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Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry

(Division of Science)

Professor Stephen O'Brien, Luis J. Curtman Chair • Department Office: MR 1024 • Tel: 212-650-8402

General Information

The City College offers the following undergraduate degree in Chemistry:

Mission Statement

Our goal is to provide rigorous training in Chemistry and Biochemistry for undergraduate and graduate students, to integrate leadership, mentoring, curiosity and creativity, inclusion, the scientific method, and the belief that an ethical application of chemistry, the central science, can benefit the world for the greater good.

Programs and Objectives

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, established in 1849, offers instruction and research training in the following areas:

  • Analytical Chemistry

  • Biochemistry and Biophysics

  • Environmental Chemistry

  • Inorganic Chemistry

  • Organic Chemistry

  • Physical Chemistry

The B.S. programs are suitable for students considering careers in the health professions, government service, education, industrial chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacology, and professions that rely on analytical and environmental chemistry. The B.S. programs are also ideal preparation for pursuing advanced degrees in a wide variety of callings, such as Ph.D. in the sciences, M.D./Ph.D. or J.D. There are a number of pathways by which students may specialize in chemistry. The Standard Chemistry Major is an excellent choice for those who have not yet decided upon their specific career goals and who wish to maximize their opportunities. The Biochemistry Major overlaps strongly with chemistry but with a focus in advanced biochemistry courses, geared to students’ seeking careers in health professions or biomedical research. The Environmental Concentration of Chemistry is for students wishing to pursue an industrial or graduate career in the environmental sciences. The Secondary Education Concentration is for students who plan to become secondary school teachers upon graduation. Detailed curricula for each concentration may be obtained by phoning or visiting the Department Office.

Premedical students at CCNY major in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, or some other discipline while completing the requirements for admission into medical school. The Department cooperates closely with the Program in Premedical Studies (PPS), a program of the Division of Science. This program features a curriculum which integrates a variety of learning experiences specifically preparing participants to meet the requirements of medical, dental and veterinary schools, and also the requirements for admission into physician’s assistant and physical therapy advanced degree programs.

More information regarding M.S. programs can be found on the department website.

For more information regarding degree programs, courses and advising, see the Department website: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/chemistry

Faculty

Teresa Bandosz, CUNY Distinguished Professor
B.S., M.S., Univ. of Mining Metallurgy (Cracow, Poland); Ph.D., Technical Univ. of Cracow

Mark Biscoe, Michael and Michelle Cohen Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
B.A., Wesleyan Univ.; Ph.D., Columbia Univ.

Sean Boson, Lecturer
B.S., M.S., Jahangirnagar Univ., (Bangladesh); Ph.D., Univ., of Cambridge (UK)

Zimei Bu, Professor
B.Eng., Chengdu Univ., of Science & Technology, (China); Ph.D., Louisiana State Univ.

Amédée des Georges, Assistant Professor, ASRC Structural Biology Initiative
B.S., M.S., Université Pierre et Marie Curie (France); Ph.D., Univ. of Cambridge (UK)

Dorthe Eisele, Assistant Professor
Dip-Phys (MS equiv), Technical Univ. of Berlin; Dr.rer.nat (Ph.D. equiv), Humboldt Univ. of Berlin

Kevin Gardner, Einstein Professor of Chemistry, Director of the ASRC Structural Biology Initiative
B.S., Univ. of California, Davis; Ph.D., Yale Univ.

Ranajeet Ghose, Professor
B.Sc., Presidency College (India); M.S. Yale Univ.; Ph.D., Yale Univ.

David K. Gosser, Professor
B.S., St. Joseph’s Univ.; Ph.D., Brown Univ.

Urs Jans, Professor
Diploma in Chemistry, Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology; Ph.D., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technology

David Jeruzalmi, Professor
B.S., Univ., of Cincinnati; M.S., Ph.D., Yale Univ.

George John, Professor, F.R.S.C.
B.S., Univ. of Kerala (India),; Ph.D., Univ. of Kerala (India)

Daniel Keedy, Assistant Professor, ASRC Structural Biology Initiative
B.A., Rhodes College; Ph.D., Duke Univ.

Reza Khayat, Associate Professor
B. S., Univ., of California, Irvine; M.S., Ph.D., Columbia Univ.

Glen Kowach, Associate Professor, Exemption Examinations and Minor Advisor
B.S., Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison; Ph.D., Cornell Univ.

Mahesh Lakshman, Professor, F.R.S.C
B.S., Univ. of Bombay (India), M.S.; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

Themis Lazaridis, Professor
Diploma in Chemical Engineering, Aristotle Univ. (Greece); Ph.D., Univ. of Delaware

Lombardi, Professor
A.B., Cornell Univ.; M.A, Harvard Univ .; Ph.D., Harvard Univ.

Stephen O’Brien, Luis J. Curtman Professor and Chair, F.R.S.C.
B.Sc., Sussex Univ. (UK); D. Phil., Oxford Univ. (UK)

Kevin Ryan, Professor, M.S. Biochemistry Coordinator
B.S., Providence College; M.S., Univ. of Rochester; Ph.D., Univ. of Rochester

Issa Salame, Assistant Professor
B.S., The City College; M.Phil., CUNY; Ph.D., CUNY

Ruth E. Stark, CUNY Distinguished Professor
A.B., Cornell Univ., M.S., Ph.D. Univ. of California (San Diego)

Maria Tamargo, CUNY Distinguished Professor, National Academy of Engineering
B.S., Univ. of Puerto Rico; M.S., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Univ.

Barbara Zajc, Professor,
B.S., Univ. of Ljubljana (Slovenia), ., M.S.; Ph.D., Univ. of Ljubljana

Professors Emeriti

Daniel l. Akins

Theodore Axenrod

Ronald Birke

Vernon G.S. Box

David Calhoun

Michael E. Green

Thomas Haines

John R. Lombardi

Neil McKelvie

Stanley R. Radel

Henri L. Rosano

Charlotte S. Russell

Horst Schulz

Simon Simms

Mark L. Steinberg

Maria Luisa Tasayco