculty’s Rheumatoid Arthritis Study Published in ‘Nature’

Gregg Fields, Ph.D., executive director of FAU’s Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-HEALTH) and a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and Roma Stawikowska, laboratory coordinator, Department of Chemistry, are studying an autoimmune disease that affects 0.5 percent of the world’s population - rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Read more.

 

$125,000 Anonymous Gift Bolsters Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Teaching and Research

$125,000 Anonymous Gift Bolsters Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Teaching and Research

Funds from the anonymous philanthropist will make a powerful impact on the program’s faculty, students, and facilities. Read more.

 

 

FAU Appoints Leader to New ‘Biotech Bridge’ Program

FAU Appoints Leader to New ‘Biotech Bridge’ Program

Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science recently appointed Shailaja Allani, Ph.D., associate scientist in its Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as the director of the Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CMBB) and the newly named FAU Biotech Bridge program. Read more.

 

Chemistry Assistant Professor’s Research Published in Prestigious Oxford University Press Publication s

Chemistry Assistant Professor’s Research Published in Prestigious Oxford University Press Publication

Ilyas Yildirim, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Schmidt College of Science, co-authored a recently featured “breakthrough article” in the prestigious Nucleic Acids Research journal. Read more.

Chemistry Graduate Ivan Riveros

Chemistry Graduate Ivan Riveros, ’22, ’21, Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Alumnus Ivan Riveros’s remarkable achievements were recognized by the National Science Foundation (NSF) when he was selected as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, a highly prestigious grant awarded to annually to approximately 2,000 current or prospective STEM Ph.D. or master’s students. Read more.

FAU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Awarded ASBMB Accreditation

FAU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Awarded ASBMB Accreditation

Congratulations to the Schmidt College of Science’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on receiving a provisional accreditation from the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)! ASBMB is a national, independent organization that recognizes excellence in biochemistry and molecular biology education for undergraduate students. Read more.

 

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