Department of Chemistry

Graduate

In our graduate program, Ph.D. candidates choose research groups and elective courses based on their individual goals and interests, graduating ready for successful careers in today's changing world.

Graduate

In our graduate program, Ph.D. candidates choose research groups and elective courses based on their individual goals and interests, graduating ready for successful careers in today's changing world.

Brown is committed to student-centered learning. Innovative research in our department laboratories seeks to answer critical questions in molecular behavior and reaction dynamics, the interface of chemistry and human health, and renewable energy and sustainability.

We are now accepting applications for 2027-2028. You may begin the application process here. The application deadline is December 15, 2026.

Virtual Q&A Session

We will be holding a virtual Q&A session for prospective applicants.  Brown Chemistry faculty will be available to answer your questions about our program, research, and program application process.

Please contact us if you have any questions about the Chemistry PhD program at Brown or about applying to graduate school (rose_barreira@brown.edu). 

Why Chemistry at Brown?

  • Competitive stipend and university-paid health insurance benefits
  • Student: faculty ratio of 5 to 1
  • Average time to PhD completion: five years
  • Brown’s Open Graduate Education Program
  • No teaching responsibility for first-year students
  • Five-year guaranteed financial support and annual conference travel funding
  • Active departmental graduate student leadership

Explore our Research Areas

Chemical Biology

Ongoing research at the interface of chemistry and biology includes investigations of natural product biosynthesis, identification of biomarkers for autoimmune diseases, mechanisms of DNA damage and repair, biomimetic catalysis, synthesis of antibiotic building blocks, and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.
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Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry at Brown focuses on organometallics including rare-earth metals, inorganic synthesis, catalysis, carbon dioxide reduction, green chemistry, synthesis of nanomaterials, and the role of inorganic compounds in biological systems. Research in this area reflects collaboration with engineers, organic chemists, and chemical biologists.
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Nano and Materials Chemistry

Research and nano/materials chemistry focuses on nanoparticle synsthesis and characterization, magnetic materials, nanoclusters, quantum dots, nanomedicine and drug delivery, medical imaging, catalysis, and self-assembly.
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Organic Chemistry

Research in organic chemistry includes organic synthesis, green chemistry, chemistry of nucleic acids and enzymes, spectroscopic characterization of reactive intermediates, analytical methods including x-ray diffraction and multi-nuclear NMR, and self-assembly.
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Physical & Theoretical Chemistry

Research in theoretical and experimental physical chemistry includes ultrafast study of reaction dynamics, photoacoustics, applications of chemical physics to medical imaging, novel spectroscopic methods, computational chemistry, quantum chemistry, and molecular interaction in liquids. 
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Apply

If you are interested in applying, please fill out this short questionnaire. We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs. 

Apply to the Chemistry Ph.D. Program: https://apply.graduateschool.brown.edu/portal/gs_app_management

Contact Us

We want to hear from you. For assistance with the application process and all other program questions, please contact Rose Barreira.​

Graduate Resources and Information