Undergraduate Chemistry Research

Undergraduate research and mentorship is a fundamental pillar of the chemistry experience at RIT. Chemistry undergraduates learn lab techniques reserved for graduate students at other universities. Grab your lab coat, goggles, and gloves, and get ready to discover!

Chemistry Research Areas

professor with students in chemistry lab

Energy and Environment

biochemistry diagram

Materials Chemistry

female student in chemistry lab

Health and Medicine

faculty at STEM presentation

STEM Education

What Our Students Have to Say


"I like how first-year students can join a research group rather than wait until their third or fourth year. I also like the multiple opportunities to present work at conferences and have your name in publications."

Kaitlyn Clark in chemistry lab
Kaitlyn Clark '19, '22
Read Kaitlyn's Story


"I had little to no idea what research entailed, but with the guidance of faculty, I am now proficient in research. All my mentors have been helpful, including assisting me with my grant and scholarship applications."

Nana Aikins working in chemistry lab
Nana Aikins '21
Read Nana's Story


"My research mentor, Dr. Hans, was a good balance of being hands on and available to answer any questions while allowing me to be an independent researcher and come up with my own solutions and conclusions."

Chelsea Weidman presenting her chemistry poster
Chelsea Wiedman Burke '15
Read Chelsea's Story

What projects are our students working on?

  • Synthesis and Characterization of Gallium Complexes for Monolayer Doping of Silicon
  • FRET-Based Targeted Molecular Imaging Agent for the Photoacoustic Imaging of Breast Cancer
  • Enhanced vesiculation of E. coli in the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics
  • Composition of Volatile Compounds from Rare and Endangered Illicium species, Endemic to Hispaniola
  • Characterization of materials used in clear face masks and of sustainable polymers
  • Synthesis of Bismuth Nanoparticles for Applications in Oncology
  • The Effect of Gamma-B Crystallin Inter-Protein Interactions on Cataract Formation
  • Metal Doped Hematite Nanoparticles for Enhanced Diesel Combustion Efficiency

Stand Out With Your Research

Students who perform undergraduate research stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs and graduate schools.


Present Your Research
Our students present their research at conferences nationwide and at our annual Undergraduate Research Symposium right here on campus.


Resources
From mentoring motivated students in writing their first scientific publication to offering a free poster printing service on campus, we have the resources to help students stand out from the crowd.


Research Scholar Awards
We recognize research excellence among graduating students with our annual Undergraduate Research Scholars Awards and a special ceremony at commencement.

Work with a Professor

Work alongside professors who are experts in their field in state-of-the-art facilities.

Chemistry News

  • November 15, 2023

    graphic with a portrait of Emiliano Brini, assistant professor, College of Science.

    RIT researcher receives NIH funding to help design better drugs

    Emiliano Brini, assistant professor in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science, has received an award from the National Institutes of Health to support his research on building the next generation of drugs. Brini and his team of students will develop computational tools that can predict the strength of the interaction between two proteins and how drugs will modify this interaction.

  • October 30, 2023

    two college students in a classroom reading text on a tablet as a professor and A S L interpreter stand at the front of the room.

    RIT scientists receive grant to expand work on a sign language lexicon for chemistry

    A team of scientists at RIT will expand its work after receiving a large grant from the National Science Foundation to make chemistry more accessible for students who rely on American Sign Language interpreters in class. The team has been awarded nearly $380,000 for its proposal to transform chemistry for deaf and hard-of-hearing students via the design, implementation, and evaluation of a descriptive sign language lexicon.

  • September 8, 2023

    two college professors standing next to each other, both wearing R I T medallions around their necks.

    Two faculty members installed as Harris Endowed Professors in RIT’s College of Science

    Christopher Collison was appointed to the Jane King Harris Endowed Professorship and Emmett Ientilucci was selected for the Gerald W. Harris Endowed Professorship by College of Science Dean Andre Hudson. RIT alumnus Jeffrey Harris ’75 (photographic science and instrumentation) and his partner, Joyce Pratt, established the professorships in 2022 with a generous gift in honor of Harris’s parents, the namesakes of the positions.