Undergraduate Research

Preparing for your future...there is no better way to prepare for work or graduate studies in the sciences than to participate in real-world chemical research. Undergraduate research gives student the opportunity to use their textbook knowledge for scientific inquiry, develop critical thinking skills, and experience the real wonders of scientific discovery.

Finding a research project involves either joining an established research group currently functioning in the department, or finding a suitable faculty adviser for an independent project of your own design. Students who are interested in pursuing research have several options available to them, including:

• CHEM 498/CHEM 499H, Research
• URAP (Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program) - A program that provides an opportunity for NIU Undergraduates to work one-on-one with faculty members on their cutting-edge research projects.
• USOAR (Undergraduate Special Opportunities in Artistry and Research Program) - A program that uses university funds to fund student-generated research projects, whether the study is conducted on campus, somewhere else in the United States or overseas.

Graduate Research

Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry experience a wide range of research opportunities -- from working with a single faculty advisor in the traditional areas of chemistry, through highly interdisciplinary and collaborative projects.

Not only do our faculty research interests span across the traditional areas of chemistry, but also across other sciences, including biology, physics, and environmental sciences.  Many of our faculty are actively involved with collaborative research centers, such as the Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Studies (CBBS) and the Institute for Nano Science, Engineering, and Technology (InSET).

Faculty Research

• Research & Faculty List 
• Snapshot of Faculty Research Interests (pdf)

Research Centers

• The Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Studies (CBBS)
• The Institute for Nano Science, Engineering, and Technology (InSET)
• Proposed Proton Therapy Facility