25% The increase in median starting salary for chemistry majors with a master's degree $75,000 The median starting salary for graduates with a Ph.D. in chemistry
Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Toledo receive collaborative research experience in state-of-the-art labs. This interdisciplinary, practical experience prepares our graduates for successful careers in industry, academia and government.
UToledo offers four graduate degree programs in chemistry. Two are research-based.
Ph.D. in chemistry
M.S. in chemistry, with thesis
M.S. in chemistry, no thesis
Professional science master's degree in green chemistry and engineering
Hands-on experience with cutting-edge instrumentation. The Bowman-Oddy/Wolfe Hall complex contains the NSM Instrumentation Center, NMR facility, glass-blowing lab, chemical stockroom and independent, faculty research labs. You'll have access to all the state-of-the-art equipment you need for research, including:
New topics in chemistry. UToledo's chemistry master’s and doctoral programs evolve to keep up with new developments in the field. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is home to the Ohio Crystallography Consortium and its internationally recognized program for molecular and macromolecular crystallographic research. The PSM in green chemistry and engineering is the first degree of its kind in the U.S. It is approved by the National Professional Science Masters Association.
Alumni making a difference. Join UToledo's robust network of chemistry alumni who have been recognized for their work as industrial and government chemists, medical doctors, dentists, pharmacists, university faculty, patent attorneys and CEOs and research directors at Fortune 500 companies.
UToledo chemistry alumni have:
Low student-to-faculty ratio. UToledo’s chemistry doctoral degree candidates learn from and work directly with faculty in research groups of three to six graduate students. This means direct connections and engaging discussions with internationally recognized experts in their fields.
A master's degree in chemistry from The University of Toledo increases your marketability. Graduates earn promotions at their current jobs or can launch new careers as:
Master's graduates also enter doctoral programs in chemistry at many reputable institutions, including UToledo, South Dakota School of the Mines and Technology, Purdue University, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Kansas. Master’s degree students also have been accepted to law and medical schools.
UToledo’s chemistry doctoral program focuses on dissertation research. Our graduates have a distinct advantage in the job market because of their hands-on experiences using sophisticated instrumentation and broad-based, interdisciplinary training.
Graduates are prepared to:
Job opportunities exist in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries or related fields, such as patent law, business and sales.
"I enjoyed every class I took, not only because professors were knowledgeable, but because they cared so much about students. The department had an inclusive environment and offered opportunities to build my research confidence as well as my teaching skills, even when I was a fresh foreign graduate student. My research advisor opened doors for me to learn multidisciplinary techniques in research labs other than my own." Qinfeng (Sarah) Liu, associate professor, Campbell University Ph.D. ’05 in chemistry, with a focus in bioanalytical chemistry
"UToledo’s chemistry department has a 'teamwork’ mentality, which fosters collaborative efforts between research groups. This allowed me to have an inter-departmental skill set primed for the chemical manufacturing industry. I was also fortunate to have a research advisor who provided great one-on-one mentoring and guidance, which helped me improve communication skills for interviews, presentations and interactions with co-workers. These are experiences that have become invaluable to my career." Ryan T. Rondo, R&D scientist, Boulder Scientific Company Ph.D. ’10 in chemistry, with a focus on inorganic chemistry
"At The University of Toledo, I obtained a strong knowledge base in chemistry, with a focus on crystallography and materials science, and gained many useful skills, such as scientific writing, instrumentation and data analysis. Nearly everything I learned is being put to use at my current job." Lindsay Young, research and development chemist, Proto Manufacturing M.S. ’15 in chemistry, with a focus in materials chemistry
"Upon graduation, I moved to France and started my job search. I had only one interview and was offered a position at Novartis Pharma in Switzerland as a scientist in downstream process development for purification of antibodies. On my first day of work, I was developing a purification process using an AKTA chromatography system with no training required. This was only possible because I was already doing this work for three years on similar equipment at UToledo." Jonathan Collins, senior scientist, Novartis M.S. ’08 in chemistry, with a focus in biochemistry
UToledo offers advanced and specialized courses in all the traditional sub-disciplines of chemistry. Students can work with their graduate chemistry advisor, research director and advisory committee to individualize their plans of study. Degree requirements vary for each type of master’s program.
Master's and doctoral candidates gain hands-on, practical training and experience — often while receiving wages, stipends, tuition waivers or fellowships. Our graduate students intern with businesses and organizations. and receive research assistantships with faculty.
For the PSM option, an industrial internship in an area relevant to green chemistry is required and identified with help from the PSM program director.
UToledo's chemistry faculty members have won awards for their research and publish an average of 50 times annually. Many are federally funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Dr. Jon Kirchhoff, chemistry department chair and distinguished university professor, has published three papers with 2016 Nobel Laureate Jean-Pierre Sauvage.
Our chemistry graduate students have opportunities to:
Faculty research topics cover a variety of areas, including:
