The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Chemistry has 40 faculty members, approximately 60 graduate students and n ... early 500 undergraduate chemistry majors. VCU Chemistry ranks in the top 20 nationally in BS degrees in Chemistry. The department has an active research program with approximately $3 million annually in research and educational grants. The Chemistry Department of Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to the dual mission of teaching and research at the bachelor`s, master`s and doctoral level. In teaching, the purpose is to provide high quality education in chemistry to undergraduate as well as graduate students, in preparation for professional careers at all levels. In research, the goals are to advance the science of chemistry, to keep faculty on the forefront of the field, and to maintain an educational program consistent with the latest technology and development of the discipline. Service to the chemical profession is also an important aspect of the department`s activities. The department is committed to excellence in both research and teaching. Its 18 tenured/tenure-eligible faculty actively conduct research in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry as well as chemical biology, chemical physics, and nanoscience. Faculty members have received training and experience at leading universities, industrial laboratories and national research laboratories. Their excellent and diverse backgrounds ensure a graduate program of quality and balance. John B. Fenn, Nobel Laureate 2002, was a member of the Department of Chemistry faculty. The Department has state-of-the-art instrumentation which is used by graduate and undergraduate students in courses and research. Highlights include an NMR facility with 300, 400, and 600 MHz instruments, a mass spectrometry facility with modern Orbitrap and time-of-flight instruments, and access to a world-class surface characterization facility. read more