Princeton University Department of Chemistry Graduate Student Handbook 2010 – 2011 Edition Handbook for Graduate Students in the Department of Chemistry 2010- 2011 Edition DEPARTMENT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & POLICIES 1 PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS 1 COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1 CHOOSING AN ADVISOR 5 THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 5 TEACHING REQUIREMENT 6 THE GENERAL EXAMINATION 6 ACADEMIC EVALUATION 7 THIRD YEAR SEMINARS 7 ORIGINAL RESEARCH PROPOSAL 8 DISSERTATION 8 FINAL PUBLIC ORAL 9 VACATION POLICY & INTERNATIONAL STUDENT TRAVEL 9 SAFETY POLICY 10 STUDENT STATUS 10 ENROLLMENT 10 READMISSION 10 IN ABSENTIA STATUS 11 LEAVE OF ABSENCE STATUS 11 TERMINATION 12 DISSERTATION COMPLETION ENROLLMENT (DCE) 12 ENROLLMENT TERMINATED/DEGREE CANDICACY CONTINUES (ET/DCC) 12 FUNDING INFORMATION 13 OUTSIDE FUNDING 13 DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS 14 UNIVERSITY AWARDS 15 UNIVERSITY FUNDS 15 RELATED PROGRAMS & INSTITUTES 16 PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE 16 PRINCETON ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE (PEI) 16 PRINCETON INSTITUTE FOR THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OF MATERIALS (PRISM) 17 GRADUATE PROGRAM IN MATERIALS 17 DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONS & ACTIVITIES 19 CORPORATE RECRUITING 19 GRADUATE STUDENT ORGANIZATION (GSO) 19 SOCIAL HOUR 19 SPORTS TEAMS 19 FRIXER 19 FRICKMAS 19 FRICKNIC 19 CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION & STAFF 20 CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT FACULTY 21 AFFILIATED FACULTY IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS 25 APPENDIX 27 USEFUL ABBREVIATIONS 27 GUIDELINES FOR THE GENERAL EXAM 28 GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING THE ORIGINAL RESEARCH PROPOSAL 29 GRADUATE SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY ALCOHOL POLICY 31 - 1 - DEPARTMENT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS & POLICIES Placement Examinations It is important that all students satisfy a minimum of preparation across the areas of chemistry. Qualifying exams, given upon entrance in the fall, are used for placement in courses and to give an idea of the student’s preparation for graduate level study. The student’s performance on the exams will be analyzed to provide advice on course selection and area of study. If an incoming student fails an exam, satisfactory completion (grade of B- or better) of a 400 or 500 level course will compensate for that failure (see table below). Five exams will be given, in organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, chemical physics, and three must be passed or compensated by coursework. The following table lists courses offered in the 2010/2011 academic year which are approved to compensate for failed placement exams. Students may choose to take more advanced courses to satisfy this requirement with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Fail organic chemistry exam CHM 403 CHM 530 Advanced Organic Chemistry Synthetic Organic Chemistry Fail inorganic chemistry exam CHM 407 CHM 408 Inorganic Chemistry – Structure & Bonding Inorganic Chemistry –Reactions & Mechanisms Fail physical chemistry exam CHM 405 CHM 501 Advanced Phys Chem: Quantum Mechanics Intro to Quantum Chemistry Fail chemical physics exam PHY 501 PHY 505 Electricity & Magnetism Quantum Mechanics I Fail biochemistry exam MOL 504 MOL 345/ CHM 345* Cellular Biochemistry Biochemistry* * MOL 345/CHM 345 is not a graduate course, and therefore may not be counted toward the six- course requirement described below. Course Requirements Students are required to take and perform satisfactorily (B average) in six graduate courses, no more than two of which may be 400-level. Up to two graduate courses from a prior institution may be counted toward this requirement, provided an equivalent course is offered at Princeton; Professor Steven Bernasek, the Director of Graduate Studies grants such approval on an individual basis after consulting with appropriate faculty. In addition, a student must demonstrate proficiency in a breadth of subject matter by achieving grades of B or better in coursework in each of four distribution areas, out of a total of ten. Distribution areas are listed below: - 2 - 1. Spectroscopy, quantum mechanics 2. Thermodynamics or chemical dynamics 3. Solid state chemistry 4. Physical inorganic, coordination chemistry 5. Organometallic chemistry 6. Physical organic chemistry 7. Organic synthesis 8. Biophysical chemistry 9. Bioorganic, bioinorganic chemistry 10. Simulation, modeling, theory A list of 400 or 500-level courses which satisfy each area is provided below. Not all of these courses will be offered in the 2010/2011 academic year. For more information on course offerings, please check the Registrar’s website. New students will be provided with a list of courses that will be offered during the Fall 2010 semester. Consult with your advisor to make sure your course selection satisfies the distribution requirement. Area Course No. Title 1. Spectroscopy & quantum mechanics CHM 405 CHM 501 CHM 502 CHM 504 CHM 509 CHM 510 CHM 539* PHY 501 PHY 505 APC 509** Advanced Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics