Chair's Welcome
Welcome to the Department of Chemistry at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)!
Our department is dedicated to student success through innovative academic programming, exceptional teaching, excellence in research, and community engagement through outreach programs. We provide a diverse and supportive environment which offers our students opportunities to participate in the life of the department in numerous ways. With mentoring from our 18 dedicated tenured and tenure-track faculty, 17 highly qualified lecturers, and 5 supportive staff members, graduate and undergraduate students have opportunities to engage in impactful research and relevant learning. Our program offerings can lead to the Bachelor of Science (B.S), Master of Science (M.S.), or a minor in Chemistry or Biochemistry. We are committed to quality education, community service, and preparing students for graduate work or careers in chemistry, as well as preparing students for admission to the schools of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy. Additionally, through the work of our dedicated faculty in Chemical Education, teacher certification can be realized through the UTeach program.
Our faculty have expertise in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Education, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry, and our students have participated in active research in those areas. Because of the focus of our faculty, students have a wide range of options in the areas of Polymer Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Food Chemistry, Nanoscience, Computational Chemistry, and Medicinal Chemistry.
Our engagement in the chemical education of university, high school, middle school, and elementary school students provides a host of relevant teaching and learning opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. Our department receives generous research funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Welch Foundation, and the Elliott Chemical Society. Additionally, a number of our incoming graduate students have received competitive Presidential Grant Research Assistantships (PGRA) awards for their intent to complete research resulting in peer-reviewed publications and thesis work.
The Department of Chemistry is in the Science (SCNE) building on the Edinburg campus and the Life and Health Sciences (LHSB) building on the Brownsville campus. Our department houses the modern chemical instrumentation required to conduct innovative research publishable in national and international peer-reviewed journals. We have dedicated laboratories for teaching, community engagement, and for students to conduct experiments for coursework or to explore focused research projects mentored by inventive faculty.
The University is located in multiple sites across the Rio Grande Valley, in the southern tip of Texas, with main campuses located in Edinburg and Brownsville.
Our Vision, Mission, and Core Values are presented below; much more information about us is available in our Reflections on Climate & Culture:
Welcome to Chemistry Again!MISSION
The Department of Chemistry provides a path to a better life through a comprehensive education for student success delivered by accomplished and passionate scholars supported by professional and caring staff. The Department serves its students and the Rio Grande Valley community through innovative academic programs, community outreach, and impactful research.
VISION
We strive to be the leading Chemistry program in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by offering outstanding opportunities to students, faculty and staff through excellent teaching, innovative research, creative scholarly activity, professional development and community engagement and by cultivating scholars who will become leaders in the local and global communities.
CORE VALUES
Professionalism • Respect • Teamwork • Integrity
Empathy • Student Success • Research
Best Regards,
Dr. Fred Zaidan
Interim Chair, Department of Chemistry