Department News and Highlights
From groundbreaking research to real-world applications, our faculty and students are pioneering innovative research and pushing the boundaries of the chemical sciences
Credit: Yilei Wu
Research
The Department of Chemistry covers research in 7 areas: Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry, Chemistry-Biology Interface, Materials Chemistry and
Ben Binhong Lin, Stanford University
Study Tips for Chemistry
Just as you need to take time to practice for sports or learn a foreign language, you need to take time to practice chemistry.
Applying to the Ph.D. Program
Doctoral study in chemistry at Stanford University prepares students for research and teaching careers with diverse emphases in basic, life, medical, physical, energy, materials, and environmental
Creative Shot, Inc.
2024 Commencement
Professor Todd Martinez, the David Mulvane Ehrsam and Edward Curtis Franklin Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Photon Science at SLAC, was the 2024 Commencement Speaker
2025 Stanford Chemistry Commencement
Neal Devaraj, Professor and the Murray Goodman Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) will deliver the 2025 Department of Chemistry Commencement Address.
After completing his undergraduate studies at MIT, Professor Devaraj obtained his PhD in Chemistry at Stanford University, working under the direction of Professors James Collman and Christopher Chidsey. Following a postdoctoral fellowship with Ralph Weissleder at the Harvard Medical School, he returned to Southern California to join the faculty at UCSD.
His research group at UCSD has developed approaches for the in-situ synthesis of synthetic cell membranes by using selective reactions to “stitch” together lipid fragments. This work has enabled the demonstration of self-reproducing lipid compartments and artificial membranes that can remodel their…
Message from the Chair
Fostering a Culture of Respect
"The Department of Chemistry is committed to fostering a respectful workplace culture. We strive to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and fair environment where our staff, faculty, researchers, and students can thrive as they advance new chemical frontiers through research, innovation, collaboration, and scholarship."
Steven G. Boxer
Camille Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry
Chair, Department of Chemistry
Welcome to the Chemistry Department!
The students and faculty in our Department explore a broad range of atomic and molecular systems, create new forms of matter, and develop experimental and theoretical tools to understand and control the behavior of electrons, atoms, molecules and materials – to the benefit of science and society. Some of our research groups focus on core aspects of physical and synthetic chemistry, while others explore open questions at the interface with materials science, energy science, catalysis, neuroscience, chemical biology, and biophysics. We are dedicated to developing the next generation of scholars in the chemical sciences and building an inclusive learning environment.
Our Department is located in close proximity to other Departments in the natural sciences - biology, physics, applied physics, statistics and mathematics - the Schools of Engineering and Medicine, as well many interdisciplinary centers and state-of-the-art shared facilities, making Stanford a rich environment for our students and faculty. SLAC, housing the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lab, the ultra-fast x-ray laser and many other resources, are close by. Our outstanding facilities and beautiful location south of San Francisco provide an exceptional environment for teaching and research.
Recent News
Stanley Qi and W.E. Moerner | Fontejon Photography; L.A. Cicero / Stanford News
Nikolas Liepins / Ethography
