OpportunitiesDepartment of Chemistry

There are numerous opportunities as a Chemistry student to enhance your learning experience beyond the classroom. By participating in these opportunities, you can expand your scientific knowledge, develop practical skills, and make meaningful connections to your peers and faculty. The combination of classroom learning, research experiences, community engagement, and access to excellent facilities prepares you well for a future career in chemistry and related fields.

Discover the Opportunities with Chemistry

  • Chemistry Club The Gustavus Chemistry Club is a student chapter of the American Chemical Society. Chem Club is a scholarly organization open to chemists and non-chemists alike, and it provides education to the youth of the community, supports research of students, and provides educational programs to the general public by hosting weekly research-orientated seminars.

  • Chemistry Seminar Series The Chemistry Seminar Series brings researchers and professionals in the field of chemistry to campus. The Friday afternoon presentations and discussions are a part of the CHE-399 Chemistry Seminar course yet are open to all students, faculty, and staff. This is an opportunity to ask questions about cutting-edge research, engage in discussions with experts, explore diverse perspectives, and enrich your understanding of chemistry and its industry applications.

  • On-Campus Research There are many opportunities to participate in a research project working with a faculty member outside of class. The Chemistry faculty design their research programs specifically with student participation in mind. Through collaborations with faculty members outside of class during the school year or in the summer, you can actively participate in ongoing research projects.

  • Off-Campus Opportunities The Department faculty also help facilitate off-campus research opportunities for Chemistry students. These experiences can include internships, summer research programs, or collaborations with other institutions. Off-campus research allows you to explore different environments and expand your scientific network while gaining valuable research skills and insights.

  • Community Outreach The Chemistry faculty and students believe it is important to share with and inspire the next generation of scientists. During the year the Department helps host Science on Saturday for grade school kids and Science at Night for high school students. These interactive demonstrations allow Gustie Chemistry students to share their knowledge and spark an interest in science among young learners.

  • Facilities for Learning The Chemistry teaching spaces and research labs are state-of-the-art, collaborative environments. The Instrument Room and other laboratories in Nobel Hall house impressive research tools for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gas and liquid chromatography (GC and LC), mass spectrometry (MS), laser scanning confocal microscopy, and much more. Increasingly, high-throughput experimentation is providing students with opportunities to explore "big data." As a bonus, the labs have a beautiful view overlooking the Minnesota River Valley.