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 and wood 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 normally 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, molecular spectroscopy and statistical thermodynamics, and wood chemistry. Special topics courses and seminar courses are also offered. Suitable courses in other departments such as Biochemistry, Chemical 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.
Candidates for the Ph.D. should have scientific reading knowledge of one language, selected from German, Russian, French, or Japanese. No formal language exam is required.

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 years usually are required.
Graduate assistantships are available to qualified students.

The Five-Year Master of Science degree program allows highly qualified undergraduates at The University of Maine to earn a Master of Science degree 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://chemistry.umeche.maine.edu

Graduate Faculty

Barbara J. W. Cole, Ph.D. (Washington, 1986), Professor and Chair. Wood and paper chemistry, carbohydrates, lignin, biologically active plant extracts.

François G. Amar, Ph.D. (Chicago, 1979), Associate Professor. Computer simulation of reaction dynamics in molecular and ionic clusters, theory of melting, properties of Van der Waals clusters, mixed quantum/classical dynamics.

Alice E. Bruce, Ph.D. (Columbia Univ., 1985), Associate Professor. Inorganic, organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry; synthesis, structure and reactivity of gold(I) complexes; metal-containing liquid crystals; formation and reactivity of gold clusters.

Mitchell R. M. Bruce, Ph.D. (Columbia Univ., 1985), Associate Professor. Inorganic chemistry, reaction mechanisms, chemical and electrochemical redox processes, gold(I) sulfur chemistry, mercury electrochemistry, activation of small molecules, electronic structure and reaction pathways of bioinorganic and organometallic complexes.

Raymond C. Fort, Jr., Ph.D. (Princeton, 1964), Professor. Computational organic chemistry; wood chemistry.

Brian G. Frederick, Ph.D. (Cornell, 1991), Assistant Professor. Surface chemistry and physics using electron and infra-red spectroscopies and scanning probe microscopy.

Alla Gamarnik, Ph.D. (UCLA, 1993), Assistant Professor. Molecular electronic devices, surface organic photochemistry, photochemistry in polymeric media.

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. Inorganic, bioinorganic and environmental chemistry. Photocatalytic reactions with silver doped zeolites. Clustering and exciplex behavior of gold (I) and silver (I) complexes. Optical Memory.

Jayendran C. Rasaiah, Ph.D. (Pittsburgh, 1965), Professor. Statistical mechanics of electrolytes and polar fluids. Computer simulation studies of solutions. Fluctuation dominated kinetics in heterogeneous media. Theory of electron transfer reactions. Molecular biophysical chemistry.

Touradj Solouki, Ph.D. (Texas A & M, 1994), Assistant Professor. Structural mass spectrometry by matrix-assisted laser desorption and electro-spray ionization FT ion cyclotron resonance.

Carl P. Tripp, Ph.D. (University of Ottawa, 1988), Associate Professor. 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, electroluminescent devices, supercritical fluids.