Chemistry
Students and faculty in the Ph.D. program in Chemistry harness the transformational power of chemistry to solve important societal challenges.
Request InformationDegree Offered
Ph.D. in Chemistry
Full Time
Admissions Deadlines
January 1 for fall enrollment
(No spring enrollment)
The Ph.D. Program in Chemistry at the Graduate Center is a collaboration of over 120 faculty at seven CUNY colleges and the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center creating new knowledge at the forefront of the chemical enterprise centered in the world’s most dynamic city. As the central science, chemistry is at the nexus of important societal challenges. Our faculty and students see these challenges as opportunities to creatively harness the transformational power of chemistry to affect solutions.
The culture of CUNY involves smaller research groups than at other New York City institutions which allows for greater mentoring and interaction with faculty. The scale of CUNY provides both access to state of the art facilities and a rich diversity of expertise for chemical research.
If you are interested in applying to the Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, we invite you to contact the program via email, register for our virtual information sessions, and view our orientation video which offers an introduction and overview of our application process (also available in Espanol, Français, Polska).
Program Structure
Specialize Your Studies
All students entering the program are required to take a range of courses chosen to insure both a broad background in chemistry and a detailed knowledge of their chosen specialty. Students may specialize in one of seven sub-disciplines: analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, nanotechnology and materials science, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer chemistry, and molecular biophysics.
Curriculum Information
Financial Support for Current Students
Rose Kfar Rose Dissertation Award
The Rose K. Rose Dissertation Award is available to Chemistry doctoral students in their last year of studies. Students that apply to the Graduate Center Dissertation Fellowship competition are considered for the Rose K. Rose award and selected by the program’s Executive Officer, in consultation with the Executive Committee.
Learn more about the Rose K. Rose AwardParticipating CUNY Colleges
The Ph.D. in Chemistry is administered by the CUNY Graduate Center with the doctoral faculty being drawn principally from CUNY colleges. The consortial nature of the program provides students with the best instructors for their courses, the widest range of mentors for their thesis research, and a rich and diverse faculty to assist them in their research endeavors.
Chemistry Spotlights
Our Sciences Spotlight series profiles students, faculty, and alumni associated with GC Sciences programs. Learn about our community:
Student: Roxana Piotrowska
Piotrowska's Ph.D. work focuses on elucidating mechanisms of water-responsive materials for evaporation energy harvesting.
Faculty: Ryan Williams
Williams' research is focused on the design of nanotechnologies to understand, diagnose, and treat human disease.
Alumni: Daniel Valles
Valles serves as an experienced polymer chemists who provides the highest level of expertise utilizing innovative production and development technologies.
Latest News
Apr 21, 2023
The Ohio Train Derailment and its Toxic Aftermath
A discussion about plastics, vinyl chloride, and the chemical fallout of the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
- GC Stories
- Faculty News
Dec 14, 2022
10 Riveting Science Stories From 2022
Graduate Center faculty, students, and alumni blaze red-hot trails in science.
- GC Stories
- Faculty News
- Alumni News
Dec 7, 2022
Here are the Grad Center Stories YOU Were Most Interested in This Year
These are the stories that our community read the most in 2022.
- GC Stories
- Faculty News
- Student News
- Alumni News
Nov 29, 2022
Applications Now Open for NanoBioNYC Traineeship Program
The program is open to CUNY Ph.D. students in STEM who are interested in bio-inspired nanoscience research.
Updates and Announcements
More Like This
Electrochemical Society Fellowship Goes to Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate
Congratulations to Chemistry Ph.D. candidate Rui Jia, who was awarded the 2022 H. H. Uhlig Fellowship of The Electrochemical Society. The fellowship provides $5,000 for summer research.
- Congratulations/Kudos
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