The Department of Chemistry offers programs of study and research leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. A wide range of research projects is available in analytical, inorganic, materials, organic, physical polymer, and sustainable materials chemistry. In addition, many of our faculty are actively engaged in interdisciplinary research projects.

The general requirements for admission to programs leading to advanced degrees are described in the general section of this catalog. Candidates for advanced degrees in the Department of Chemistry typically are expected to have completed the minimum undergraduate program established by the American Chemical Society Committee on Professional Training.

The graduate program in chemistry may include any chemistry courses numbered above 500, along with certain courses numbered between 400 and 500 if approved by the student’s advisory committee, or in the first semester of study, by the graduate executive committee of the department. Graduate courses in chemistry include advanced analytical techniques, synthesis, and reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry, molecular modeling and computer simulation methods, physical inorganic and inorganic reaction mechanisms, organometallics, quantum mechanics, molecular spectroscopy and statistical thermodynamics, and sustainable materials chemistry. Special topics courses and seminar courses are also offered. Suitable courses in other departments such as Biochemistry, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Geology, Mathematics, or Physics may also be included in a student’s program of study. Thesis-based research is an integral part of the student’s training. Research normally comprises about one-half of the 30 semester hours required in a master’s degree program and about two-thirds of the work in a doctoral program.

Placement examinations are given to each entering graduate student and are used as a guide in determining the program of study. Comprehensive examinations are part of the doctoral program as described in the general regulations of the Graduate School.

Graduate assistants usually require two years to complete the requirements for a master’s degree. The minimum time for completion of requirements for the doctorate is six semesters of full-time study and research beyond the bachelor’s degree. Four to five years usually are required.

Graduate assistantships are available to qualified students.

The Five-Year BS-MS degree program allows highly qualified undergraduates of The University of Maine to earn Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in five years instead of the normal six-year period. It is designed for a small number of very able students who wish to prepare for graduate school or medical school, or for direct employment where a master’s degree has become a distinct advantage in seeking professional positions in industry. Some electives for the bachelor’s degree are replaced by courses in chemistry, which count toward the graduate degree. Further information about research projects and curriculum requirements is available from the Chair of the Chemistry Department and the department web site: http://www.umaine.edu/chemistry/

Graduate Faculty

François G. Amar, Ph.D. (Chicago, 1979), Associate Professor and Dean of the Honors College. Physical chemistry; computer simulation of reaction dynamics in molecular, ionic, and metallic clusters; theory of photoelectron spectra of clusters; gas-surface dynamics; optical and elastic properties of microspheres. Chemical education research: active learning strategies for large classes and laboratories; improving teaching of spectroscopic principles.

Matthew Brichacek, Ph.D. (Cornell University, 2010), Assistant Professor. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of biologically active compounds. Development of new reaction methodologies to enable the facile synthesis of complex biomolecules.

Alice E. Bruce, Ph.D. (Columbia Univ., 1985), Associate Professor. Inorganic, organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry; synthesis, structure and reactivity of gold(I) clusters; thiolate-disulfide exchange; detection of environmental mercury(II) using nanostructured supports.

Mitchell R. M. Bruce, Ph.D. (Columbia Univ., 1985), Associate Professor. Inorganic, bioinorganic, and organometallic chemistry involving synthesis and reaction mechanisms; zinc and gold mediated thiol-disulfide exchange; metal-protein chemistry; electrochemical redox processes; calculations; reactivity of mercury and late transition metals; active learning strategies in class and laboratory.

Barbara J. W. Cole, Ph.D. (Washington, 1986), Professor and Chair. Chemistry of sustainable materials including wood and paper, carbohydrates, lignin, and biologically active plant extracts; high-value bioproducts.

Scott D. Collins, Ph.D. (Brigham Young Univ., 1980), Professor and Member, LASST (Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology), Co-Director MicroInstruments and Systems Laboratory (MISL), Co-Director Institute for Molecular Biophysics (IMB). Micro and Nano Fabrication, surface probe and electron microscopy, electrochemistry of semiconductors, BioMEMS, fractal phase transitions, nanoscience.

Raymond C. Fort, Jr., Ph.D. (Princeton, 1964), Professor. Computational organic and biochemistry; sustainable materials chemistry.

Brian G. Frederick, Ph.D. (Cornell, 1991), Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator and Member, LASST( Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology). Physical chemistry, surface science and catalysis, biofuels, thermochemical catalyst development, materials characterization, reaction mechanisms, spectroscopy, quantum mechanical modeling.

William M. Gramlich, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota, 2012), Assistant Professor. Synthesis and characterization of sustainable, reactive, and functionalized polymers for block copolymer phase separation, photopatterning reactions, hydrogel synthesis, and hierarchical patterned surfaces of sustainable materials. Study of nanostructured polymer coated surfaces to modify adhesion, wetting, cell behavior, and biofouling.

Bruce L. Jensen, Ph.D. (Western Michigan, 1970), Associate Professor. Synthesis of heterocyclic and natural products of medicinal interest. Study of halonium ion rearrangements and chiral allylsilicon reagents. Curriculum development in the undergraduate organic laboratory. 

Howard H. Patterson, Ph.D. (Brandeis, 1968), Professor. Physical/inorganic and analytical/environmental chemistry. Nanosystems of silver(I), gold(I) and mixed metal systems showing optical memory, clustering behavior, and energy transfer. Development of chemical sensors for early warning detection of harmful pollutants in natural waters. Photocatalysis using metal doped zeolites for pollutant decomposition in natural waters. The theme of the research is utilization of luminescence spectroscopy for new applications in science.

Jayendran C. Rasaiah, Ph.D. (Pittsburgh, 1965), Professor. Theoretical and computer simulations studies of the structure and dynamics of liquids, ionic solutions, and polar fluids. Dynamics of electron transfer reactions, and proton transfer in water wires, pores and channels. Water structure and flow in carbon nanotubes and confined systems.

Carl P. Tripp, Ph.D. (University of Ottawa, 1988), Professor and Director of LASST. Surface chemistry of materials, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, chemical sensors, biosensors, sol-gel synthesis of metal oxides, polyelectrolyte/surfactant adsorption on surfaces, silane reactions on metal oxides, molecular studies of paper coatings, supercritical fluids.