This course will explain in non-mathematical terms how essentially all biological properties are determined by the microscopic chemical properties of proteins. It will also explain how research results, especially those of structural biology, are presented to its various audiences.

The course encompasses the descriptive chemistry, and topics related to, the f-block including the rare earth metals and actinides. Coverage includes coordination chemistry and periodic trends, electronic structure and magnetism, and modern applications of f-block chemistry including lanthanide ions as spectroscopic probes, separations chemistry, materials chemistry and applications, organo-f-element chemistry, the chemistry of the actinides and transactinides, and reactivity/catalysis with f-block compounds.

Ligands have a remarkable ability to alter the properties of metal ions, and the study of this coordination chemistry underlies many modern advances in science, including energy harvesting and storage, chemical catalysis, and sustainability. This course explores the relationships between the identities of ligands and the physical manifestations that result from their binding to metal centers. Topics to be covered include: symmetry and chirality in molecular complexes, variations in coordination number, ligand field effects, recent advanced in bonding theory, and inorganic reaction mechanisms.

This course focuses on current topics in Chemical Biology, particularly experiments in which 1) chemical synthesis enables one to probe or control biological systems, or 2) manipulation of biological systems facilitates novel chemical syntheses. The course is broadly divided into two sections, one dealing with the study of individual proteins and nucleic acids, and one dealing with complex cellular systems. As the goal of the course is to familiarize students with innovative recent experimental approaches and to stimulate them to conceive of their own new methodology, students will be responsible for delivering presentations on topics selected from the literature, designing experiments to address currently unsolved problems in Chemical Biology (in take-home examinations), and generating several novel research proposal ideas, one of which will be elaborated into a full proposal.

This course will include a review of basic reaction mechanisms, stereoelectronic effects, functional groups and acid-base chemistry. The course will emphasize the writing of mechanisms using the curved-arrow notation and organic reactions. Bonding and electronic structure theories and more involved mechanisms will be discussed. Students are expected to have a good working knowledge of reactions, functional groups, stereochemistry and mechanisms from undergraduate organic chemistry. Students will be expected to review basic concepts in Organic Chemistry and spectroscopy. The course will include lectures and recitations, and students are expected to attend and participate.

This course will include a review of basic reaction mechanisms, stereoelectronic effects, functional groups and acid-base chemistry. The course will emphasize the writing of mechanisms using the curved-arrow notation and organic reactions. Bonding and electronic structure theories and more involved mechanisms will be discussed. Students are expected to have a good working knowledge of reactions, functional groups, stereochemistry and mechanisms from undergraduate organic chemistry. Students will be expected to review basic concepts in Organic Chemistry and spectroscopy. The course will include lectures and recitations, and students are expected to attend and participate.

This course examines the basic mathematics needed for physical chemistry, including (but not limited to) a brief review of linear algebra, Fourier transforms, delta functions, optimization, and the residue theorem. Depending on the year, selected other topics will also be included.

This course is for Biological Chemistry PhD students rotating in research labs.

This course is for Biological Chemistry PhD students rotating in research labs.

The ability to communicate original, written research proposals is essential to the modern chemist. This course, for graduate students in the organic and inorganic divisions, will promote development of proposal writing skills. Students will develop original ideas, practice written work, graphic design and peer review. Outcomes of the course will include writing (and submission, when eligible) of an NSF GRFP application and a 'proposed work' section of a candidacy exam report.