Chemistry & Biochemistry

The WPI Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry (CBC) offers an interdisciplinary culture, a focus on practical problem solving, and a close one-on-one mentorship from world-class faculty that put students at the center of groundbreaking research impacting human health, society, and environment.

Our programs balance rigorous theory with practical applications, equipping students with the hands-on experience and innovative mindset that prepares them to solve real-world problems with ease. Students collaborate with faculty members and industry professionals in state-of- the-art facilities like our Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center, a thriving research and business complex that promotes interdisciplinary research

Degree is also offered online.
Area of Study Bachelor Minor Master PhD
Biochemistry bachelor minor master phd
Chemistry bachelor minor master phd
Preview MQP PPD 2022

Undergraduate Research Projects Showcase

A celebration of research, design, and creative theses—a requirement of every graduating senior through the Major Qualifying Project (MQP)—takes place each spring on campus. Student teams representing all academic departments present their work to their faculty advisors, external sponsors, and the community-at-large, and the public is invited.

Preview 2024 President's IQP Award Winners

Biochemistry Students Are the 2024 President's IQP Award Winners

A huge congratulations to Peter Allen (BC) and Annabelle Mullins (BC), as their IQP team was awarded the 2024 President's IQP Award. The President's IQP awards are given to student teams whose conception, performance, and presentation of their Interactive Qualifying Projects (IQPs) have been judged outstanding in focusing on the relationships among science, technology, and the needs of society. This group's IQP titled, "How Bazar? Creating Interactive Media to Promote Community Building" took place emersed in Lyon, France. Congratulations to all in this incredible IQP team!

Exciting CBC Spotlights

Meet Our New Adjunct Faculty
Welcome Our Amazing New Faculty!

Welcome! New Chemistry Adjunct Faculty!

WPI’s Graduate & Professional Studies is excited to welcome new adjunct faculty members, bringing their expertise and industry experience to our online chemistry graduate program. These accomplished faculty members will be leading courses that blend rigorous academics with real-world applications, ensuring our students gain the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their careers. With their leadership, our students will gain invaluable insights into drug safety, regulatory science, medicinal chemistry, and emerging fields like cannabis chemistry. We’re thrilled to have them on board and look forward to the impact they’ll make in our program!

CBC Students Spend Wellness Day Embroidering

WPI embraces wellness days throughout the academic calendar as days to reflect, relax, reconnect, and reenergize as individuals and as a campus community. These are days for our community to focus on supporting and caring for our students as well as each other. Chemistry and Biochemistry students spent their recent wellness day embroidering their favorite molecules as a way to relax and spend time with their friends and classmates!

CBC Wellness Day

Lifesaving Treatments

In his busy lab, José Argüello, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, is studying the biochemical ballet by which cells transport metal micronutrients, such as copper, zinc, cobalt, and iron, across their membranes and to the sites where they play fundamental roles.

Preventing Disease

Toxic proteins are at the root of many diseases, so pharmaceutical companies look for compounds called ligands that will bind tightly to these proteins and deactivate them. George Kaminski, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has developed powerful new computational tools that will make the search faster and more precise.

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Alumni Success Stories

Science, Data & the Pandemic: Marni Hall ’97

 Marni Hall, an authority on real-world evidence who double majored in chemistry and science, technology, and policy studies during her time at WPI, is helping the nation—and the world—respond to COVID-19.

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Alumni Success Stories

The Path Less Traveled: Hilary Stinnett Adragna ’09

For Hilary Stinnett Adragna, a biochemistry major, the road to her post at The Estée Lauder Companies has been anything but linear. And that has made all the difference.

More from the WPI Journal

woman in a lab

Breaking New Ground for Women's Health

With Opal Therapeutics, Morgan Stanton, PhD ’14, accelerates the development of new treatments for gynecological diseases and disorders.

Meet Our Students

Jackson Nguyen '26
Jackson Nguyen '26
BS in Biochemistry

Pre-med student, Jackson, discovers ways he can find his community on campus and prepare for a career in the health sciences.  [...]

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Accreditation

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has accredited the Chemistry & Biochemistry department for a major in chemistry. The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has accredited the Chemistry & Biochemistry department for a major in biochemistry.

Career Outlook

Today’s fast-paced research requires chemists and biochemists who can hit the ground running. With their emphasis on hands-on learning and practical applications, WPI’s Chemistry & Biochemistry programs prepare students to transition seamlessly to meet such real-world challenges. Our graduates can be found everywhere, from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups and academia.

Spreading the Word

Suzanne Scarlata, the inaugural Richard T. Whitcomb Professor of Biochemistry, is president of the Biophysical Society, with over 9,000 global members. Her goals in the new role include efforts to establish a more stable U.S. research funding system, spreading the word about the biochemical and physical science realm of WPI, and forging more community collaborations with groups like UMass Medical School.