PhD Program
Professor Wender discusses chemistry with his graduate students.
Doctoral study in chemistry at Stanford University prepares students for research and teaching careers with diverse emphases in basic, life, medical, physical, energy, materials, and environmental sciences.
The Department of Chemistry offers opportunities for graduate study spanning contemporary subfields, including theoretical, organic, inorganic, physical, biophysical and biomedical chemistry and more. Much of the research defies easy classification along traditional divisions; cross-disciplinary collaborations with Stanford's many vibrant research departments and institutes is among factors distinguishing this world-class graduate program.
The Department of Chemistry is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. This advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement with mutual respect by both the adviser and advisee.
- The adviser is expected to meet at least monthly with the graduate student to discuss on-going research.
- There should be a yearly independent development plan (IDP) meeting between the graduate student and adviser. Topics include research progress, expectations for completion of PhD, areas for both the student and adviser to improve in their joint research effort.
- A research adviser should provide timely feedback on manuscripts and thesis chapters.
- Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.
- If there is a significant issue concerning the graduate student’s progress in research, the adviser must communicate this to the student and to the Graduate Studies Committee in writing. This feedback should include the issues, what needs to be done to overcome these issues and by when.
Academic advising by Stanford faculty is a critical component of all graduate students' education and additional resources can be found in the Policies and Best Practices for Advising Relationships at Stanford and the Guidelines for Faculty-Student Advising at Stanford .
Learn more about the program through the links below, and by exploring the research interests of the Chemistry Faculty and Courtesy Faculty .
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Ph.D. in Chemistry Application Instructions
Autumn 2024 application information for 2025-2026.
Thank you for your interest in pursuing doctoral studies in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Washington. Below you will find information regarding application deadlines and requirements. Please explore our website to learn more about our graduate program and areas of faculty research. We look forward to receiving your application!
Application Requirements
- Online Application Deadline: December 2, 2024.
- Applications must include all required documentation. As the Chemistry Graduate Admissions Committee will begin reviewing applications in early December, you are strongly encouraged to submit all required documentation by the application deadline.
- Applicants must complete the UW Graduate School online application form .
Educational Background Requirements
Educational background should be equivalent to that of an undergraduate major in one of the natural sciences or engineering.
Applicants will automatically be considered for Teaching or Research Assistantships in the Department of Chemistry, and there is no separate application for these positions. English language proficiency is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency through one of the accepted methods outlined in Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements . Policy 3.2 also includes the minimum accepted test scores for admission to the UW Chemistry Graduate Program:
TOEFL iBT: Minimum score 92* A minimum score of 26 on the speaking section is required in order to be exempt from further English testing. Applicants with a TOEFL iBT speak score in the range of 22 – 25 are also encouraged to apply if they have an exceptionally strong academic record.
Duolingo: Minimum score of 125* Applicants who use the Duolingo test will be required to undergo further testing to meet the spoken English requirement for Teaching Assistants who are not native speakers of English.
IELTS: Minimum score 7.0* Demonstrate spoken English proficiency with a minimum score of 7.0 on the speaking section of the IELTS.
GRE: GRE scores will not be accepted and will not be used as a factor for admission into the UW Chemistry Ph.D. program for the 20 25 -20 26 academic year.
*Please note: TOEFL iBT, IELTS and Duolingo test scores are only valid for two years and must be valid on the date that your UW application is submitted.
Application Process & Fees
Apply online for admission to the Chemistry Ph.D. program. Upload all of the required materials via the application website as early as possible and prior to the application deadline. These materials should include all of the items listed below under Required Documentation. The non-refundable $90 application fee must be paid by credit card when you submit your application. Students with demonstrated financial need are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver . Fee waivers can be requested as part of the application process by selecting “I am eligible for a fee waiver” from the payment method drop-down menu and then answering the Waiver Eligibility Questionnaire.
International applicants expecting a J-1 or F-1 visa are not eligible for application fee waivers. Visit the UW Graduate School admissions website for information about the admissions process, including an overview of the admissions process and information specific to international students .
Required Documentation
Submit all of the following application materials electronically via the Graduate School online application website prior to the December 2, 2024 deadline. No materials should be sent via postal mail, as the Department of Chemistry and the University of Washington Graduate School do not accept paper submissions for this program.
1. One unofficial transcript from each college and/or university attended for credit (uploaded via the online application website). NOTE: Students who accept admission must submit official transcripts, which will be compared to unofficial transcripts submitted during the application process.
2. Three letters of recommendation , coordinated through and uploaded by writers to the online application website. If your recommender is unable to use the recommendation portal, please ask them to contact [email protected] for assistance
3. Please provide a statement of purpose that includes the following elements:
(i) an introduction to yourself, your interests, and motivations related to pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry,
(ii) a summary of your undergraduate career and other academic training experiences,
(iii) a description of your laboratory experience, research experience, outreach, leadership activities, and/or scholarly engagement outside of coursework and their impact on your current motivations, aspirations, and scientific interests, and
(iv) an explanation of why you would like to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at UW. Please also include three faculty members in our department that are most aligned with your research interests and a brief explanation of your choices. All of these elements can be discussed in any order within your statement of purpose, and you are welcome to include additional information.
You will be evaluated for your potential to contribute to research at the UW (based on your research experience, relevant work experience, creativity in problem solving, aptitude for planning/organization, scholarly engagement outside of coursework) and your persistence in and commitment to educational success (based on indications of leadership, recognition of achievements, extracurricular activities, and educational/cultural/geographic background). The "Statement of Purpose" is also a good place to explain any items of concern that we may see in your application materials. For example, if you received poor grades at some point during your academic studies due to extenuating circumstances, then providing an explanation here would be appropriate. The total length of the Statement of Purpose should be approximately 1 to 2 pages.
4. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
5. Proof of English Proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English. Your application will not be considered complete until items 1-5 listed above have been submitted.
All application materials should be submitted electronically. The Department of Chemistry and the UW Graduate School do not accept paper submissions for this program. You will be notified of the Chemistry Graduate Admissions Committee’s decision no later than the end of March.
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