Graduate Studies : Fields of Concentration
Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the investigation of the separation, detection, identification and quantification of atomic, molecular, and ionic species. At Cornell, our interests encompass the self-assembly of molecules on electrodes, the nutritional uptake of fatty acids, the molecular structure of spider silk, the transport of calcium in human cells, the distribution of defects in novel electronic devices, and the identification of sequencing errors in DNA. These investigations use many experimental techniques, including scanned probe microscopies, high-resolution mass spectrometry, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and synchrotron-based surface studies. In addition, there is opportunity for collaboration with colleagues in physics, materials science, engineering and biology.
Bioorganic Chemistry
Bioorganic chemistry applies the principles and techniques of organic chemistry to solve problems of biological relevance or takes inspiration from biology to develop new chemical processes. Cornell bioorganic chemists emphasize chemical and molecular approaches to solving important biological problems. Research areas include the application of synthetic and physical organic chemistry to the study of enzymes, metabolic pathways, and nucleic acids. This includes the development of mechanism-based enzyme inhibitors; elucidation of enzyme mechanism and structure, and studies of coenzyme reactivity. Chemical investigations are extended to studies of receptor recognition, hormone and drug activity, and the mechanism of chemical communicants such as pheromones. Ultimately, insights from biology are taken to develop catalysts that mimic enzymes and coenzymes.
Biophysical Chemistry
Biophysical chemistry studies the properties of biological molecules along with the principles and methods of physics and physical chemistry. Experimentation and computation combine at Cornell to probe the structure, dynamics, interactions, and functions of individual biological macromolecules and supramolecular complexes. Primary biological conformational processes such as protein folding, protein dynamics, and binding are addressed by theoretical methods and experiments. X-ray crystallography determines structures of biologically active molecules such as anti-tumor agents, immunosuppressents, and protein complexes. Fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopy, and flow cytometry measure ligand binding and the structural interactions of cell surface receptors and lipids critical for signal transduction during immune responses and carcinogenesis. Laser photolysis techniques are used to study electron transfer reactions and release photolabile ligands for triggering receptors in nerve cells. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy allows investigation of the dynamics of membranes and protein-lipid interactions.
Chemical Biology
We define chemical biology
as the application of chemistry to the study of molecular events
in biological systems. This broad interdisciplinary interpretation
encompasses well-established divisions of chemistry such as bioorganic,
biophysical, bioanalytical, bioinorganic and biochemistry and
is supported and further enhanced by the highly interdisciplinary
and collaborative research environment in the life sciences at
Cornell. (http://vivo.library.cornell.edu/).
Please follow the link http://www.chem.cornell.edu/grad/chemicalbiology.html
for more details including resources, courses, and faculty.
Inorganic Chemistry
The breadth of modern inorganic chemistry is reflected in the research interests of Cornell’s faculty. Solution studies of coordination compounds, organometallic complexes, and bioinorganic molecules are complemented by investigations of solid-state materials and theoretical models. Programs in inorganic synthesis prepare and characterize transition metal and main group compounds for the synthesis of polymers as well as for the activation of otherwise inert molecules such as N2 and alkanes. Research of solid-state inorganic materials focuses on novel low dimensional compounds and the preparation of ceramics with desirable physical and electronic properties. Biological studies on the relationship between protein structure and long-range electron transfer as well as the role of metalloenzymes in catalysis are also under investigation.
Materials Chemistry
Materials science at Cornell has a continuing tradition of excellence from both an engineering and a chemical perspective. The field of Chemistry and Chemical Biology has thriving research programs in experimental and theoretical materials chemistry from inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry perspectives. This strength in materials research is fostered through many centers including:
Cornell NanoScale Facility (CNF),
Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR),
Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC), and
Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS)..
The combination of an excellent faculty and cutting-edge facilities makes Cornell Chemistry an unparalleled environment to conduct materials-related chemistry.
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the cornerstone of many sub-disciplines including bioorganic, polymer, organic materials, organometallic, and physical organic chemistry. Cornell offers expertise in all major sub-disciplines of organic chemistry. A casual glance at the research programs of Cornell organic chemists reveals a particularly strong theme in understanding reaction mechanism. In addition, the organic chemists have strong affiliations with the chemical biologists as well as with members of other disciplines on campus including material science, chemical engineering, catalysis, and molecular and cell biology.
Physical Chemistry
Investigations in physical chemistry combine the tools of physics, chemistry, and mathematics to uncover information about processes ranging from the immune response of the body to the structure and reactivity of semiconductor surfaces, from the dynamic motion of proteins to quantum control of chemical reactions, and from the chemistry of the atmosphere to the chemistry of polymeric electronics. Our studies use many techniques, including molecular beams, NMR and ESR spectroscopies, scanning tunneling microscopy, flow cytometry, and Raman, non-linear, femtosecond and other laser-based spectroscopies. Our research is greatly enriched by our extensive shared facilities, including the
Cornell NanoScale Facility (CNF) and the Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), as well as collaborations
with colleagues in physics, engineering, biology, and other research areas.
Polymer Chemistry
Polymer chemistry research at Cornell is geared to a fundamental understanding of polymer systems ranging from fully biological to synthetic macromolecules. Our extensive experimental studies, coupled with theoretical work on the polymer conformation of such complex biomolecules as proteins, shed light on the actions and properties of macromolecules and broaden our understanding of new synthetic systems. In studies of polymer synthesis we have designed a broad spectrum of new polymeric materials, both organic and inorganic, with unique architectures significant for emerging technologies. New experimental techniques and sophisticated instrumentation teach us about phenomena occurring at polymer surfaces and interfaces and how polymers diffuse or fracture. These advances in the understanding of polymer systems, their bonding, and their dynamics signal a fascinating future for polymer studies at Cornell.
Theoretical Chemistry
Theoretical chemistry is the examination of the structural and dynamic properties of molecules and molecular materials using the tools of quantum chemistry, equilibrium and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, and dynamics. Molecular orbital calculations applied to organic and inorganic molecules, solids, and surfaces have illuminated profound connections between inorganic and organic chemistry and solid-state physics. Statistical mechanical studies of phase transitions, critical phenomena, and interfaces are yielding a fundamental understanding of porous media, microemulsions and polymer solutions. Investigations of energy flow in vibrationally excited molecules contribute to a microscopic understanding of chemical reactivity. Important advances have been made in predicting the structure and dynamics of biomolecules, simulating and interpreting spectroscopic lineshapes, assessing traditional models of chemical kinetics, and predicting chemical reactivity by ab initio methods.
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