Department of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University

Graduate degree research has held a central place in the program of Vanderbilt University since it opened in 1875. The first Doctor of Philosophy degree was granted in 1879; the 2,000th in 1975, the University's centennial year. The 3,000th was given in 1985. By way of comparison, the first Ph.D. given by an American university was awarded in 1861, and the second American institution to offer the degree did so in 1870.

Vanderbilt offers to able and serious students a faculty that is active in research and deeply committed to the development of scholars. Students participate in classroom, laboratory, tutorial, and collegial modes of learning and in systematic independent inquiry, in a setting that allows them to see scholars at work, day in and day out, as an important means of learning the scholar's art. Students are in situations in which they are known personally and well, and concern for what happens to them is very strong.

Vanderbilt University chemistry graduate students work in state of the art laboratories 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, well prepared for highly competitive careers in respected research universities, private and public sector laboratories, industry, and in other chemistry-related professions, such as patent law.

As chemical research becomes more sophisticated and interdisciplinary, an increasingly broad range of cross-disciplinary research training is required to advance scientific knowledge. The Department encourages interdisciplinary research through collaborations within the College, University research centers and the Medical School. Interdisciplinary research in chemistry is available with particular emphasis on chemical biology, environmental chemistry, materials chemistry, and nanotechnology. A variety of recently created and existing interdisciplinary programs provide exceptional opportunities for highly motivated graduate researchers: the Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Program (CBI); the Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology (CSB); the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE); the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education (VIIBRE); the Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology (VICB) and the Center for Molecular Toxicology.

Coursework and Examinations
Prior to class registration, entering students take placement examinations to aid in selecting courses and possibly qualify 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 catalog.

Research Requirements
Placement of students into research groups begins in the first year through three research laboratory rotations. Following the final rotation in the first year, the student will select a research advisor during their second semester in residence.

Students complete a Ph.D. qualifying examination, normally within their fifth semester of graduate study. Subsequently, they meet at least once with their Academic and Research Monitoring (ARM) Committee, which monitors their research progress. Students present their research results to date in a departmental seminar scheduled during their third year. During their fourth year, students present and defend an Independent Research Proposal. Students conclude their Ph.D. program with a public final defense of their dissertation.

M.S. Program
Students who pursue an M.S. degree in Chemistry must complete a research thesis approved by two faculty members. The M.S. program of study closely parallels that of the Ph.D. program, thus allowing flexibility in selecting the final degree goal. No financial aid is available for the M.S. program.

Admissions
Interested students should go to the Department of Chemistry apply page

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/Chemistry/apply/

and follow the instructions for completing the application and submitting the required documents.

To be considered, students must officially submit an online application, official transcripts and three letters of recommendation from current or previous research mentors/advisors, instructors or supervisors. Submission of scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required as part of the application. A statement of purpose is highly recommended. International students must also present the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), unless they have earned a degree from an American or English-speaking institution. The application deadline for admission to our Fall class is January 15.

Applications may be reviewed as soon as they are complete. Thus, early application is encouraged, and often results in early recommendations for admission. The Graduate School makes all official decisions regarding admission. There is no application fee for applications completed online.

For further information about our graduate program, please email the Department of Chemistry Graduate Recruiting Office: chemgrad@Vanderbilt.edu

Financial Assistance
All applicants are considered for admission with a financial award in the form of either a teaching assistantship (TA) or research assistantship (RA). Both TAs and RAs receive the same, generous, twelve-month stipend, including annual incremental increases to this stipend. In addition, a full tuition scholarship and an individual health insurance policy are provided. For the 2009/2010 academic year, these awards include a stipend of $23,000.00, Vanderbilt student health service benefits, individual major medical insurance coverage, and a full tuition assistantship or scholarship, a total package valued at over $60,000 per year. Additionally, prospective graduate students are considered for a number of University, College, and Departmental fellowships.

Teaching Assistants typically teach two 3-hour undergraduate laboratories per week, hold office hours, and grade laboratory reports and lecture course examinations. This Teaching Assistantship typically requires an average of 12 hours per week. Faculty research support typically provides for Research Assistant positions, which usually become available to students after the first year of study.

Merit Awards
All applicants to the Graduate School are considered for merit awards, such as Honor scholarships, University Graduate Fellowships, and Provost graduate fellowships, which awards are granted through competitive review. The Department nominates applicants for 5 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. In addition, the Department of Chemistry awards Mitchum Warren Fellowships and Hercules Fellowships, which also add to a student’s basic stipend for the first two years.