Department of Chemistry

Opportunities for Chemistry Majors

There are many opportunities for Duke University Chemistry Majors. Those listed below come from the materials the Department of Undergraduate Studies receives from other universities and business entitites. For more information, see the Chemistry bulletin board across from room 1234 in the French Family Science Center, or click on the link associated with each opportunity.

Areas within this page:

Internships
Summer Research
Graduate Programs

Internships/Careers

Duke Career Center Internship Funding - Internships offer the practical engagement so critical to developing self-awareness, career-field knowledge, confidence, and skills--a critical combination for students making important decisions about their future pursuits. Through the generosity of corporate, individual, and class donors, Duke Career Center is able to offer grants ranging from $600 to $2,500 for students who accept unpaid or low-paying internships.

Piedmont Biofuels - Hands on instruction in the testing of biofuels and biofuel feedstock. For information on how to apply, come to the Undergraduate Studies suite FFSC 1219.

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships, USDOE - The Department of Energy's Office of Science places students in paid internships in Science and Engineering at any of several Department of Energy facilities.

GlaxoSmithKline - A pharmaceutical company which is heavily represented in the Triangle. The link leads to its page for students and recent graduates.

Genentech - A 10 - 12 week summer internship with one of the founders of the biotechnology industry.

Amgen - A summer internship program that provides the opportunity to get hands-on drug discovery experience and work with biochemical pharmacology. Competitive salary and housing benefits available. Enter job number NB50451566 in "Job Search" area of website.

Significant Opportunties in Atmospheric Research and Science (SOARS) - Equal parts research internship, learning community, and mentoring program. SOARS offers comprehensive financial support for summer research and graduate school for up to four years.

NC Space Grant/LORD Summer Internship - The NC Space Grant has partnered with the LORD Corporation to establish a summer internship program to give students real-world experiences in a cutting-edge industrial setting. Selected students will be treated as LORD employees and will spend approximately 10 weeks conducting hands-on research under the supervision of a LORD scientist.  Students will receive $7,000 from LORD and a $2,500 living allowance

Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC) Program, USN - Though perhaps out of place in the Internships section, the United States Navy's NUPOC Program is something that the DUS would like all Chemistry Majors to be aware of. They offer a very generous incentives package. The above link takes you to the Navy's website, but here you can read a straightforward article by a NUPOC recruiter.

Space Career Fair - Information on the Space Foundation's annual career fare.

Summer Research

Summer Research at Duke - Receive a stipend to continue your independent study during the summer.

Nano Undergraduate Education - Study Nano-Scale Science at a research lab at Duke and receive a $2000 stipend upon completion.

University of Pittsburgh Summer Research Fellowship - A ten week program offering housing, travel expenses, and a stipend to students who wish to conduct guided independent research with their Pharmacology and Chemical Biology faculty.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) - Undergraduate students are paired with PhD candidates at German institutions and gain exposure to advanced research as well as life in Germany. Scholarships are provided to cover living expenses.

Recent graduates should click here to learn about DAAD's RISE professional program.

Quantitative and Physical Sciences Undergraduate Research Fellowship, UT Southwestern - An intensive summer research training experience which leads to an understanding of the planning, discipline, and teamwork involved in the pursuit of basic answers to current questions at the interface of quantitative science and basic biomedical research.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows, University of Cincinnati - Get hands-on research experience at a state-of-the-art biomedical research laboratory, study for ten weeks with a stipend for living expenses, and explore topics ranging from molecular biology to animal physiology and behavior.

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience - Here you can find information about studying abroad in the IAESTE United States program. Their Summer 2009 programs include the following research opportunities: EMPOWER:  Engineering for a Sustainable Future (Brazil), and IMPACT:  Advancing Women in Engineering (Ireland).

Amgen Scholars Program, CalTech - The Amgen Scholars program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in such varied areas as: biochemistry, bioinformatics, biospsychology, chemical engineering, chemistry, molecular pharmacology, and physiological psychology. A great opportunity for students interested in pursuing a M.D./Ph.D.

Directed Energy Scholars, Air Force Research Laboratory - Research novel projects designed to advance national military space and directed energy technology. Conducted by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles and Directed Energy Directorates with major facilities in New Mexico, Massachusettes and Hawaii. Also see the link for their Space Scholars program.

Summer Research Opportunity, Penn State University - Spend a summer of research and training in Biomaterials and Bionanotechnology at Penn State.

Summer Research Fellowship, University of Illinois at Chicago - The Departments of Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago offer eleven summer fellowships sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and the Department of Defense (DoD) ASSURE (Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences) Programs.

Research Opportunities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Complete a hands-on research project using state-of-the-art equipment while being mentored by top nationally acclaimed scientists.

National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU)
Program Explanation
Program Websites

American Chemical Society - The ACS's Experiential Programs in Chemistry search engine.

2009 NC ACS Undergraduate Scholarship - The NC section of the ACS awards up to three $4000 scholarships to undergraduate students who will be actively conducting research in the chemical sciences. Click the link for how to apply.

For more help with Summer Research, visit Duke's Undergraduate Research Support Office.

Graduate Programs

Graduate Program in Chemistry, Duke University - The fantastic graduate studies program right here at Duke University.

Biochemistry

Center in Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt - Study with Vanderbilt's departments of Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Medicine, Pathology, and Pharmacology in Nashville, TN.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware - Multidisciplinary research opportunities in Chemistry/Biology at a University located in the center of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Receive a competitive stipend and tuition waiver.

Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Indiana University - Participate in lab rotations and learn with the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Optometry, Psychology, and Physics. On-campus placement services will arrange employment interviews during campus visits by representatives of companies such as Baxter, Dow, Eli Lilly, and Merck. Located in Bloomington, IN.

