The Bridge to the Chemistry Doctorate Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison aims to increase the diversity and cultural awareness of the Department of Chemistry. This program allows students who are motivated to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, but require additional coursework or research experience to become competitive applicants.
Graduate News
Lamont wins Taylor Teaching Award, 11 win Outstanding Chemistry TA Awards
The UW-Madison Department of Chemistry presented the James W. Taylor Teaching Award to Dr. Liana Lamont, who shared her instructional expertise and philosophy in a talk titled, “General Chemistry Curriculum Redesign – Successes and Challenges.”
WSJ: Clean energy from ammonia: UW discovery a step toward carbon-free economy
UW-Madison scientists have discovered a new way to capture energy from an everyday product that could be a key step to a carbon-free economy. Researchers in professor John Berry’s chemistry lab found that ammonia combined with a catalyst containing the metal ruthenium spontaneously produces nitrogen, releasing electrons that can be siphoned off.
Chemists discover new way to harness energy from ammonia
A research team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has identified a new way to convert ammonia to nitrogen gas through a process that could be a step toward ammonia replacing carbon-based fuels.
The discovery of this technique, which uses a metal catalyst and releases, rather than requires, energy, was reported Nov. 8 in Nature Chemistry and has received a provisional patent from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
An exciting discovery from an incorrect hypothesis
A hypothesis can be a scientists’ best-educated guess about how an experiment might turn out or why they got specific results. Sometimes, they’re not far off from the truth. Other times, they’re wrong. Being wrong isn’t always a bad thing. Often, it means that the researchers get to discover something new and exciting. This exact scenario happened when the Burstyn and Buller lab decided to work together on a project.
Chemistry graduate students use virtual ‘zine to bridge gap between arts and science
Although art and science are commonly viewed as two completely unrelated ventures, over the years, their coexistence has been realized as more compatible than immiscible. Graduate students from the Department of Chemistry, through their recently established art and literary magazine, are advocating for this interdisciplinary approach and the benefits it renders. The Benzine, besides being a great pun, is a platform for the chemistry community to share their art, build a sense of community and alleviate stress.
New nondestructive optical technique reveals the structure of mother-of-pearl
Most people know mother-of-pearl, an iridescent biomineral also called nacre, from buttons, jewelry, instrument inlays and other decorative flourishes. Scientists, too, have admired and marveled at nacre for decades, not only for its beauty and optical properties but because of its exceptional toughness.
UW–Madison to celebrate spring commencement with graduates-only ceremonies at Camp Randall
After a year in which students faced many challenges, University of Wisconsin–Madison leaders are pleased to announce plans to hold in-person commencement ceremonies for spring 2021 graduates at Camp Randall.
The university is planning two ceremonies on Saturday, May 8 — one for undergraduates, the other for all graduate degree candidates.
ACS Bridge Program makes an impact
Mentorship is key to the program’s success in diversifying the chemical sciences.
Collaboration helps UW-Madison Chemists quickly evaluate technologies to clean the air
Individuals and businesses are scrambling to find new ways to protect themselves from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. With this interest, the effectiveness of new technologies that promise to improve indoor air quality has taken center stage. University of Wisconsin–Madison chemists have accepted the challenge of evaluating those technologies and the work is moving quickly, thanks to the lab’s partnership with HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) specialists at Johnson Controls.