Intro to Quantum Chemistry Advanced Quantum Chemistry Molecular Spectroscopy: Observation & Manipulation Topics in Physical Chemistry: Specific subject varies Topics in Physical Chemistry: Specific subject varies Intro to Chemical Instrumentation Electricity & Magnetism Quantum Mechanics I Methods & Concepts in Electronic Structure Theory * CHM 539 may satisfy Area 1 or 6 but not both ** APC 509 may satisfy Area 1,3 or 10 but not more than one area. - 3 - Area Course No. Title 2.Thermodynamics and chemical dynamics CHM 406 CHM 503/CBE 524 CHM 512 CHM 524* MSE 502 MSE 504 GEO 537 Advanced Physical Chemistry Intro to Statistical Mechanics Chemical Kinetics Topics in Inorganic Chemistry: Specific subject varies Thermodynamics & Kinetics of Materials Modeling & Simulation in Materials Science Atmospheric Chemistry * CHM 524 may satisfy Area 2 or 4 but not both 3. Solid state chemistry CHM 409 CHM 507 CHM 511 CHE 536 GEO 501 MSE 501 MSE 503 MSE 505 APC 509* ELE 545 Structural Solid State Chemistry Solid State Chemistry Chemistry & Physics of Nanomaterials Glasses & Supercooled Liquids Physics & Chemistry of Minerals & Materials Intro to Materials Structure of Materials Microscopy Methods in Materials Methods & Concepts in Electronic Structure Theory Electronic Devices ** APC 509 may satisfy Area 1, 3 or 10 but not more than one area. 4. Physical inorganic, coordination chemistry CHM 407 CHM 408 CHM 522 CHM 523 CHM 524* CHM 544** GEO 470 GEO 418 Inorganic Chemistry – Structure & Bonding Inorganic Chemistry – Reactions & Mechanisms Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Coordination Chemistry Topics in Inorganic Chemistry: Photochemistry for Energy Conversion Metals in Biology Environmental Chemistry of Soils Environmental Aqueous Geochemistry * CHM 524 may satisfy Area 2 or 4 but not both **CHM 544 may satisfy Area 4 or 9 but not both 5. Organometallic chemistry CHM 521 Organometallic Chemistry - 4 - Area Course No. Title 6. Physical organic chemistry CHM 403 CHM 531 CHM 539* CBE 415/CHM 415 CBE 544 Advanced Organic Chemistry Advanced Organic Chemistry Introduction to Chemical Instrumentation* Polymers Solid-State Properties of Polymers * CHM 539 may satisfy Area 1 or 6 but not both 7. Organic synthesis CHM 530 CHM 534 CHM 536 CBE 541/MSE 534 Synthetic Organic Chemistry Modern Methods in Organic Synthesis Advanced Topics in Organic Synthesis Polymer Synthesis 8. Biophysical chemistry CHM 515 CHM 516 CHM 542 CHM 543 CHM 550 MOL 515/PHY 570 CBE 533 CBE 538 Biophysical Chemistry I Biophysical Chemistry II Principles of Macromolecular Structure Advanced Topics in Structural Biology Contemporary Problems in Molecular Biophysics Methods and Logic in Quantitative Biology Molecular Recognition & Biomolecular Engineering Biomolecular Engineering 9. Chemical biology, bioinorganic chemistry CHM 440 CHM 538 CHM 544* MOL 504 Drug Discovery in the Genomics Era Topics in Biological Chemistry: Biological NMR Metals in Biology Cellular Biochemistry *CHM 544 may satisfy Area 4 or 9 but not both 10. Simulation, modeling, theory CHM 513 MAE 501/APC 501 MAE 502 MSE 515 CHE 448/MAT 448 COS 551/MOL 551 APC 509* Electronic Properties of Materials Mathematical Methods of Engineering Analysis I Mathematical Methods of Engineering Analysis II Random Heterogeneous Materials Intro to Nonlinear Dynamics Intro to Genomics & Computational Molecular Biology Methods & Concepts in Electronic Structure Theory * APC 509 may satisfy Area 1, 3 or 10 but not more than one area. An appeal for additions to the list of approved courses can be made (in writing or via email) to the Director of Graduate Studies. - 5 - A student who fails to demonstrate proficiency in course work or distribution areas by the end of the first academic year may choose to either (a) take an exam during the first summer (typical final exam in a 400 level or higher course); or (b) complete a course (B or better) from the list of approved courses in the first semester of the second academic year. Completion of the distribution requirements is necessary for attaining the Ph.D. degree. Students are expected to meet these requirements by the end of the second year. Choosing an Advisor Incoming students will choose their research advisor after they have properly evaluated research opportunities that are available to them, as described in the following paragraph. Therefore, all incoming students will be assigned, by the Director of Graduate Studies, a temporary advisor for the first semester. This advisor will help select fall classes, provide a workspace for the fall semester, and oversee progress in choosing a research group. If a student chooses to participate in the optional summer research program prior to the start of the first year, he or she will sometimes be assigned a different temporary advisor for the fall semester. First-year students are required to attend twice-weekly faculty research talks offered during the fall semester, whereby they will get to know all of the faculty and their research areas. Students are also encouraged to evaluate research opportunities through informal discussions with faculty and students. Further, students must discuss research opportunities with three faculty members over the course of the semester and then choose a research advisor