Welcome to the NC State Department of Chemistry. Our award-winning researchers and teachers guide students through a broad, rigorous curriculum, and our graduates have been highly successful in both academia and industry. Our research programs cover a diverse spectrum including analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, biological, polymers, materials, nanoscience, theoretical, and magnetic resonance.
Contact Information
Undergraduate studies and enrollment assistance:
Graduate studies:
General Inquiries Department Chair:
Dabney Hall, Room 208, Box 8204
2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695-8204
Phone: (919) 515-2355
Fax: (919) 515-5079
News & Events
Upcoming Preliminary and Final Exams
A list of upcoming preliminary and final exams is available. Modified September 28, 2011
Research Experiences for Undergraduates Summer Program now accepting applications
We are pleased to announce we are taking applications for the Summer 2012 Research Experience for Undergraduates Program! March 16th is the final deadline, but we encourage early submission for this highly competitive opportunity. Please go to the REU website for information on how to apply.
Melander group research reduces biofilm threat
The Melander group makes further inroads in the break up of microbial goo. See Chemical and Engineering News story here.
JAMA features biofilm inhibition research from the Melander group
Journal of the American Medical Association features work on inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation performed by NCSU researchers Roberta Worthington and Christian Melander. Full article here.
Professor Ison featured on NBC's Chemistry NOW
Elon Ison has been featured as part of NBC Learn's "Chemistry NOW" series. More info is below, and here is a direct link to the video featuring Elon and his students. Watch the videoModified November 14, 2011
Professor Bowden Recognized as Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Ed Bowden received a Distinguished Alumnus award from Virginia Commonwealth University. He received the award at a banquet in his honor on October 21, 2011. Congratulations Ed!Modified November 11, 2011
NCSU PhDs Launch Successful Business
A Business Week article describes the company started by NCSU PhDs Tiffany Bailey and Tashni-Ann Dubroy. Modified November 11, 2011
Professor Walter Weare Rockets towards the Sun
This video shows Professor Weare's vision for solar energy storage schemes. Forget batteries! They are not efficient enough. Walter wants to store solar energy as a fuel. Watch the video and tell a friend. Modified November 11, 2011
Theoretical Chemists Win Awards at ACS Local Section Conference
Congratulations to David Bowman (Advisor: Elena Jakubikova), on winning an honorable mention of his poster titled "Low-spin vs. High-spin Ground State in Pseudo-Octahedral Iron Complexes" at the NC-ACS Local Section Conference on Friday. Congratulations are also in order for Dr. Takashi Tsuchiya (Former advisor: Jerry Whitten) on winning second prize in the post-doctoral category of posters at the same conference. The title of his poster was "Configuration Interaction Study of the Ground and Excited States of TiO2 Ring Structures." Posted October 3, 2011
Employee Wins Award
Congratulations to Thelma Rhone for winning the Pride of the Wolfpack Award. This award is given to recognize NC State employees for a special or unique contribution to their department, college, or the University. Thelma was nominated for her team spirit and the consideration she shows her coworkers. Posted September 23, 2011
Student Wins Travel Grant
Monica Enamorado, fourth year graduate student, won an ACS Organic Division Travel grant. This is a national award and only one student per department is chosen. Monica presented her paper titled “Five-step Synthesis of (S)-Macrostomine” in the organic division at the ACS meeting in Denver. Her advisor is Professor Comins. Posted September 16, 2011
Bunders wins Eli Lilly Travel Award
Congratulations to Cynthia Bunders who was one of 8 winners of the Women Chemists Committee Eli Lilly travel award! This is a national award given to female undergraduate students, graduate students, or postdocs to travel to a national or major meeting of their choice. Cynthia presented her paper titled “Design, synthesis and bacterial biofilm inhibition evaluation of flustramine inspired small molecules” in the organic division at the ACS meeting in Denver. Her advisor is Christian Melander. Posted September 5, 2011
Leyda Lugo-Morales is awarded a GAANN Fellowship
Leyda Lugo-Morales has been selected to receive a GAANN fellowship in biotechnology. Leyda's fellowship provides 30K to cover stipend, tuition, fees, and benefits. It also provides additional training opportunities and funds for travel. Leyda is a 4th year graduate student in analytical chemistry working in Professor Sombers' labs. Posted September 2, 2011
