MIT Chemistry Department

The Chemistry Department at MIT is one of the top university faculties in the world. Research interests cover the entire field of chemistry, ranging from organic chemistry and biological chemistry to physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, environmental chemistry, materials science and nanoscience.

History

MIT's Chemistry department has been around since the Institute opened its doors in 1865. It started with two professors, Charles W. Eliot and Francis H. Storer, and a class of 15 students.

In 1866, the department moved to its new quarters in the basement of the Rogers Building in Boston. Cyrus Warren joined the faculty, and became MIT's first professor of organic chemistry.

In 1907, MIT awarded its first Ph.D. to three students in the field of physical chemistry.

Nobel laureates

The department has several Nobel Laureates among its faculty and alumni, including:

• Robert B. Woodward (Chemistry, 1965)
• Robert S. Mulliken (Chemistry, 1966)
• H. Gobind Khorana (Medicine & Physiology, 1968)
• Geoffrey Wilkinson (Chemistry, 1973)
• Charles J. Pedersen (Chemistry 1987)
• Sidney Altman and Thomas R. Cech (Chemistry, 1989)
• Elias J. Corey (Chemistry, 1990)
• Mario Molina (Chemistry, 1995)
• K. Barry Sharpless (Chemistry, 2001)
• Aaron Ciechanover (Chemistry, 2004)
• Richard R. Schrock (Chemistry, 2005).

Faculty

Current members

Former members

Notable alumni

External links

• Official website
• MIT OpenCourseWare: Chemistry