Department of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University chemistry graduate students work in ultramodern labs as part of a curriculum combining solid research, intensive training, and exceptional education. This accelerated program enables graduated students to leave Vanderbilt with outstanding, ACS-accredited, professional degrees prepared for highly competitive careers in respected research universities, private and public sector laboratories, industry, and patent law.

The outstanding research facilities at Vanderbilt University offer graduate students an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art experimental techniques. As chemical research becomes more sophisticated and interdisciplinary, an increasingly broad range of instrumental techniques is required to advance scientific knowledge.

Interdisciplinary research in chemistry is available with particular emphasis on biological chemistry, environmental chemistry, materials chemistry, and nanotechnology. Interdisciplinary programs include Research at the Chemistry/Biology Interface for students who wish to pursue a doctoral career at the chemical and biological sciences interface, and the Chemical Physical Biology Program for students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree at the interface of the chemical, physical, and biological sciences. Three new interdisciplinary programs, the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education (VIIBRE) and the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical biology (VICB) provide exceptional opportunities for highly motivated graduate researchers.

Coursework and Examinations
Prior to class registration, entering students take placement examinations to aid in selecting courses and possibly qualify students to complete some courses by examination. Faculty research supervisors then assist students in selecting courses, which can include offerings from other graduate departments. Students complete at least 24 hours of coursework including 3 seminar hours, normally finishing all coursework within their first 3 semesters. See graduate course offerings in the current VU Grad catalogue.

Students complete General Proficiency Examinations during their first year and a Ph.D. qualifying examination before the end of their second year of graduate study.

Research Requirements
Students select a research director during their first year after completing 3 lab rotations in research groups of their choosing. From their second year onward, students meet semiannually with Academic and Research Monitoring (ARM) Committees, which monitor research progress. Students present their research in annual seminars beginning in their second year. During their fourth year, students present and defend an Independent Research Proposal.

The program design enables students to graduate with a professional degree within 4 years. Students conclude their Ph.D. program when they pass informal and public defenses of research results.

Admissions
The application deadline for admission to our Fall 2008 class is January 15, 2008. We have a very aggressive recruiting process which allows for applications to be reviewed as they are completed. Thus, early application is not only encouraged, but often results in early admission decisions. All applicants are considered for admission with a financial award in the form of either a teaching or research assistantship.

Financial Assistance
Chemistry graduate students receive support as teaching assistants (TAs) or as research assistants (RAs). Both TAs and RAs receive the same, generous, twelve-month stipend including annual incremental increases to this stipend. The Department or faculty research support provides for graduate tuition and an individual health insurance premium. Based upon the incremental stipend, tuition, and health premium increases during the past five years, we anticipate, at minimum, a stipend of $ 21,900 during the 2007/2008 academic year, a 100% tuition waiver of $32,600 per year and paid annual health insurance premiums of approximately $1,938.

Teaching assistants teach two 3-hour undergraduate laboratories per week, hold office hours, and grade laboratory reports and lecture course examinations. This teaching load requires an average of 12 hours of TA duty per week.

Faculty research support provides for RA positions, which usually become available to students after the first year of study.

Merit Awards
All merit awards are available through competitive review. The Department nominates applicants for 4-year awards offered by the Graduate School (University Graduate Fellowship, Harold S. Vanderbilt Graduate Fellowship, Graduate Select Scholarship in Arts and Science, or the Dean's Graduate Fellowship), which add to a student's basic stipend. The Department awards Mitchum Warren Fellowships covering stipend and tuition. The Department also participates in the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program, (funded through the U.S. Department of Education), which includes a service-free stipend plus an allowance for educational expenses and professional travel.