Student with Nigel Yarlet in the Haskins Laboratories looking under the hood
Chemistry Department

Faculty-Student Chemistry Research (New York City)

Faculty members are actively engaged in a broad variety of research projects, including:

  • The synthesis of naturally derived compounds to act as antibacterial agents and the modification of fabrics that kill bacteria and fungi on contact (Professor Rizzo)
  • Biochemistry of various parasitic protozoa, particularly human African trypanosomiasis and opportunistic parasites of HIV positive individuals (Professor Yarlett)
  • Ab initio calculations of molecular systems and their spectroscopic properties using Gaussian09. Application of various computer programs including Python Prescription, AutoDockVina, and MGLTools to predict 3D protein structure of enzyme active sites and substrate biding energies (Professor Athanasopoulos)
  • Fluorogenic compounds for use as biomarkers and mercury sensors (Professor Dai)
  • Investigation of factors that lead to increased oxidative and nitrative stress under conditions of inflammation and in disease states (Professor Upmacis)
  • Utilization of nanoparticles in removal of heavy metals in aqueous samples and land pollutants (Professor Mojica)
  • Computational chemistry and allosteric regulation of viral proteases (Professor Deng)
  • Investigating how structural dynamics (protein loop motions) influence the allosteric regulation and thermal adaptation of enzymes (Professor Chang)
  • Understanding and predicting the behavior of fluids at the molecular level and determining their macroscopic properties using techniques such as Molecular Dynamics simulations and developing new methods and algorithms (Professor Lascaris)
  • Investigation of amyloid formation in microbes (Professor Chan)

Student Research and Internships

Undergraduate students have the opportunity to be involved in research projects, which have four major educational goals:

  • Stimulating students interest in chemistry through research projects in contemporary issues
  • Providing students with the opportunity to apply modern instrumentation in experimental investigations
  • Fostering collaborative interaction among students
  • Encouraging students to pursue careers in the discipline of chemistry

Qualified students are encouraged to participate as early as the sophomore year in the research conducted by department faculty in such areas as synthesis of bioactive molecules, development of intracellular probes, molecular modeling, biochemical parasitology, just to name a few. During the academic year students can pursue research (for credit) in the department as well as an affiliated research laboratory. Particularly well qualified students compete successfully for prestigious external fellowships from the Goldwater and Beckman Foundations, Pfizer Corporation, as well as the Dyson College Undergraduate Student-Faculty Research Initiative to support their research work in the department. Qualified students who complete a significant body of research work have the opportunity to prepare their research for presentation at a national or international conference.

Below is a list of just a few available internships for graduates and undergraduates.

On-campus Opportunities

Our researchers carry out studies in a number of areas, providing a research-intensive learning environment by supporting the integration of research with chemistry, physics, and biochemistry courses into the undergraduate curriculum. Several Department of Chemistry faculty members engage in scholarly research with undergraduate students. Many of the faculty have extramural funding and continually publish in peer reviewed scientific journals with undergraduate student authors.