Chemistry Department

From developing drugs that fight diseases to innovations in the energy sources that power our world, chemistry touches our lives everyday.

Our chemistry program offers a freshman seminar course to keep you informed about all the opportunities within college and our program in your first year. You become part of a small cohort for chemistry courses to increase your interaction with our faculty and with each other starting your freshman year. We will guide you starting from the start so you can achieve your after-college goals, whether going into a professional school (pharmacy, medical, dental, etc), doctoral program or industry.

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Dr. Fehmi Damkaci was named the 2019 recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

Dr. Fehmi Damkaci, professor and chair of SUNY Oswego's chemistry department and founder and director of the GENIUS Olympiad environmental competition for high school students from countries around the world has earned the 2019 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.

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Dr. Casey Raymond earns the 2019 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching

Dr. Casey Raymond is the 2019 recipient for the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has demonstrated beyond-the-call care for the performance and success of his students.

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Biochemistry major Jennifer Ofodile, is one of four SUNY Oswego students that earned the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence

She will be graduating at the age of 19 -- a Brooklyn resident who migrated from Nigeria in 2013 has been on the President's List for her perfect GPA since arriving at Oswego four years ago.

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Dr. Fehmi Damkaci was named the 2018 recipient of the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence

Known internationally as the founder and director of the GENIUS Olympiad high school environmental competition, Damkaci has had many students -- several now pursuing doctorates in chemistry -- who credit him as an exceptional teacher, mentor and role model.

Dr. Vadoud Niri was named recipient of the 2018 Provost's Award for Mentoring in Scholarly and Creative Activity

Best known for the global media attention paid to his student-assisted research on houseplants' ability to scour volatile chemicals from the air, Niri will receive the honor during a recognition ceremony at this fall's Academic Affairs Retreat.

Faculty

At the core of our program is a supportive faculty who emphasizes mentorship and works side by side with our students in the lab. Many of our professors have received awards including Distinguished Teaching Professorships, Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Research Mentorship Awards, while some have earned national recognition for working on cutting-edge research problems.

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Hands-on research experience

We encourage undergraduate students to pursue laboratory research and offer several opportunities to engage in year-long projects, many of which you can begin as early as your freshman summer. Projects have included work in cancer and anti-diabetic drug discovery, the effects of lead on the cardiovascular system, ecological and genetic studies, development of new polymers for drug delivery, the assessment of environmental factors such as e-cigarettes, forensic science and more.

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Student spotlight

Dylan DiGrazia '20

"Chemistry is the perfect major for me because it allows me access to many resources that would not be offered at other places. The one-to-one connection that I am able to make with my professors gives me outstanding knowledge and resources that I can use to help me succeed."

Student spotlight

Michael Kirsch '20

Biochemistry is a great fit for me because I am interested in studying living organisms at the molecular level. Being a part of this major has introduced me to a great number of talented professors who are dedicated to working with me and helping me develop my skills and interests.

Spotlight

Jenna Covey ('21)

"Being a chemistry major at Oswego has offered me many opportunities that I wouldn’t have been offered elsewhere. The faculty truly care about our success, and working with them has inspired me more than anything."

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