Physical chemistry is the study of chemical systems at the molecular and macroscopic level using the methods of physics. It forms a bridge between chemistry and other disciplines such as materials science, chemical engineering, biochemistry, and physics. Physical Chemistry at UW-Madison encompasses a wide swath of topics that share a commonality of understanding molecular properties. Topics include the theoretical and experimental study of:
- Laser spectroscopy of materials, clusters, and interstellar molecules.
- Dynamics and structures of glasses.
- Ultrafast spectroscopy of chemical and biological systems.
- Structure and dynamics of biomolecules and chemical catalysts
- Protein folding and aggregation in the cell, thermodynamic and kinetic effect of cosolutes in complex media.
- The electronic structure of materials and small molecules.
- Nanophotonic devices and their interactions with molecules.
- Molecular spectroscopy in interstellar media, origins of life.
Students in the Physical Chemistry path learn the fundamentals behind quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and based on their specific interests, biophysics, material science, or reaction dynamics, to name a few topics of interest. Physical Chemistry students are free to pursue their PhD with any faculty member in the Department, as well as in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, and other departments on campus.
Physical chemistry at Madison also houses the Theoretical Chemistry Institute (TCI), which is a center formed by the theoretical faculty in Chemistry that use analytical and computational methods to study topics in chemistry. Learn about the Theoretical Chemistry Institute.
Chemistry at UW-Madison is top-notch, while also promoting an engaging and supportive environment. Graduates of the Physical Chemistry path have gone one to careers in academics, industry, consulting, teaching, law, and many other long-term careers. Feel free to contact the Graduate Program Office, or Prof. Martin Zanni, the Physical Chemistry Program Chair, for more information. Or, visit the personal pages of our faculty in the Pchem Path.
Contacts:
Physical chemistry path chair
Prof. J.R. Schmidt
Graduate Program Coordinator
N/a
Graduate Program Director
Francisca Jofre
Our Graduate Programs
Physical Faculty
Tim Bertram
Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Affiliate Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Email:
tbertram
Samuel H. Gellman
Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Vilas Research Professor, Ralph F. Hirschmann Professor of Chemistry
Email:
gellman
Pupa Gilbert
Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Physics
Email:
pupa
Robert J. Hamers
Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Steenbock Professor of Physical Science
Email:
rjhamers
Xuhui Huang
Credentials: Director, Theoretical Chemistry Institute
Position title: Hirschfelder Chair in Theoretical Chemistry, Professor of Chemistry
Email:
xhuang448
Our research is in the area of Theoretical Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics. The operation of biological molecules is a highly dynamic process that relies on numerous functional conformational changes. We are interested in elucidating the dynamics of these conformational changes by developing new methods based on statistical mechanics that can bridge the gap between experiments and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
JR Schmidt
Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Associate Chair for the Undergraduate Program
Email:
schmidt
Marcel Schreier
Position title: Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry
Email:
mschreier2
Reid Van Lehn
Position title: Associate Professor
Email:
vanlehn
B.S. and Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Position title: Hunt-Hougen Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering Associate Professor of Chemistry Reid is the Hunt-Hougen Associate Professor in the Department of…
James C. Weisshaar
Position title: Richard J. Burke Professor of Chemistry
Email:
weisshaar
Susanna Widicus Weaver
Position title: Vozza Professor of Chemistry and Astronomy
Email:
slww
John C. Wright
Position title: Andreas C. Albrecht Professor of Chemistry
Email:
wright
Arun Yethiraj
Position title: V. W. Meloche-Bascom Professor of Chemistry
Email:
yethiraj
Lian Yu
Position title: Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry
Email:
lyu
Martin T. Zanni
Position title: V. W. Meloche-Bascom Professor of Chemistry
Email:
zanni