before December 15. With DGS permission, students may choose an advisor from another department, provided their research project relates to chemistry, and that the advisor outside the department agrees to supervise the student. The Advisory Committee After the student has chosen a research advisor, a thesis Advisory Committee will be assigned in consultation with the student and his/her research advisor. This committee is designed to follow a student’s progress throughout the Ph.D. work and consists of the advisor and two other faculty members. On occasion a student might include a third “optional” faculty member to provide scientific insight; however, this optional member is not an official member of the committee. Official members of the committee must hold the rank of assistant professor or higher, and at least one member (other than the advisor) must be from the Chemistry Department. - 6 -  The advisory committee will meet with the student at least once a year according to the following timeline, although the student or a member of the committee may initiate additional meetings as needed.  At the end of the first academic year, the advisory committee will review the student’s academic record, ensure that he or she has met the distribution requirements (and, if not, discuss a plan to satisfy them), and make sure the student is on course for the General Examination  In the second year, the advisory committee (plus one other faculty member) will hear the General Examination. The additional committee member will be outside the student’s field of research and assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies.  In the third year, the Advisory Committee members will attend the student's third year seminar. There will be a meeting of the student and their Advisory Committee soon after the third year seminar.  Prior to the defense of their thesis at the final public oral, the student will generate an original research proposal, not related to thesis research, and defend it before their advisory committee.  The Advisory Committee will serve as the FPO Committee. Teaching Requirement The teaching requirement is two semesters at half time or one semester full time (20 hr/wk). Students typically satisfy this requirement during the second academic year. International students must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English before they may teach. The General Examination The Chemistry Department offers the General Examination during November* and January, and, in some circumstances, in May, of the student’s second year. The specific timing of each student’s exam will be determined by the DGS in consultation with the student’s advisor. Although most students should plan to undergo the exam in January of their second year of study, students who are advanced in their research may petition the DGS to take the exam in November of their second year. The examination consists of six parts, and a student must pass all six in order to earn a Passing grade on the General Examination. The first three parts of the examination are the course requirements undertaken in the first year: GPA of 3.0 or better in six classes, passing or compensating for three placement exams, and satisfactory coursework in four of the ten distribution areas. Parts four and five consist of a written proposal based on the student’s chosen area of thesis research, and the oral defense of that proposal before the Generals Committee. The final component (part six) is satisfactory research progress as evaluated by the research advisor. - 7 - The oral portion of the exam will begin with a seminar-like presentation to the committee and will be followed by questions which test the candidate's preparation to do the thesis research. The advisor will be present as a non-participant. Further information on the requirements for the written proposal and the oral defense are provided in the Appendix of this Handbook. After all six parts of the examination have been attempted, typically immediately following the oral defense, the Committee (excluding the advisor) will discuss the performance and assign a grade for parts 4 and 5. The committee and the advisor then meet to assign an overall grade of pass, fail, or pass with distinction, for all six parts. If a student fails Generals, he or she may retake the exam within one year but usually during the next scheduled examination period. In the event of a second failure, the student will be terminated from the Ph.D. program; however, they will receive a terminal Master of Arts in Chemistry degree. Students who successfully pass the General Examination may advance to Ph.D. candidacy. * The Chemistry Department November exam period supercedes the October exam period specified by the Graduate School. Academic Evaluation Students are evaluated on an on-going basis by their research advisor, the Advisory Committee, and the Director of Graduate Studies. Readmission to a subsequent academic year is based on progress and conduct during the previous year. Withdrawal from the graduate program may be required in the following instances: 1. Student has failed to satisfy all six components of the General Examination by the end of the second year. 2. Student has failed the General Exam twice. 