Chemistry Ph.D. Degree Program

The primary objective of the Chemistry PhD Program is the development of an individual's ability to perform original, creative scientific research. The program requirements are governed by the chemistry faculty's strong belief that a graduate student is best trained in a research environment. Students are encouraged to begin their thesis work early in their first year.

Selecting a Research Topic

Students are exposed to various research subjects through faculty seminars designed specifically for incoming graduate students as well as individual meetings and seminars given throughout the year by current graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Most students will decide on their research advisor and begin their thesis research by the end of the fall (first) term. Students are required to join a group by end of winter (second) term.

The informal environment at Caltech provides students with a great deal of freedom and flexibility. Many students work on collaborative projects with joint advisors, and a few select a research advisor outside the chemistry option and still obtain a PhD in chemistry.

Seminars

Students have the opportunity to attend a wide range of seminars, from weekly informal group seminars to named lectureships. Graduate students actively participate in the regularly scheduled seminars. These seminars are organized and operated by graduate students who select and invite the speakers as well as arrange appointment schedules. There are also seminar series in physics, biology, and biochemistry that may interest chemistry graduate students.

Teaching

There are no specific teaching requirements, though nearly all graduate students are involved in teaching at some level. Those students who are interested in teaching are encouraged to continue their involvement. Assignments may consist of leading a recitation section in an undergraduate course or acting as an assistant in an undergraduate laboratory course. Advanced graduate students often help with graduate level courses. Class sizes at Caltech are small thus enhancing the teaching experience.

Coursework

Chemistry students are required to complete at least 5 courses (minimum of 9 units each) in science or engineering. These courses may be within or outside the chemistry option. Coursework taken outside of the scientific area in which the dissertation research is performed is encouraged. A wide selection of classes is offered that cover all areas of modern chemistry and chemical engineering as well as interdisciplinary topics such as biological chemistry, environmental science and applied physics. (See Chemistry Course listings)

The research advisor and Chemistry Graduate Study Committee must approve the final program of courses. Alternately a student may pursue a subject minor in another option. Please see the Caltech Catalog for more information on minors.

Candidacy Examination

Each student must demonstrate scientific and professional competence in order to advance to candidacy by the end of his or her second year. Chemistry requires an oral candidacy examination held before three faculty members including the research advisor, a second in-field chemistry faculty member and a third out-of-field faculty member. In the oral examination students defend a written research progress report and two original research propositions, one of which is considered out-of-field.

Thesis Research

A fourth thesis committee member is chosen by the Chemistry Graduate Study Committee after the student consults with their advisor and submits a list of possible candidates at the end of their fourth year of residence.

Before the start of their fifth year of residence students are expected to demonstrate satisfactory progress in their research through an informal meeting with the four members of their thesis committee. A timetable for completion of the degree will be discussed and agreed upon. The mean time to degree is five and one half years.

Thesis and Final Examination

The final examination consists of two parts, a Propositions Defense and a Thesis Seminar and Defense. The Propositions Defense is a separate examination by the thesis committee on three propositions. The Propositions Defense is held at least ten weeks before the Thesis Seminar and Defense. No more than one of the propositions may be carried over from the candidacy examination. The Thesis Seminar and Defense is a public, one-hour presentation followed by a closed-door examination by the committee.

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