Chemistry at Caltech is steeped in a tradition of excellence--alumnus Linus Pauling, awarded the Nobel Prize in 1954, revolutionized the field with his insights into the nature of the chemical bond; alumnus Edwin McMillan was awarded the Nobel in 1951 for his discovery of element 93 (neptunium); and alumnus William Lipscomb won in 1976 for his studies of the structure of boranes. Arnold Beckman, founder of Beckman Instruments, and Gordon Moore, founder of Intel and originator of Moore's Law, both earned their doctoral degrees in chemistry at Caltech.

This tradition continues. Rudolph Marcus (1992 Nobel Prize for his theory of electron transfer in chemical reactions), Ahmed Zewail (1999 Nobel Prize for his study of chemical reactions on the femtosecond timescale), and Robert Grubbs (2005 Nobel Prize for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis), all current faculty members, are part of an illustrious faculty of 37 of whom 14 have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences or the National Academy of Engineering.

Undergraduate and Graduate Education

Our commitment to undergraduate education and small class size allows for frequent one-on-one interaction between students and professors. Undergraduate research and interdisciplinary work are common and encouraged. Interdisciplinary courses are available in such fields as geochemistry and environmental chemistry. Click here for admissions information, and for a description of all of our courses, please click here.

As a Caltech graduate student, you will find that research is at the heart of what we do. Soon after you arrive at Caltech, you will attend a series of orientation seminars that will introduce you to the active research interests of the faculty. Students then talk at length with the faculty members whose fields attract them, eventually developing research programs of mutual interest.

You are welcome to go where your scientific curiosity takes you. Many students develop research interests that cross the boundaries of traditionally separate areas of chemistry. A thesis that involves more than one advisor is not uncommon, and interdisciplinary programs with biology, physics, geology, chemical engineering, environmental engineering and other fields are encouraged.

Information about faculty and their research is available from the CCE Division faculty page. Please click here for information on Chemistry admissions and academics.

An extensive program of seminars will enable students to hear of and discuss notable work in chemical physics, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry and electrochemistry, organometallic chemistry, and biochemistry and biophysics. Please visit our Chemistry and Chemical Engineering seminars page for updates. Graduate students are encouraged to attend seminars in other divisions at Caltech.