Department of Chemistry
Communicate Ideas and Advance Innovation
Take a deeper look into the world at the molecular level with a degree in chemistry.
Our competitive undergraduate programs are recognized by the American Chemical Society and meet their extensive academic requirements. Explore numerous independent research opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels and discover a wide range of career options in the advancing field of chemical sciences. Our programs prepare you for work in the STEM industry, academia, government, non-profit and entrepreneurship.
Welcome from the Department Head
Greetings,
I'm Tom West and I would like to welcome you to the Department of Chemistry at East Texas A&M. Our well-rounded and flexible programs prepare students for a wide variety of careers in industry, teaching and research. Both undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty members in rigorous research projects in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry. If you are interested in the research of one of our faculty members, feel free to contact them.
Explore Our Programs
Chemistry (BS)
Whether your interest is in the structure and chemical reactions in living systems, properties and reactions of organic or inorganic minerals and compounds, or how matter behaves on a molecular level, a degree in chemistry will prepare you for industry career or graduate studies. A wide variety of careers are available to chemists in industry, the government or academia. Options include, but are not limited to, chemical health and safety, toxicology, oil and petroleum, forensics, textiles, agriculture and food, polymers, environmental protection, and research.
Chemistry (BS) Teaching Emphasis
There is a growing need for STEM educators. A degree in chemistry with a teacher certification will allow you to combine your passion for chemistry and the classroom. You’ll take courses in general and organic chemistry, physics, and biology. Our program offers specialized teaching courses for chemistry teachers including roles and responsibilities for STEM educators, technology-infused curriculum, and project-based learning in STEM. You’ll be required to complete a teaching residency senior year. After graduating, you’ll be certified to teach science at the secondary level (grades 7-12).
Chemistry (MS)
You can select a thesis study and a professional master degree. If you are interested in furthering your studies in chemistry, this program will enable you to work closely with faculty members with similar research interests. Faculty research interests within the department include metal binding, surface chemistry for industrially-important catalysts, ionic liquids as catalysts in organic reactions, porphyrin-based anion receptors, bacterial nucleic acid metabolism and green chemistry approaches. The non-thesis options include a professional master degree in chemistry, professional chemical business degree, or professional chemical education degree.
Our Facilities
Waters ES-IM-TOF Mass Spectrometer
Characterize the structure of chemical compounds with our mass spectrometer. You’ll have access to this instrument in research courses such as CHEM 418. The mass spectrometer is housed in McFarland Science Building Room 309.
Varian AS400 NMR
Our nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer characterizes the structure of primarily organic chemicals. You’ll have the opportunity to use this instrument in research courses such as CHEM 418.rn
Thermo Fisher Gas Chromatograph
You’ll use the gas chromatograph in research courses such as CHEM 418 to characterize the structure of oils and fatty acids. This instrument is housed in McFarland Science Building Room 305. rn
Anasazi 90 MHz NMR
Characterize the structure of synthesized organic compounds with our Anasazi spectrometer. You’ll use this instrument in your organic chemistry laboratories (CHEM 2123/CHEM 2125). This instrument is housed in McFarland Science Building Room 309. rn
Thermo Fisher ICP-OES System
Our new Thermo Fisher Inductive Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectroscopy system is used to perform trace metal analysis with high precision. You'll have the opportunity to use this system in research courses such as CHEM 418.
ACS Accredited
Our programs are approved by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and are designed to provide industry readiness. The ACS promotes excellence in chemistry education and research at institutions across the United States. ACS approved programs must meet rigorous chemistry standards and education requirements. Employers often prefer hiring students who graduated from ACS accredited programs.
News Spotlights
Texas A&M-Commerce Faculty Selected for Prestigious Teaching Award
Dr. Allan Headley, a professor of chemistry at Texas A&M University-Commerce, is among 10 faculty in the state selected as a 2024 Piper Professor. The Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation presents the annual design in recognition of outstanding achievement in the teaching profession at colleges and universities in Texas. He is in elite company as only […]
A&M-Commerce Chemistry Faculty, Students Present at Regional Meeting
Students and faculty representing the A&M-Commerce Department of Chemistry gave 12 presentations at the 78th American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting held Nov. 6-9 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Drs. Laurence Angel, Bukuo Ni and Thomas West accompanied 14 students, including: Undergraduate students: Graduate students: Learn more about the American Chemical Society and the Department of […]
A&M-Commerce Chemistry Student Receives Recognition at Regional Meeting
A&M-Commerce chemistry student Shea Garland received recognition for Outstanding Undergraduate Poster Presentation in Organic Chemistry at the American Chemical Society’s recent 2021 Southwest Regional Meeting in Austin, Texas. Garland is an Honors College student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Dr. Stephen Starnes, associate professor of chemistry at A&M-Commerce, said he is proud of […]
TAMUC Department of Chemistry Selected for Renewed REU Grant
The A&M-Commerce Department of Chemistry is the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant for continued funding of the department’s summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). The grant will fund REU summer programs through 2024 for community college students interested in chemistry. “Our REU program has supported community college students in North Texas since 2006,” […]
TAMUC Department of Chemistry to Receive Research Funding
The A&M-Commerce Department of Chemistry is the recent recipient of a grant from The Welch Foundation, one of the nation’s largest private funding sources for chemical research at universities, colleges and other educational institutions in Texas. The foundation supports degree programs in chemistry, biochemistry or chemical engineering. The foundation’s departmental grant program will award A&M-Commerce […]
11 Area Students Selected for TAMUC Chemistry Summer Research Experience
The Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University-Commerce will host 11 community college and A&M-Commerce students this summer for a Chemistry Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). The 2021 REU, which begins June 6, is funded by the National Science Foundation. Participants were selected for demonstrating commendable academic preparation and enthusiasm for chemistry and science in […]
Alumna's Estate Gifts $975,000 to A&M-Commerce Planetarium and Chemistry Program
The late Georgia Mae Waters Dorrough gifted $975,000, through her estate, to the College of Science and Engineering at A&M-Commerce. The Georgia M. Dorrough Planetarium Endowment, the Georgia M. Dorrough Planetarium Maintenance Endowment, and the Georgia M. Dorrough Endowed Chair in Chemistry will significantly impact the university’s Department of Chemistry and Planetarium. According to Dr. […]
College of Science and Engineering Students Win Big at 16th Annual Pathways Student Research Symposium
Four students from the College of Science and Engineering came home with top finishes at The Texas A&M University System's 16th Annual TAMUS Pathways Research Symposium, hosted on the campus of Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas, on November 7-8, 2019.
