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Chemistry News

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Prof. Eric Oldfield still dedicated to teaching and research after 50 years
 Prof. Eric Oldfield has thought about retiring—more than once—but his curiosity continues leading him in new directions to new research projects.“I don't really understand the concept of retiring,” said Oldfield, who just began...
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David Hays (BS, '93) elected to National Academy of Engineering
 After finishing his Ph.D. in chemistry at MIT, Illinois alumnus David Hays (B.S., ’93) was entering a particularly strong job market for chemists, exploring a lot of companies and industries in interviews. Enticed by the freedom to follow his curiosity and explore a huge array of technologies...
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New class of catalysts could dramatically change playing field in nickel catalysis
 URBANA – Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have reported a breakthrough in nickel catalysis that harnesses a rare oxidation state of nickel that has proved challenging to control yet is highly valued for its potential to facilitate important chemical reactions.The...
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Mei Shen featured by ACS journal as rising star in measurement science
Professor Mei Shen was recently featured as a 2025 Rising Star in Measurement Science in a special issue of ACS Measurement Science Au.The Rising Stars annual issue celebrates early-career researchers who are breaking...
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Liviu Mirica selected as a Moore Distinguished Scholar, Somorjai Visiting Miller Professor
Illinois faculty member Liviu Mirica, William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemistry, has recently been selected through three distinguished university programs to focus on developing collaborations toward his research group's interests in developing metal-containing imaging agents for...

Chemistry at Illinois: #9 in the nation

The graduate program in Chemistry at Illinois is one of the top programs in the nation — U.S. News and World Report rankings — and each specialty area is ranked in the Top 10. Learn how you can 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

Your future begins here

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
"Believe in the power of the experiment"

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

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.  

More about Omar Yaghi

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. 

Coffee, Chemistry, and the Community in Panama Natural Products in Costa Rica

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. 

CLC Information & Resources

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