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Chemistry News

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Ceremony to celebrate life of Theodore "Ted" Brown, professor emeritus of chemistry
 The life of Theodore “Ted” Brown, the founding director of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and professor emeritus of Chemistry at Illinois, will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Copper Creek Church, 2202 W. Curtis Road, Champaign.The...
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Majed Fataftah awarded American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund grant
 Looking to nature for inspiration, professor Majed S. Fataftah is exploring new ways to turn carbon waste, like carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, into chemical building blocks that can be used to make valuable materials.To...
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In the news: C&EN special features Prof. Martin Burke's blocc chemistry
 A Chemical & Engineering News feature about new synthetic approaches that are helping chemists build and reshape molecules in entirely new ways features Martin Burke, May and Ving Lee Professor for Chemical Innovation, and Professor of Chemistry, and the blocc chemistry approach developed...
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In the news: Nature features Prof. Zaida Luthey-Schulten's living cell simulation project
 A Nature article about ‘virtual cells’ that turn raw data into predictive models of biology features the work of several research teams, including the living cell simulation project led by Zaida Luthey-Schulten, Murchison-Mallory Endowed Chair in Chemistry....
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Researchers develop new strategy for creating recyclable, high-performance polymers
 Many essential structural materials used in applications including electronics, civil infrastructure and aerospace must be especially strong and durable, but the same chemical properties that give these materials their ideal traits make them difficult to recycle. Wind turbine blades, for...
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Chemistry May 2026 Convocation

Watch a recording of the May 17, 2026, Chemistry Convocation, celebrating graduates from the Department of Chemistry.

Convocation Recording  May 2026 Chemistry Graduates

Research Areas in Chemistry

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Analytical Chemistry

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Chemical Biology

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Inorganic Chemistry

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Materials Chemistry

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Organic Chemistry

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Physical Chemistry
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Chemistry at Illinois: #9 in the nation

The graduate program in Chemistry at Illinois is one of the top programs in the nation and specialty areas are ranked in the Top 10 as well — U.S. News and World Report rankings. Learn how you can pursue an advanced degree in this nationally ranked program and experience the thrill of working on some of the most challenging problems in the chemical sciences.

#4 Analytical / #7 Inorganic / #8 Organic / #9 Physical / #9 Theoretical

 

 

 
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Nobel laureate and alumnus Omar M. Yaghi (PhD, '90)

"Believe in the power of the experiment"

The 12th person from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to win the Nobel Prize, alumnus Omar M. Yaghi (PhD, '90) said it was as a graduate student at Illinois that he learned from his PhD advisor Walter Klemperer how to do rigorous science and become a scientist that can break new ground, not somebody who follows other people’s discoveries. 
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Chemistry courses offer study abroad opportunities

Explore these two courses in the Department of Chemistry that offer short-term study abroad opportunities that will enrich what you learn in the classroom by applying your knowledge to real-world experiences while exploring another part of the world. 
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Chemistry Learning Center

The Chemistry Learning Center (CLC) is an opportunity for all undergraduates enrolled in general chemistry to receive help with homework, meet with teaching assistants and connect with other students taking the same courses. 

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