3. Student fails to improve research and/or academic performance despite repeated warnings. 4. Disciplinary action imposed by the Graduate School or the Department of Chemistry. Third Year Seminars In the third year of study, students present a thirty-minute seminar on their research progress. The focus of the seminar should be on actual research results in the laboratory and not a history of the project. The seminar should be treated as a formal exercise to enhance presentation skills and public speaking abilities, through the preparation of a PowerPoint presentation and the organization of the seminar. [...]... Technology of Materials (PRISM) and Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) 258-4986: sberna@princeton.edu Andrew Bocarsly Inorganic materials chemistry, chemistry of alternate energy systems, chemical mitigation of carbon dioxide, electrochemistry, photochemistry, semiconductor photoelectrochemistry, coordination chemistry Affiliated with Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials... create their own interdisciplinary specialty Requirements for a Ph.D in Chemistry & Materials are: • • • 2 or 3 courses in Materials Science & Engineering at the 500 level Ph.D thesis in the area of Chemistry of Materials A Materials Science Professor from outside the Chemistry Department must be on the Ph.D committee - 18 - CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES Corporate Recruiting Many pharmaceutical... Student Government, and the Classes Those who are of legal drinking age and who wish to sponsor an event with alcohol must obtain approval from and comply with the guidelines established by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students or the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School Availability of alcoholic beverages shall not be the primary focus of advertising for campus social events Those given... chemistry, metals and metalloproteins in the environment, biogeochemistry Affiliated with Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI) 258-2416; morel@geo.princeton.edu Satish C B Myneni, Department of Geosciences Molecular environmental chemistry, interfacial chemistry of the natural systems, trace element biogeochemistry, and applications of vibrational, K- and L- edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy & microscopies... Fellowship: The Smithsonian offers post-doctoral and predoctoral fellowships in Materials Research Application deadline is mid-January  Dept of Homeland Security Fellowship: U.S citizens may apply in spring of first year of graduate study Annual award includes summer internship and probable employment after degree completion Departmental Awards The Chemistry Department offers numerous fellowships... Organized by first-year graduate students, Fricknic is an end -of- year picnic for graduate students, post-docs, faculty and staff This June event tends to be more family-friendly than other department events, including a barbecue, pick-up softball game, a variety of games and activities - 19 - CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION & STAFF Department Chair: David W C MacMillan 258-3916; dmacmill@princeton.edu... computational analysis of neural network function Departments participating in the Neuroscience program include Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, departments in the School of Engineering, and the Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics Upon entering the program, an adviser is selected who is normally a member of the student’s department and... Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM) and Department of Molecular Biology 258-1631; jcarey@princeton.edu Robert J Cava Materials chemistry; synthesis of new oxide, intermetallic, pnictide, and chalcogenide compounds and characterization of their crystal structures and electronic and magnetic properties Joint Appointment with Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials (PRISM)... Chirik (arriving January 2011) Research at the intersection of the traditional disciplines of organic and inorganic chemistry pchirik@princeton.edu; pc92@cornell.edu Abigail Doyle Organic and organometallic chemistry: discovery and development of new catalytic routes to chiral building blocks of importance in the enantioselective synthesis of natural products, pharmaceuticals, and materials 258-4512:... Carter, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Ab initio energetics, kinetics, and dynamics of atomic and molecular ion scattering, adsorption, diffusion, reaction, and interface formation for semiconductors, metals and ceramics; multiscale modeling of the response of materials to chemical and mechanical stresses; ab initio energetics, kinetics, and dynamics of combustion; development of new . Inorganic Chemistry Coordination Chemistry Topics in Inorganic Chemistry: Photochemistry for Energy Conversion Metals in Biology Environmental Chemistry of Soils Environmental Aqueous Geochemistry. member of the committee. Official members of the committee must hold the rank of assistant professor or higher, and at least one member (other than the advisor) must be from the Chemistry Department. . 545 Structural Solid State Chemistry Solid State Chemistry Chemistry & Physics of Nanomaterials Glasses & Supercooled Liquids Physics & Chemistry of Minerals & Materials