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, UC San Francisco - Training in the application of molecular, cellular, genetic and biochemical techniques to the investigation of how mammalian cells, tissues, and organs function in health and disease.

Graduate Program, The Rockefeller University - Receive rigorous training in the biomedical and physical sciences and close mentoring by faculty. Rockefeller also offers one of the nation's top M.D./Ph.D. programs with neighboring Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Springs Harbor Laboratories - The Watson Ph.D. program features supportive two-tier mentoring, a first year with course work and laboratory rotations in seperate phases, and a broad representation of the biological sciences. Located on Long Island.

Biological Chemistry Program, University of Utah - A graduate program bringing together more than 40 faculty members from diverse fields. First year students make four laboratory rotations and have no teaching requirement.

Graduate Studies in Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina - South Carolina's degree programs are designed to produce skilled, broadly-educated, and creative scientists. The course and research requirements are flexible and can be tailored to the background and interests of each student.

Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS), University of Michigan - Join a program that helps bring in more than $245 million in NIH grants and study with the University of Michigan's more than 400 faculty members participating in PIBS.

Pharmacology

Pharmacology Ph.D. Program, University of Colorado Denver - An NIH-funded graduate training program where you can study addiction, cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, bioinformatics, signal transduction, and more amidst the Rocky Mountains.

School of Pharmacy, South University - Receive a Doctorate of Pharmacy from one of only five programs in the nation which offer four years of academic study within three calendar years. Features brand new facilities and is located in Decatur, GA.

School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison - One of the top 5 Pharmaceutical Sciences Programs in the nation, the Pharmacy School in Madison focuses on the three core areas of Drug Discovery, Drug Action, and Drug Delivery.

Environmental Chemistry

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, SUNY Albany - Research in environmental chemistry, analytical environmental chemistry, toxicology, and environmental and occupational health at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, NY.

MPA Program in Environmental Science, Columbia University - Experience a hands-on craft approach to teaching public policy and learn the connections between policy intent, program design, organizational capacity, and political feasibility. Located in NYC.

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder - This Graduate Student Fellowship allows students to pursue a mastern's or doctoral degree while working with the world-class research team at NOAA's Earths System Research Laboratory. CIRES has been committed to excellence in Earth system science and teaching since 1967.

Other Chemistry Fields

Polymer Program, University of Connecticut - Conduct interdisciplinary research in nanomaterials, electronic/photonic polymers, biopolymers, DNA, and more at one of New England's top public Universities.

Graduate Program in Chemistry, Brown University - Research opportunities in analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical, and theoretical chemistry. Five years of gauranteed financial support for all graduate students. Located in Providence, RI.

Graduate Program in Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University - Interdisciplinary research at a University with world class facilities and a 9:2 graduate student to faculty ratio. Full stipend and tuition awarded to all admitted Ph.D. students, and a Chemistry Entrepreneurship M.S. program is offered to students intending to combine science with business. Located in Cleveland, OH.

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry Program, Tufts University - Tufts University is large enough to foster stimulating interaction among colleagues and provide research opportunities at the frontiers of science, but small enough to have a very favorable student/faculty ratio. Doctoral students become well acquainted with the faculty and, based on mutual interests, select a research supervisor during their first semester. Formal requirements are minimized to allow students the flexibility to tailor their Ph.D. or M.S. program to meet their individual needs.

Graduate Program in Chemistry, University of Southern California - The USC Graduate Program in Chemistry features a stipend starting at $24,000 and free tuition, plus health insurance coverage and a possible $1,000 to cover expenses involved in moving to Los Angeles.

Graduate Program in Chemistry, University of Michigan - The Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from Michigan represents more than merely the sum of semesters in residence and of credits for courses taken. The degree is granted solely upon evidence of general proficiency and of distinctive attainment in the special field of the candidate.

Graduate Studies in Chemistry, University of Arizona - The University of Arizona offers graduate programs in analytical, organic, physical, inorganic, educational, and biological chemistry with concentrations in such dynamic fields as materials science, surface science, polymer science, gas phase, and interstellar chemistry.

Graduate Program in Chemistry, University of Iowa - Study in state-of-the-art research laboratories, support facilities and classrooms are located in the Chemistry Building and the new Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratory situated along the Iowa River. Unique research opportunities in emerging interdisciplinary areas such as biocatalysis, natural products, materials, surface science, bioinorganic, chemical sensors, environmental and atmospheric chemistry

IGERT Fellowships, University of Tennessee - Receive an Integrative Graduate Education and Reasearch Training Grant through NSF and study in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Sustainable Technology through Advanced Interdisciplinary Research program.

Graduate Studies in Chemistry, University of Virginia - The University of Virginia offers both Pratt Presidential Fellowships. Pratt Fellowships award first-year students $30,000 per year plus tuition and fees, and recipients have substantially reduced teaching responsibilities. Presidential Fellowships will supplement NSF Predoctoral Fellowships to bring total stipends to $30,000 per year.

Ph.D. Program in Science, Technology, and International Affairs, Georgia Tech - Pursue a Ph.D. specializing in Science & Technology politics and policy while studying under Georgia Tech's political science, pysics, chemistry, computer science, and public policy faculty members.

The Industrial Internship Program, University of Oregon - Join a master's program in chemistry featuring concentrated classroom and laboratory instruction with a 9-month paid internship. Earn between $2,000 and $5,400 per month during an internship which has seen 90% of its interns offered permanent employment.

Medical Programs

School of Medicine PhD Program, VCU - Conduct research in immunology, cancer biology, addiction, integrated cell and molecular signaling, cancer immunology, toxicology, structural biology, and more. Earn an M.D./Ph.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program, Easter Virginia Medical School - Conduct research in cancer, cardiovascular biology, diabetes, neuroscience and reproductive biology and follow a personalized program of study in Norfolk, VA.