Chemistry

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Degrees:

Master of Science, thesis option only
Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Chemistry

Department Chairperson: Professor Mary T. Berry
Graduate Program Director: Assistant Professor Ranjit Koodali

Program Description

While the ten research faculty span the major sub-disciplines of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic and physical), their work is focused in four core areas that bridge these traditional demarcations: (1) Electrochemistry and Surface Science, (2) Molecular Spectroscopy and Photodynamics, and (3) Organic Synthesis and Chemical Reaction Mechanisms, and (4) Nanoparticles in Catalytic Applications. The department offers a Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry as well as a Master of Science in Chemistry. Graduate students may begin their program at the start of either the fall or the spring semester. Completion of requirements for the M.S. degree in Chemistry generally takes two years for students who enter with the equivalent of an ACS approved B.S. in Chemistry. There is a substantial research component to the program culminating in oral defense of a thesis whose basis is an original contribution to the discipline. The Ph.D. Materials Chemistry is designed to allow students to complete both masters and doctoral requirements within six years.

Graduate Faculty

Mary T. Berry, Professor, Ph.D., University of Virginia. Specialization: Physical Chemistry, Spectroscopy of Small Molecules, and Lanthanide Spectroscopy.

David C. Hawkinson, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University. Specialization: Organic Chemistry, Bioorganic Reaction Mechanisms, Ionization/Evolization of Carbonyl Compounds, and Organic Models of Enzymatic Catalysis.

James D. Hoefelmeyer, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Texas A&M University. Specialization: Inorganic Chemistry

Chaoyang Jiang, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Nanjing University. Specialization: Inorganic Chemistry.

Miles D. Koppang, Professor, Ph.D., University of North Dakota. Specialization: Analytical Chemistry, Electrochemistry as Applied to Bioanalysis, Electron-Transfer Mechanism at Electrodes, and Chemical Education.

Ranjit Koodali, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology. Specialization: Physical Chemistry.

P. Stanley May, Professor, Ph.D., University of Virginia. Specialization: Physical Chemistry, Spectroscopy of Transition Metal and Lanthanide Ions in Solid State, Solid-State Energy Transfer Dynamics, and Multiple Photon Excitation.

Grigoriy A. Sereda, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Moscow State University. Specialization: Organic Chemistry, Synthesis of triptycene systems used as building blocks in the design of novel pharmaceuticals and photodynamic therapy applications.

Andrew G. Sykes, Professor, Ph.D., University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Specialization: Inorganic Chemistry, Luminescent Sensors and X-ray Crystallography.

Joseph E. Vitt, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Iowa State University. Specialization: Analytical Chemistry, Electroanalysis, Analysis of Electrochemical Oscillating Reactions, and Oxidation Mechanisms by Oxygen-Atom Transfer at Electrode Surfaces.

Admission Requirements

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree in Chemistry and satisfaction of additional requirements may be stipulated to provide a course background equivalent to that of an ACS (American Chemical Society) approved major.
• Undergraduate GPA of at least 2.7 or a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• The GRE General test is required for International students only. There is no minimum score required; the score is considered along with the other application materials. International Students are also required to submit a TOEFL score.
• There are other requirements for international applicants.

- Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

For Additional Information

The University of South Dakota
Department of Chemistry
Churchill-Haines, Room 115
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5487
http://www.usd.edu/chemistry

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