Welcome to the Department of Chemistry at Portland State University

Please explore this page to get a feel for what exciting research and coursework is ongoing in the department. We are a dynamic and yet very personable department that offers the only Ph.D. degree in Chemistry in beautiful Portland, Oregon.

In addition to the Ph.D., we offer several graduate and undergraduate programs. We specialize in three research areas: biological chemistry, materials chemistry, and environmental chemistry. However our faculty work in almost all areas of modern chemistry and provide our students with rigorous - and individualized - training. Our graduate students have been quite successful in landing jobs in academia, government, or industry. Our undergraduates can pursue ACS-certified degrees in either chemistry or biochemistry to become well prepared for many exciting careers!

Research Areas

• 

  Biological Chemstry

   Research at PSU includes catalytic RNAs, enzymology,  modification of biosynthetic pathways, and antimalarial  compounds. Learn more >
• 

  Environmental Chemstry

   Research at PSU ranges from atmospheric chemistry, renewable  energy, and art conservation. Learn more >
• 

  Materials Chemstry

  Research at PSU spans solar cell studies, biomarker development,  nanotechnologies, and environmental sensors. Learn more >