Chemistry and Biochemistry
Welcome
As a central and inherently multidisciplinary field, chemistry lies at the heart of some of our society’s most pressing challenges, which include securing the energy to sustainably power our society, improving human health, and maintaining our environment on a global scale. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Delaware offers a diverse and innovative program that is dedicated to equipping the next generation of chemists, scientists, engineers, thinkers and educators with the tools they will need to tackle these 21st century challenges.
Through a combination of classroom education and front-line research endeavors, we provide our students and communities with the tools they need to help improve our world. As a historical leader in the molecular sciences, UD’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has produced generations of academicians, research scientists working in both industrial and government settings, teachers, entrepreneurs, lawyers and policy makers. We continue to build on our history and tradition of excellence by providing our students with a breadth of educational opportunities and problem solving skills that will enable the creation of new knowledge, technologies and innovations at UD and beyond.
Why Chemistry and Biochemistry at UD?
Over 25 research faculty, more than 150 graduate students, dozens of undergraduate researchers, and approaching $10 million in annual research expenditures, we pursue projects that are cutting edge, far-reaching and interdisciplinary.
The Integrated Biology and Chemistry (iBC) course series provides students with the unique opportunity to study the two sciences simultaneously in both introductory courses and labs over two semesters.
100%
of students with a bachelor of arts in chemistry are employed or pursuing further education.
100%
of students with a bachelor of science in biochemistry are employed or pursuing further education.
100%
of students with a master of science in chemistry and biochemistry are employed or pursuing further education.
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_800x420.jpg "Vidhika Damani and assistant professor Laure Kayser inspect a sample of the reversible conductive hydrogel they developed for bioelectronics applications.")
Soft electronics that shape-shift
December 05, 2025 | Written by Hilary HoffmanChemistry professor leads team developing first-of-its-kind conductive hydrogel that can switch between liquid and solid states -
When Membrane Proteins Prefer Lipids
December 04, 2025 | Written by CAS Communication StaffResearch by Edward Lyman, associate professor in the departments of physics and astronomy, as well as chemistry and biochemistry, was published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. -
Innovation in focus
October 28, 2025 | Written by Karen B. RobertsCAS professors named UD innovation ambassadors -
Fresh Fuel for Research
October 23, 2025 | Written by Karen B. RobertsCAS-led COBRE receives grant worth more than $6 million.
Upcoming Events
The Class That Will Stay With Me
As the University of Delaware Class of 2025 gets ready for Commencement, we asked seniors what classes had the biggest impact on them during their Blue Hen career. Senior Luke Coster shares the class that will stay with him after he graduates from UD. Luke received the 2024 American Chemical Society Delaware Section Award and has held several leadership positions on campus.
YouTube link UD 2025 Graduate Luke Coster shares “The Class That Will Stay With Me”: youtube.com/watch?v=xvVHCo3xY-U
TWO-FOR-ONE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
The Integrated Biology and Chemistry (iBC) course series provides students with the unique opportunity to study the two sciences simultaneously in both introductory courses and labs over two semesters.
“Part of this is about making the connections between biology and chemistry early on — to help students not only make those connections, but hold on to those connections,” said, Jacqueline Fajardo, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “That’s the reason we see the benefit of this collaborative project.”
