Welcome to UF Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida opened its doors on the main Gainesville campus in 1905, published its first journal article in 1928, and awarded its first Ph.D. in 1934. Since this time its growth has been nothing short of tremendous, and, just in the last decade, truly remarkable.

Welcome to our website that highlights recent achievements in research, teaching, and service. We are held in high national and international regard in each category, compliments of world-class faculty, devoted staff, and top-notch students. Our mission is supported by federal and private funding agencies, the State of Florida that recognizes our preeminent status, and loyal alumni and friends.

We currently boast over 800 chemistry majors who are enjoying our state-of-the-art teaching laboratories in Scott Family Hall as part of their introductory courses. In addition to educational programming for residential undergraduates, our faculty have developed premier on-line courses in partnership with the industry leading UF Online program and continue to innovate in the chemical education space in the classroom and virtually. Our 280+ graduate students from around the world make the graduate program one of the largest in the country.

Cutting edge research is being performed across the most impactful and topical scientific areas. From chemical biology with therapeutic consequences, materials design for next generation biomedical and defense applications, new analytical approaches to health diagnoses, to catalyst creation that promotes novel reactions, the “central science” is leading the charge. Much of our work is leveraged by in-house artificial intelligence innovations and HiPerGator resources that are unparalleled at public universities.

Our community outreach and service missions are led by faculty and nationally lauded graduate and undergraduate student organizations. The UF Department of Chemistry’s reach includes families and K-12 classrooms throughout the city, but extends to the State, country, and globe.

To close, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Florida is uniquely positioned for accelerated growth and excellence. Look around and I think you will agree. Please feel free to contact us for a chat, or better yet, join us here in Gator Nation!

Dr. Ronald K. Castellano
Colonel Allen R. and Margaret G. Crow Term Professor & Chair