GL Hall

KU Chemistry

KU Chemistry provides cutting-edge education and research opportunities. Diversity in our research and a strong culture of collegial interaction among the faculty, staff and students has always set us apart. We put a strong premium on interdisciplinary research and the vast majority of our faculty have research collaborations that involve other departments at KU, around the country and abroad.

Gray-Little Hall opened in 2018

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ABOUT

ABOUT

Learn about KU Chemistry, the latest Department news, view a list of upcoming seminars and contact information.
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UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

Explore the academic programs and majors we offer to undergraduate students.
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GRADUATE PROGRAM

GRADUATE PROGRAM

Explore our Top 50 nationally ranked graduate program offering multidisciplinary sciences, collaborations and strong student support.
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Kristin Bowman-James

PEOPLE

The Department's research programs and faculty place KU Chemistry at the leading edge of scientific research in a broad range of areas.
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Research, Alumni & Friends, Resources and Support Chemistry

RESEARCH

RESEARCH

The Department's research programs and faculty place KU Chemistry at the leading edge of scientific research in a broad range of areas.
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Alumni and Friends

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

Help us keep in touch with our KU Chemistry Alumni and Friends.
FOR OUR ALUMNI & FRIENDS
RESOURCES

RESOURCES

Check out our sorted lists of important resources for faculty and staff and students.
RESOURCES
Alumni Celebration

SUPPORT CHEMISTRY

Your generous support enables us to support many of our activities, including graduate student support, undergraduate programs, faculty development, and program and special initiatives.
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By the numbers

Top 40
Ranking in US Graduate Programs for Public Schools
14
NSF Career Awards among active Chemistry Faculty
$437,000
in annual student scholarships

Our Mission

To serve humanity through the education of students and the public, to advance scientific knowledge in the chemical sciences, and to discover new processes and materials that can address challenges in health, energy, and the environment.
Mission Statement

Professor Timothy Jackson named March 2025 Sutton Family Research Impact Award recipient

The Department of Chemistry congratulates Professor Timothy Jackson on receiving the March 2025 Sutton Family Research Impact Award!

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Timothy Jackson

News from the Department

Tim Jackson

Professor Timothy Jackson named March 2025 Sutton Family Research Impact Award recipient

The Department of Chemistry congratulates Professor Timothy Jackson on receiving the March 2025 Sutton Family Research Impact Award! ...

Gray-Little Hall at KU, home to the Department of Chemistry

KU chemistry professor receives NSF CAREER Award for carbon dioxide research

Manar Shoshani, assistant professor of chemistry at KU, received a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation totaling more than $769,000 to further his research on converting carbon dioxide selectively so it can be used to develop valuable products for the energy sector and agrichemical and pharmaceutical industries, among other areas.
Two seated students listen to a standing student giving presentation.

KU Chemistry graduate program retains top 40 rank in 2025-26 U.S. News & World Report rankings

KU has 48 graduate programs in the top 50 among public universities — including 10 programs in the top 10 — in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings.
Lisa Sharpe Elles

Lisa Sharpe Elles named KU Libraries 2025 Textbook Hero

When Lisa Sharpe Elles stands in front of her introductory Chemistry class, the auditorium almost seems to shrink, with her welcoming style, interactive quiz questions, and frequent opportunities for student feedback invoking a small class feel. Sharpe Elles’ goal is to make the course as accessible as possible, a value...

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Brian Laird

The 2024 KU Chemistry alumni magazine is online!



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Three students working in the laboratory.

Support KU Chemistry

The rich research experiences for our students that set KU Chemistry apart from other programs, would not be possible without the generosity of our donors.

Your giving provides opportunities for our talented graduate and undergraduate student and our dedicated faculty to excel in the research lab, classroom, and beyond.

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Vials in the laboratory

Research Areas

The Department's research programs and faculty place KU Chemistry at the leading edge of scientific research in a broad range of areas, including bioanalytical chemistry, nanoscience, spectroscopy, and more.

Research Areas
Faculty Member Steven Soper gives a presentation to a group of alumni.

Award-Winning Faculty

Our highly recognized faculty consists of 29 active faculty, including five distinguished professors. Our faculty members' research is concentrated in a broad range of areas, from bioanalytical chemistry to computational chemistry.

Faculty
The Integrated Science Building from the South side.

Degrees Offered

The Department of Chemistry offers two curriculum degree plans, an American Chemical Society certified BS and also a BA. Ranked in the Top 50 U.S. Graduate Programs for Public Schools, our graduate program offers a Chemistry Ph.D. and MS.

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KU Chemistry Events

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Welcome to KU

Listen to Topher Enneking, a spoken word poet and former KU football player, as he weaves the experience of KU and its traditions through this storytelling and wordplay performance.

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