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
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
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.
Credit: LiPo Ching
2025 Commencement Highlights
Neal Devaraj, Professor and the Murray Goodman Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), was the 2025 Commencement Speaker
Yan Xia Promoted to Full Professor of Chemistry
Yan Xia has been promoted to Full Professor of Chemistry, effective September 1st.
Professor Xia, whose work sits at the interface of chemistry and materials science, creating novel organic materials, was educated at Peking University (BS), McMaster (MS), and Caltech (PhD) and worked at Dow Chemical and MIT before joining the Stanford Chemistry faculty in 2013.
The Xia Group integrates catalysis, organic and polymer chemistry, and advanced characterization to design soft materials with tailored structures and functions for energy-efficient separations, sustainable plastics, electronics, and therapeutics. Highlights include molecular ladder materials with high microporosity and stimuli-responsive, antiaromatic features; polymers with controlled microstructures and programmed degradation; and dynamic polymer networks and hydrogels.
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."
Justin Du Bois
Chair, Department of Chemistry
Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry and, by courtesy,
Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology
Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education
Welcome to the Chemistry Department!
Together, we are a spirited and engaged community of students, postdoctorates, staff, and faculty dedicated to educating the next generation of chemical scientists and driving the frontiers of research. Our community thrives on the energy and creativity of all our members as well as the myriad partnerships we have with others on the Stanford campus and beyond. Research in our department is uncovering the molecular mysteries of nature, revealing fundamental principles that govern molecular structure and function, and advancing bold new innovations that impact society. Our work spans the entirety of the discipline and addresses contemporary problems in analytical, biophysical, materials and energy science, catalysis, chemical biology, microbiology, immunology, and neuroscience. We invite you to visit our website to learn more. Collectively, we are guided by our foundational understanding of atomic and molecular structure and chemical reactivity, along with a bedrock conviction in the transformative power of chemistry to benefit the world.
Recent News
Grant Rotskoff, Yuejun Shen, and Aaron Lindenberg. | Credit: Do Pham; Courtesy Yuejun Shen; Alex Johnson
