The Ph.D. in Chemistry

Florida Tech's diversified learning environment gives students an academic community not often found at other graduate chemistry programs. Fieldwork, faculty-led research opportunities, internships and assistantships, peer networking, and one-on-one professor mentorship combine to create a truly unique learning experience that prepares students for success.

A Program of Excellence

The department has strong professional ties to Kennedy Space Center and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, which results in more opportunities for students. In addition, Florida Tech chemistry PhD students are often published researchers, with their work showcased in industry journals.

Dedicated, Experienced Faculty

A big reason student's choose Florida Tech for a PhD in chemistry is the experienced staff of professors, who mentor students and provide a close-knit learning environment not possible at larger universities. This professional environment gives professors a chance to include students in their own research, steering students to engage in the type of important topics that can contribute to the industry; these mentors bring their years of industry knowledge in such areas as disease pathology, neurological disorders, the design and application of nanomaterials, and more. External collaborations and internships occasionally lead to international travel for dedicated industry research.

Professors at Florida Tech work hand-in-hand with doctoral students to develop chemistry research experiences that concentrate on topical issues in chemistry. This often leads to meaningful contributions to the industry by Florida Tech students. Topics include:

• Degenerative disease approaches
• Disease pathology
• Neurological disorders
• Vision
• DNA Analysis and chromosome replication
• Plant molecular biology
• Biotechnology
• Counter-measures for biological threat agents
• Design and application of nanomaterials
• Toxicology
• Cancer research

State-of-the-Art, Advanced Research Laboratories and Facilities

Laboratories and facilities are an important facet of chemistry graduate programs. As a top-tier research university, Florida Tech provides the type of advanced technology chemistry students need to conduct advanced, innovative research, including spectrometers, high-resolution microscopy, photochemistry, and computational chemistry equipment. The F.W. Olin Physical Sciences Center is 70,000 square feet of research and teaching labs, including:

• Research laboratories
• Teaching laboratories
• Conference facilities
• Instrumentation rooms
• NMR facility with two NMR spectrometers (400 and 60 MHz)
• DART (Direct Analysis in Real Time) spectrometer
• Atomic force microscopy
• Scanning tunneling microscopy
• Scanning emission microscopy
• Laser-scanning confocal microscopy
• Photochemistry
• Glassblowing
• Computational chemistry

The Nanoscience–Nanotechnology Lab was recently developed by chemical engineering and chemistry faculty with grants from the National Science Foundation, and is already a valuable asset to the students at Florida Tech.

Diverse Career Potential

With a PhD in chemistry from Florida Tech, graduates are prepared for a diverse range of careers including pharmaceutical, medical, academic and private industries such as manufacturing, alternative energy, food chemistry and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in chemistry have a promising growth rate of 6% through 2022. Employers that have recruited Florida Tech graduates include Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Florida Solar Energy Center, Merck & Company, Motorola, NASA, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and Sherwin Williams.