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.
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. Etienne Garand, the Physical Chemistry Program Chair, for more information. Or, visit the personal pages of our faculty in the Physical Chemistry Path.
Our Graduate Programs
Physical Faculty
Uwe Bergmann
Position title: Martin L. Perl Endowed Professor in Ultrafast X-Ray Science
Email:
ubergmann
Research Interests: We harness the power of X-rays to investigate nonlinear phenomena and develop new methods, follow chemical reactions and structural changes in real time, and uncover secrets of our natural history and cultural heritage.…
Tim Bertram
Position title: Professor of Chemistry, Affiliate Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Email:
tbertram
Frank Y. Gao
Credentials: Arriving Fall, 2026
Position title: Assistant Professor
Professor Frank Gao will join the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Department of Chemistry as an assistant professor in August of 2026. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical physics from the University of Toronto in…
Samuel H. Gellman
Position title: Irving Shain Chair of Chemistry, 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
EDUCATION B.S. 2001, University of Science and Technology of China Ph.D. 2006, Columbia University Postdoctoral Fellow & Research Associate 2006-2009, Stanford University VIEW PUBLICATIONS RESEARCH DESCRIPTION Our research is in the area of Theoretical Chemistry…
Chad Rienstra
Position title: Evelyn M. Mercer Professor of Biochemistry Co-Director, National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison
Email:
crienstra
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
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
Physical Labs
Bertram Group
Research in the Bertram Group focuses on chemical processes occurring in Earth's atmosphere.
Brunold Group
The Brunold Group investigates the geometric and electronic properties, and thus the reactivity, of metal centers in proteins and cofactors through combined spectroscopic and computational studies of key enzymatic states and synthetic inorganic model complexes.
Cavagnero Group
The Cavagnero Group focuses on understanding the early stages of protein folding and aggregation in the cell, with emphasis on the role of the ribosome, molecular chaperones and prions.
Fredrickson Laboratory
The Fredrickson Lab research aims to elucidate the chemical principles underlying the structures of the solid-state compounds that form upon alloying metals together: intermetallic compounds.
Garand Group
The Garand Group seeks to provide a molecular-level understanding of complex chemical structures, interactions and reaction mechanisms.
Goldsmith Group
The Goldsmith Group is developing new technology for controlling how light interacts with molecules, often at the level of single molecules.
Hamers Group
Research in the Hamers Group lies at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology.
Hermans Group
The Hermans Group is a multidisciplinary team, focusing on both fundamental and applied aspects of sustainable chemistry and catalysis.
Huang Laboratory
The main goal of the Huang Lab is to understand and manipulate biomolecular dynamics by developing and applying novel statistical mechanics-based methods that can bridge the gap between experiments and simulations.
Jin Group
The Jin Group is interested in the chemistry, physics, and technological applications of nanoscale and solid-state materials.
McMahon/Woods Research Group
The McMahon/Woods research program explores fundamental aspects of organic chemistry with the goal of understanding the chemistry that occurs in harsh reaction conditions.
Nathanson Group
Molecular beam-scattering experiments have blossomed into a universal technique for understanding and controlling reactions in the gas phase and on solid surfaces.
Schmidt Group
The Schmidt Group applies computational approaches to study complex materials, often with direct applications to problems of relevance to energy and fuels.
Soley Group
The Soley Group pursues research at the intersection of chemistry, physics, applied mathematics, and computer science with a particular interest in ultracold chemistry, quantum computing algorithms, quantum reflection, and PT symmetry.
Todd Group
The Todd Lab's interest lies in investigating the origins of life on Earth and understanding the implications for the possibility of life on other planets.
Widicus Weaver Group
The Widicus Weaver Group conducts research in the emerging field of prebiotic astrochemistry to investigate the chemical mechanisms in space that lead to the development of biological systems.
Wright Group
The Wright Group focuses on using nonlinear spectroscopy as a tool to study a vast array of different molecular and material states--from low-energy vibrational modes of proteins to excitonic and ionized states of quantum dots and everything in between--and their coherent dynamics.
Yang Group
The Yang Group's research focuses on theoretical and computational chemistry, with two primary areas of interest: 1) developing hardcore theoretical methods in multicomponent quantum chemistry and 2) applying these methods to chemical, biological, and materials systems.
Yethiraj Group
The Yethiraj Group research focuses on theoretical studies of soft condensed matter.
Zanni Group
The Zanni Group studies topics in biophysics and the energy sciences using 2D IR spectroscopy.
Bergmann Group (Affiliate)
The research activities of the Bergmann Group focus on the development and application of novel synchrotron and X-ray laser techniques.
Gilbert Group (Affiliate)
The Gilbert Group investigates these fascinating biominerals, revealed their complex crystal arrangement, discovered how they co-orient all their nanocrystals, and is discovering how they self-sharpen with use.
Hoskins Group (Affiliate)
The Hoskins Group uses highly multidisciplinary approach to studying eukaryotic RNA processing.
Ping Group (Affiliate)
The Ping Group’s research focuses on developing theoretical and computational methods such as many-body perturbation theory and first-principles open quantum dynamics based on density-matrix formalism, to understand and predict materials’ properties including optoelectronic, excitonic, and …
Rienstra Laboratory (Affiliate)
The Rienstra Lab is interested in the development and application of solid-state NMR spectroscopy to protein, lipid and small molecule structure and dynamics.
Schreier Laboratory (Affiliate)
Since most existing chemical processes rely on hydrocarbons as feedstocks and energy carriers, the Schreier Lab employs our understanding of electrochemical interfaces towards developing the science for converting hydrocarbons using electrical energy.
Van Lehn Group (Affiliate)
The Van Lehn Group uses molecular simulations and data-centric methods to characterize, predict, and engineer the behavior of synthetic and biological soft materials for applications relevant to human health, sustainability, and energy.
Yu Group (Affiliate)
The Yu Group studies the solids of organic molecules, with special attention to the different solids of the same molecules.