Graduate Programs

Lester-021914-0281

At Northern Illinois University, we develop the next generation of M.S. and Ph.D. scientists for a broad range of careers in chemistry and biochemistry. While working closely with faculty advisors, our students experience a wide range of research opportunities, from working in the traditional areas of chemistry to highly interdisciplinary areas and collaborative projects. The low student‐to‐faculty ratio provides an ideal environment for developing a broad skillset, ranging from technical expertise to effective communication skills. Students leave NIU well prepared to meet the ever‐changing demands of modern science.

Location matters: NIU is located an hour drive west of Chicago, IL. The Chicagoland area is a hotbed of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in the Midwest, as well as government laboratories. Our graduates are employed by AbbVie, Baxter, FONA and Argonne National Laboratory.

Apply Now!

Graduate Student Highlights

Our department recently held a recruitment event – NIU day at Lewis University. Chemistry faculty (T. Xu, Y. Cheng, T. Li, E. Nesterov, V, Ryzhov, R. Wheeler and I. Nesterova) and their group members presented their research and participated in day-long discussions with Lewis University students and faculty on potential future collaborative research, as well as joint educational, curricular and recruitment programs. 

Congratulations to Lingzhe Fang (Ph.D. candidate, advisor – Prof. Tao Li) who has been selected to attend the highly competitive 24th National School on Neutron and X-Ray Scattering which will be held July 10-22, 2022 at both Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Graduate School Application Deadlines

Resources for Current Students


Alumni Success Stories