The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry aims to intentionally develop the whole person through deep understanding of the chemical basis of matter and hands-on practical laboratory skills.

We will cultivate in our students the capacities and dispositions for reflective and critical thought, independent lifelong learning, and ethical practices in science, creativity and innovation to create scientific knowledge, as well as foster a mature commitment to social justice, global engagement, and care for sustainable chemical practices.

THE PROGRAM

As empirical sciences, chemistry and biochemistry require extensive laboratory experimentation. Thus, most of Gonzaga’s chemistry and biochemistry courses have both a lecture and laboratory component. Knowledgeable and dedicated faculty teach all courses. The program is built on a strong laboratory curriculum, student centered faculty, high academic standards, and modern equipment for teaching and research.

Department faculty members strongly encourage students to conduct research. Seniors pursuing a B.S. degree complete an extensive undergraduate thesis. Students have full use of the Department’s most advanced equipment, including various spectrometers (nuclear magnetic resonance, mass, infrared, fluorescence, ultraviolet/ visible, inductively-coupled plasma, circular dichroism, and atomic) and gas and liquid chromatographs.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

The primary objective of Gonzaga Science Research Program (GSRP) is to expand undergraduate research opportunities. More specifically, the program aims to encourage and assist our faculty members in winning external grants for their research while providing research experiences for our science majors. GSRP pays for faculty and student stipends, as well as research supplies.

Some topics that faculty are currently investigating with students include: • The development of new diagnostic agents for neurodegenerative diseases • Design of chemical sensors and batteries • Supramolecular chemistry and molecular recognition • RNA chemistry and biology • Transcription factor proteins and Parkinson’s disease • Biosynthesis and enzyme mechanisms as targets for new anti-parasitic drugs and novel antibiotics • Electronic structure analysis using computational chemistry

CAREER OUTCOMES

Gonzaga chemistry and biochemistry graduates pursue careers in a wide variety of fields requiring strong backgrounds in science, problem-solving, and analysis.