Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Odutayo O. Odunuga, interim chair
Bush Mathematical Sciences Building, Room 104
Phone: (936) 468-3606
P.O. Box 13006, SFA Station
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962
Email: odunugaoo@sfasu.edu
Web: sfasu.edu/chemistry

Bidisha Sengupta, graduate advisor
Bidisha.Sengupta@sfasu.edu
Bush Mathematical Sciences Building, Room 112

Objectives of the Department

The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare students for further graduate studies, research, teaching careers and industry. Thesis research is offered in all areas of chemistry: analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic and physical.

Graduate Faculty

Professors

• Alyx S. Frantzen, PhD, New Mexico State University, Physical Chemistry/Mathematics
• Odutayo O. Odunuga, PhD, Rhodes University, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
• Kefa K. Onchoke, PhD, Ohio State University, Analytical/Environmental Chemistry

Associate Professors

• Brian M. Barngrover, PhD, Kansas State University, Physical/Computational Chemistry
• J. Brannon Gary, PhD, University of Michigan, Bioinorganic/Inorganic Chemistry
• Darrell R. Fry, PhD, University of Arkansas, Analytical Chemistry
• Bidisha Sengupta, PhD, University of Calcutta, Biophysical Chemistry
• Matibur R. Zamadar, PhD, The City University of New York, Organic Chemistry

Assistant Professors

• Russell J. Franks, PhD, University of Oklahoma, Organic Chemistry
• Rashid Mia, PhD, University of Southern Mississippi, Inorganic/Supramolecular Chemistry

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are awarded each year in the department. For information, please contact Odutayo Odunuga, interim chair, at odunugaoo@sfasu.edu.

Admission Requirements

• Overall GPA of 2.5 as required by SFA’s graduate school.
• For clear admission, at least two semesters of prerequisite courses in any three of the five areas of chemistry: analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic and physical
• Overall GPA of 3.0 for students with clear admission status to be considered for a graduate assistantship
• Students with insufficient prerequisite courses may be admitted on a probationary basis.
• Students on probationary admission status will be required to complete all prerequisite undergraduate leveling courses within the first year of their program.
• Upon clearing the probationary status and maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0, students will be eligible to apply for a graduate assistantship.
• Approval by the departmental graduate committee.

Information on how to apply to the Natural and Applied Sciences, MS  chemistry concentration can be found on SFA’s Graduate Admissions webpage.

Graduate assistantships are limited and have a separate application process, which requires three hardcopy reference letters sent directly to the department.  Information on the assistantships can be found on the Graduate Assistantships webpage.

Other useful information on assistantships can be viewed in SFA’s Graduate Assistantships Policy 6.12. 

Statement of Purpose

Provide a two-page statement of purpose that describes what areas of chemistry (analytical, biochemical, organic, inorganic and physical) you are interested in pursuing at the graduate level, as well as your science/chemistry background, thesis/nonthesis program, experience and educational and professional goals.

Programs

• Chemistry Concentration

• Chemistry, Minor