INTRODUCTION

The Department of Chemistry at Georgia State University is a growing program offering the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. We have a very dynamic faculty conducting cutting edge research at the interface of chemistry and biology. Such research activities are funded by prestigious national agencies such as the NIH, NSF, American Heart Association, etc. Many of our faculty are highly regarded leading experts in their own field; and serve on panels and study sections at agencies such as the NIH and NSF, on the editorial board of various journals, and as officers in various professional societies such as the American Chemical Society. The Department has two Regents' Professors, Drs. Dave Boykin and David Wilson, one Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, Dr. Binghe Wang, and three Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scientists, Drs. Irene Weber, Markus Germann, and Binghe Wang. The Department is also home to the editorial offices of one book series entitled “A Wiley Series in Drug Discovery and Development,” and two journals, Heterocyclic Communications and Medicinal Research Reviews. The latter journal was ranked #1 in Impact Factors (7.78) last year among 36 medicinal chemistry journals and #3 among 185 pharmacy- and pharmacology-related journals.

The Chemistry Department also boasts top-rated facilities in support of our research and teaching efforts, which include 6 high-field NMRs, 6 mass spectrometers including LC-MS, GC-MS, electrospray and MALDI MS, and high-resolution capability, two Biacores, a laser lab, and a combinatorial chemistry facility. Routine instruments include fluorometer, ICT, UV/vis, IR including total reflection IR, CE, HPLC, fluorescent microscope, etc. Instrumentation shared with the Biology Department includes environmental rooms as well as a centralized DNA and peptide synthesis and analysis facilities

Our high-quality faculty is devoted to teaching and working with both undergraduate and graduate students. Currently more than 250 undergraduate Chemistry majors are enrolled. Roughly 80 graduate students are enrolled annually with 50 pursuing the doctoral degree. A number of undergraduate and M.S. graduate students work full-time while going to school. To accommodate these working students, the Department offers all its courses on an evening basis at least one time per year. Teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. A limited number of fellowships including the Ambrose Pendergrast Fellowship, the David Withers Boykin Graduate Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry and the Solvay Fellowship are awarded by the Department to outstanding Ph.D. students. In addition, approximately 10 graduate assistantships at $22,000 are offered in MBD (molecular basis of disease) and BB (brains and behavior) areas.

For information about application procedures and financial aid please see Undergraduate Program Information and Graduate Program Information

Campus

GSU is one of the South's largest urban research universities. Its student population of 29,000 makes it the second largest university in Georgia. Included in this number are approximately 9,000 graduate students as well as an undergraduate student body made up of both traditional and older non-traditional students. Dormitory housing is available and the University's housing office can assist students in finding suitable housing in the metro area which is connected by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

A Map of the Georgia State University Campus

Atlanta

GSU is located in downtown Atlanta, two blocks from the state capitol in the center of the city's financial district. The north-south and east-west rapid rail lines (MARTA) intersect at the campus which is practically on top of Underground Atlanta, a popular entertainment and shopping complex.

Atlanta itself boasts one of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas. Almost 3 million individuals, many of whom are transplants from other regions of the country, currently call Atlanta home (12th largest city in the U.S.). A favorable business environment as well as a moderate climate year-round are just two of the attractions. Others include major league sports, varied cultural opportunities (Atlanta Symphony, High Museum of Art), and nearby recreational activities (North Georgia mountains, Lake Lanier, Stone Mountain Park and Callaway Gardens). Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics. The city also features many fine restaurants and shopping centers as well as an abundance of vibrant in-town neighborhoods.