Monica Enamorado and James Roberts win BASF Fellowships
Monica Enamorado and James Roberts have been selected as recipients of BASF scholarships. The awards come with $5,000 support for the academic Fall/Spring cycle. Monica and James received their awards at a ceremony at BASF in the RTP on August 17th. Monica is a 4th year graduate student in organic chemistry working in Professor Comins’ labs. James is a 4th year graduate student in analytical chemistry working in Professor Sombers' labs. Posted August 25, 2011
Comins Elected President of the International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Professor Comins is President-elect of the International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry. He will serve as President-elect for two years and as President for the period of 2013-15. The International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry (ISHC) was established in August 1968 in the USA by Dr. Raymond N. Castle (1916-1999). The function of the society is to promote heterocyclic chemistry, in particular by serving as the primary sponsoring agency for the International Congress of Heterocyclic Chemistry (ICHC), a large biannual meeting typically attracting up to a thousand participants. Further aims of the ISHC are to honor persons who have made outstanding contributions to the field with two distinguished Awards and the appointment of ISHC Fellows. The ISHC is also actively involved in the publication of Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry (PHC) a major reference work on heterocyclic chemistry. Posted August 2, 2011
Comins Named Honorary Member of Editorial Board
Professor Comins has been named an Honorary Member of the Editorial Board of Reports in Organic Chemistry. This journal is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing original research, reports, reviews and commentaries on all areas of organic chemistry. Professor Comins is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Advances in Heterocyclic Chemistry and is serving as Associate Editor of the Journal of Organic Chemistry. Posted August 2, 2011
Jon Lindsey Awarded 6 Patents in 4th Quarter
Between April 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011, the 4th quarter of fiscal year 2011, Dr. Jon Lindsey was awarded 6 patents out of a total of 14 awarded to the University. Posted July 28, 2011
Dan Comins is awarded his 40th US Patent
Professor Comins and his former Ph.D. student, Dr. Emilie Smith, have been awarded a US Patent entitled “Synthesis of Nicotine Derivatives from Nicotine”. This work came from Comins' laboratories as part of a program designed to synthesize nicotine derivatives as potential pharmaceuticals that may be useful in the treatment of multiple human disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, migraines, depression, pain and others. Related studies in Comins’ labs are directed at converting commercially available (S)-nicotine to useful compounds, such as various pharmaceuticals, insecticides, synthetic intermediates, and ligands for asymmetric synthesis. Professor Comins has over 220 publications including 40 US patents in various areas of organic chemistry and natural product synthesis. Posted June 20, 2011
Gavin Williams to teach CH795B (006)
Fall 2011 Gavin Williams will teach a course on the Chemistry of Life Processes. This course will reveal the chemical principles of engineering biological systems and processes. We begin by describing the molecular structure and organization of biology and the flow of information in living systems. We will then discuss the motivations for engineering biological systems, with an emphasis on chemical applications, and include some historical perspective. Posted June 2, 2011
Departmental Graduation Held May 14, 2011
The department held is 2011 Spring graduation ceremony on May 14, 2011. We have a few photos of the event. Posted May 27, 2011
Kay Sandberg in Top 10 'Tough Love' Professors
Kay Sandberg was recently named one of the country's top 10 "Tough Love" professors by MyEdu, a website that compiled data from 800,000 student ratings at the nation's 777 largest colleges and universities. To make the list, a professor had to be well-regarded by students, but the class average couldn't be above a C. Posted May 19, 2011
Chris Gorman New Chair of Department
Dr. Christopher Gorman has been selected to serve as chair of the Department of Chemistry at NC State University, effective July 1, 2011. Gorman succeeds Morteza Khaledi, who will return to the chemistry faculty after serving two full terms as chairman. Posted April 26, 2011