Chemistry & Biochemistry
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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
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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.
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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
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Dr. Rong Wang
Rong Wang Named John C. Metzger Jr. Professor and Department Head in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Rong Wang, a distinguished researcher focused on the intersection of material science, biochemistry, bioengineering, and nanotechnology, has joined WPI as the John C. Metzger Jr. Professor and Department Head in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
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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!
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Prof. Raúl Orduña Picón and Prof. Ceren Yilmaz Akkaya facilitated a hands-on activity, “Sea the Change: CO2’s Effects on Our Planet”
CBC Faculty Bring Hands-On STEM Activities to Family STEM Night
Prof. Raúl Orduña Picón and Prof. Ceren Yilmaz Akkaya facilitated a hands-on activity, “Sea the Change: CO2’s Effects on Our Planet” to about 100 learners of all ages and backgrounds at Worcester Boys and Girl's Club. Goal of the workshop was to boost interest and awareness on climate change and its impact on both the oceans and atmosphere, and demonstrating chemists’ work is not isolated but it is related to our society, environment, economics, and people’s lives.
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Dr. Rong Wang
Rong Wang Named John C. Metzger Jr. Professor and Department Head in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Rong Wang, a distinguished researcher focused on the intersection of material science, biochemistry, bioengineering, and nanotechnology, has joined WPI as the John C. Metzger Jr. Professor and Department Head in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
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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!
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Prof. Raúl Orduña Picón and Prof. Ceren Yilmaz Akkaya facilitated a hands-on activity, “Sea the Change: CO2’s Effects on Our Planet”
CBC Faculty Bring Hands-On STEM Activities to Family STEM Night
Prof. Raúl Orduña Picón and Prof. Ceren Yilmaz Akkaya facilitated a hands-on activity, “Sea the Change: CO2’s Effects on Our Planet” to about 100 learners of all ages and backgrounds at Worcester Boys and Girl's Club. Goal of the workshop was to boost interest and awareness on climate change and its impact on both the oceans and atmosphere, and demonstrating chemists’ work is not isolated but it is related to our society, environment, economics, and people’s lives.
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Dr. Rong Wang
Rong Wang Named John C. Metzger Jr. Professor and Department Head in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Rong Wang, a distinguished researcher focused on the intersection of material science, biochemistry, bioengineering, and nanotechnology, has joined WPI as the John C. Metzger Jr. Professor and Department Head in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
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!
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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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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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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
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Sustainability of the Built Environment
Researchers seek solutions for a source of 40 percent of carbon emissions worldwide—human-made infrastructure.
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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.
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Student Project: Living With Fracking in Albania
This student team won first place in the President's IQP Awards for their project highlighting fracking's impact on women in Albania
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Sustainability of the Built Environment
Researchers seek solutions for a source of 40 percent of carbon emissions worldwide—human-made infrastructure.
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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.
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Student Project: Living With Fracking in Albania
This student team won first place in the President's IQP Awards for their project highlighting fracking's impact on women in Albania
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Sustainability of the Built Environment
Researchers seek solutions for a source of 40 percent of carbon emissions worldwide—human-made infrastructure.
Meet Our Students
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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.
Calendar
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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.