Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers research-centered Master and Ph.D. programs in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The objectives of these programs are to give students who have an undergraduate foundation in chemistry the opportunity to engage in advanced course work, in-depth study and independent research. Students work on cutting-edge research projects in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Marine and Atmospheric Science, Biochemistry, Organic and Inorganic Synthesis, Analytical Chemistry, Computational and Physical Chemistry, and Chemical Education. Much of this research results in publications in peer reviewed journals or presentations at professional meetings, most of which have student co-authors.

In response to regional economic needs, we added a track in pharmaceutical chemistry to the M.S. degree program. We offer graduate students a diversity of research areas from within the traditional bounds of chemistry as well as non-traditional research programs. Graduate students have many opportunities to teach undergraduate labs and mentor undergraduates and new graduate students in research.

The Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Ph.D. program ensures that UNCW students are prepared for a flexible career in pharmaceutical chemistry. The Chemistry & Biochemistry faculty enable this goal by offering a broad range of pharmaceutical chemistry courses and research foci, from traditional and non-traditional natural products drug discovery and medicinal chemistry to formulation of therapeutic antibodies. In addition to employment opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, graduates of this program will be ideally positioned to work in the rapidly expanding contract research (CRO) and biotechnology sectors, pursue academic careers, or establish innovative start-up companies.

Students can enter the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry program in the following three ways:

1. Students with a M.S in Chemistry or other STEM-related discipline entering directly into the Ph.D. program, or

2. Students with a B.S. (based on a 4-year program) in Chemistry or other STEM-related discipline entering the MS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and transitioning into the Ph.D. program, or

3. Students with a B.S. in Chemistry or other STEM-related discipline entering directly into the Ph.D. program.

Minimum requirements for students in categories 1 and 2

a. An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 for the most recent degree earned.
b. GRE score of at least 65th percentile (average for the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections).
c. For applicants whose native language is not English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 on the paper test or 79 on the online test, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5 or 7.0.

Minimum requirements for students in category 3

a. An overall grade point average of at least 3.5 out of 4.0.
b. GRE score of at least 75th percentile (average for the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections).
c. For applicants whose native language is not English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550 on the paper test or 79 on the online test, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5 or 7.0.
d. Evidence of independent research.

Space Available Deadline: April 15, 2024