Mark Rudin Named as Sole Finalist for President of Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp announced today that the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has named Mark Rudin as the sole finalist for the position of President of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Rudin was selected during a telephonic meeting of the Board of Regents. “Dr. Rudin comes to A&M-Commerce with an impressive […]
A&M-Commerce receives $1 million National Science Foundation grant to train STEM educators
Texas A&M University-Commerce has received a National Science Foundation grant totaling more than $1 million to fund a collaborative project titled, “Preparing a Community of Outstanding STEM Teachers for Rural and Urban Northeast Texas.” “I am thrilled to have been awarded this grant,” said Dr. William Newton, associate professor of physics and astronomy. “This collaboration […]
Student Organizations
Student Affiliates of the ACS
The Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society brings together students interested in chemical sciences and enriches their academic experience. You do not have to be a chemistry major to join. The Student Affiliates sponsor guest speakers, social events, field trips, tutoring services, revenue-generating events and various other activities throughout the academic year.
Student Support
Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU)
REU is a unique research opportunity for Northeast Texas community college students interested in chemistry. Offered at East Texas A&M, this summer-long program provides a rewarding research experience.
Scholarships
As a chemistry student, you’ll have access to a wide range of scholarships specific to your degree.
Our Research
Our chemistry faculty are excited to develop your knowledge and skills through research. Opportunities are available for both undergraduate and graduate students. We encourage you to discuss any research interests with your professors.
Biochemical Metabolism
Researchers at East Texas A&M look closer at metal ions and their role in binding peptides that could cause human metabolic disorders. Learn More
How Primary Structure Affects the Secondary and Tertiary Structure of His-Cys Oligopeptides
Our research uses the scientific research method involving the use of electrospray ionization – IM-MS and density functional theory (DFT) to examine the solution-phase metal ion reactivity of ambs and mb-OB3b. Learn More
Computational Analysis of the Factors that Affect the Outcomes of Hetero Diels Alder Reactions
In the pharmaceutical industry, computation chemistry is often used to simulate how a drug couples with its target protein in the body and predict important interactions. Our research involves using computational methods to analyze the factors that influence the outcomes of the hetero Diels Alder reaction and predict the outcomes of these reactions.
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Heterogeneous Catalysis for Chemical Processing, Energy Conversion and Environmental Protection
The projects in this research focus on investigating the catalytic properties of supported metal catalysts for selective hydrogenation and on bio-oil production and on biodiesel conversion.
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The Study of Transition Metal Ni, Cu, Ru and Rh Complexes Catalyzed Asymmetric Reactions
Dr. Bukuo Ni's research project aims to develop novel chiral diamine ligands and their application for transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric reactions to gain fundamental insights into the mechanism of asymmetric induction for a wide range of reactions.
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The Development of Synthetic Hosts for Environmental and Biological Applications
The focus of these three research projects is synthetic organic chemistry using techniques such as computational chemistry, NMR, IR, circular dichroism, fluorescence and mass spectrometry to study the systems.
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Regulation of Microbial Nucleic Acid Metabolism
This research focuses on examining the regulation of nucleic acid metabolism from an evolutionary perspective and investigating the control of pyrimidine biosynthesis in pseudomonads relative to their evolving taxonomy.
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Design and Synthesis of Ionic Liquid-Supported Homogeneous Organocatalysts for Asymmetric Reactions
Discover the new categories of recyclable homogeneous organocatalysts that are highly effective in producing desired asymmetric compounds resulting from this research.
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Chemical Education Research
Our researchers at East Texas A&M are taking steps to discover how basic chemical principles are taught to undergraduate students and taking action to improve retention rates.
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Meet our Department
Department of Chemistry :: Contact
Contact Us
- Department of Chemistry
- 903.886.5392
- 903.468.6020
- [email protected]
- P.O. Box 3011
- Commerce, TX 75429-3011