Welcome
Research
Graduate and undergraduate students and postdoctoral fellows collaborate with faculty and staff on research spanning all of the chemical sciences. We frequently collaborate across groups within the department, across campus, across states, and even across countries.
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Chemistry is ranked very highly in all recent national rankings of graduate programs. We offer a doctor of philosophy in chemistry, a master of science in chemistry, and the Bridge to the Doctorate program in conjunction with the American Chemical Society. GRE is NOT required for fall 2021 admission.
Undergraduate
The undergraduate chemistry major leads to a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts degree awarded by the College of Letters & Science. The curriculum provides excellent preparation in chemistry, along with a wide breadth of liberal arts coursework.
At the UW-Madison Department of Chemistry, world-class education and groundbreaking research go hand-in-hand to provide a collaborative and innovative environment for the thousands of students, faculty, and staff that we serve.
About the Department of Chemistry >>
Featured News
A “Raincoat” Protects Lead-Free Solar Cells From the Elements
UW–Madison Department of Chemistry researchers design a more durable tin-based material to replace toxic lead while achieving high solar-cell efficiency One drawback of most solar cells made with efficiency-boosting perovskite is the presence …
September 8, 2026UW chemists find a new way around a long-established limitation to electron transfer selectivity
By Kimberly Hazen Chemists use complex compounds to create life-saving medicines, build advanced high-tech materials, and mimic natural biological systems. To make more complex compounds, synthetic chemists have relied on single-electron transfer as one of …
July 24, 2026Governor Evers Proclaims Chemistry Education Week in Wisconsin
Governor Tony Evers has officially proclaimed July 26–August 1, 2026, as Chemistry Education Week in Wisconsin, recognizing the essential role of chemistry education in advancing science, innovation, sustainability, and economic growth throughout the state. The …
July 8, 2026Exploring the interplay of molecular shape and drug activity
When many of us think of how drugs work in the body, we may first think of how a drug gets into the body, such as a pill versus an injection. In the Gellman Group …
June 18, 2026- More Featured News Posts
Awards
Professor Helen Blackwell elected member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (AAAS) announced its newest members – the 252 leaders in academia, the arts, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy, research, and science elected in 2026, …
Professor Randall Goldsmith wins 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship
Professor Randall Goldsmith of the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Chemistry has been named a Guggenheim Fellow by the Board of Trustees of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. The board made its announcement this …
UW–Madison Department of Chemistry alum Lauren Fields Joins Elite 2026 Schmidt Science Fellows Cohort
When the 2026 cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows was announced this spring, it included just 32 early‑career scientists selected from institutions around the world—researchers recognized not only for excellence in their doctoral work, but for …
Department members honored for excellence in teaching
Professor Ryan Stowe has won the 2026 Taylor Award for Teaching Excellence. Professor Stowe was honored at the Taylor Teaching Award Symposium and presented a talk entitled “Stepping-stones toward coherent and useful chemistry learning“ on …
- More Awards & Honors posts
