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Chemistry is the study of matter and the transformations that occur in material things. It is one of the basic sciences, and it is fundamental to the study of all other basic sciences. The Department of Chemistry enthusiastically supports the University’s commitment to quality teaching, diversity, and research.

Now Hiring!Information for Organic Chemistry Professor applicants can be found here.
Department NewsCongratulations to Grace Conway, who received the A&S David Evans Award for Outstanding Achievement in Scholarship
Faculty Members with External Research Grants
Student Co-authored Publications in The Past 5 Years
Undergraduates Performing Research during 2018-2019 School Year
Student Presentations at Regional or National Meetings Last Year

Faculty Highlights

  • Pollock Recognized
    Pollock Recognized

    Julie Pollock, associate professor of chemistry, received the 2020 Distinguished Educator Award for outstanding contributions to excellence in education.
  • Donald Published
    Donald Published

    Kelling Donald, associate dean and professor of chemistry, published “Structural and Energetic Properties of RMX3–NH3 Complexes” in International Journal of Quantum Chemistry with UR postbaccalaureate researcher, Samuel Gillespie.
  • Norris Published
    Norris Published

    Michael Norris, assistant professor of chemistry, published “Strategy for Functionalization of Electrodes with Discrete, Unmodified Small Molecules Exhibiting Aqueous Stability” in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
  • Parish Joins WIREs Board
    Parish Joins WIREs Board

    Carol Parish, Floyd D. and Elisabeth S. Gottwald professor of chemistry and associate provost for academic integration at the University of Richmond, accepted a position on the international advisory board for WIREs: Computational Molecular Sciences (WCMS).
  • Norris Published
    Norris Published

    Michael Norris, assistant professor of chemistry, published “Strategy for functionalization of electrodes with discrete, unmodified small molecules exhibiting aqueous stability” in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
  • Johnson Published
    Johnson Published

    Miles Johnson, assistant professor of chemistry, published "Study and Modular Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Bis(phosphino)pyrrole Ligands" in the Dalton Transactions. Four UR students assisted: Hilary D. Fokwa, Julia F. Vidlak, Sophie C. Weinberg, and Isaiah D. Duplessis.
  • Norris Awarded
    Norris Awarded

    Michael Norris, assistant professor of chemistry, received a $104,500 award from Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust for Understanding the Reduction of CO2 to Methanol Catalyzed by Simple Amines with a Combined Computational and Experimental Approach.
  • Nolin and Wu Published
    Nolin and Wu Published

    Kristine Nolin, associate professor of chemistry, Carrie Wu, associate professor of biology, and three UR students/alums (Sofia Bustamante Eguiguren, Ha An Nguyen, and Lexi Caldwell) published “Convergence of glandular trichome morphology and chemistry in two montane monkeyflower (Mimulus, Phrymaceae) species” in Flora.
  • O'Neal Published
    O'Neal Published

    Will O'Neal, director of organic chemistry laboratories, published his book Exercises for the General, Organic, & Biochemistry Laboratory, 2nd Edition, with Morton Publishing.
  • Hamm and Wu published
    Hamm and Wu published

    Michelle Hamm, Professor of Chemistry, and Eugene Wu, Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry, along with six student co-authors, have published a paper in the journal DNA Repair entitled "The Importance of Ile716 toward the Mutagenicity of 8-Oxo-2?-deoxyguanosine with Bacillus Fragment DNA Polymerase."

Spider Talks: Dr. Julie Pollock

Feature Stories

UR Chemistry Professor and Associate Provost Carol Parish Named to International Advisory Board for Science Journal
Carol Parish, professor of chemistry and associate provost for academic integration, has accepted a position on the international advisory board for WIREs: Computational Molecular Sciences, a journal focusing on cross-disciplinary research on the applications of theoretical chemistry and computer programming relevant to chemistry and biology.
Four University of Richmond Faculty Receive Jeffress Memorial Trust Grants to Support Research in Their Fields of Study
Four University of Richmond faculty, the most in UR’s history, have received Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust grants to support their research in chemical, medical, or other scientific fields.
University of Richmond Chemistry Professor Michael Norris Receives Jeffress Trust Award to Advance Fossil Fuel Research
Michael Norris, assistant professor of chemistry, has received a $104,500 award from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust for his research on using carbon dioxide to create useful fuels as part of a solution to the current global energy crisis.
University of Richmond Donates Thousands of Safety Gloves from Science Labs to Local Healthcare Workers to Assist with COVID Impact
University of Richmond faculty gathered up nearly 7,000 pairs of gloves to donate to local healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
University of Richmond Student Receives Beckman Scholarship to Research Catalysts Important in Pharmaceutical Industry
Sophomore Julia Vidlak, of Williamsburg, Virginia, has been awarded a prestigious Beckman Foundation Scholarship to pursue her research in organometallics.
American Chemical Society Calls University of Richmond Research the 'Gold Standard' for Safer Ceramic Coatings
The American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, says a University of Richmond team’s work is at the forefront of this area of study.
University of Richmond Awarded Competitive Beckman Foundation Grant Supporting Faculty-Mentored Student Research
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation has again awarded the University of Richmond a prestigious three-year Beckman Scholars grant for faculty-mentored student research.
University of Richmond Professor Carol Parish Awarded NSF Grant to Use Design Thinking to Develop Open-Access Digital Portal for Molecular Sciences
Chemistry professor Carol Parish is partnering with colleagues at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Florida for a nearly $1 million National Science Foundation-funded project using machine learning, design thinking, and data analytics to develop a central portal for the molecular sciences.
Chemistry Professor Michelle Hamm Awarded $270,000 National Science Foundation Grant for DNA and Gene Mutation Research
Professor of Chemistry Michelle Hamm has been awarded a $270,000 three-year grant from the National Science Foundation for her research project on DNA and genome mutation.
Chemistry Professor Miles Johnson Awarded American Chemical Society Petroleum Grant for Nickel Research
Miles Johnson, assistant professor of chemistry, has been awarded a $55,000 grant from The American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund for his project using nickel as a metal catalyst to develop new chemical compounds.
Three University of Richmond Students Receive Goldwater Awards
Three University of Richmond juniors have received Goldwater scholarships, the preeminent undergraduate award in science and math.
Noah Clarke & William Stith, '18
Bonner Scholars remember their service and learning at Youth Life Foundation of Richmond.
University of Richmond Chemistry Professor Carol Parish Receives Research Award from American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society has awarded University of Richmond chemistry professor Carol Parish the 2019 Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution.
University of Richmond Chemistry Professor Carol Parish Awarded $310,000 NSF Grant for Research on Alternative Energy Sources
University of Richmond chemistry professor Carol Parish has been awarded a $310,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for her research project seeking to better understand alternative sources of energy such as oil sand and shale oil.
University of Richmond Chemistry Professor Miles Johnson Awarded 100,000 Jeffress Memorial Trust Grant for Chemical Research
Miles Johnson, University of Richmond assistant professor of chemistry, has received a $100,000 award from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust for his research project working with chemical compounds that will contribute to the pharmaceutical industry.
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Contact the Department

Mailing address:
Chemistry Department
Gottwald Science Center B-100
138 UR Drive
University of Richmond, VA 23173

Phone: (804) 289-8242
Fax: (804) 289-1897

Chair: Christopher Stevenson
Administrative coordinator: Rosemary Nicholson