A PhD degree in chemistry is your entry into the world of professional molecular problem solving. As a professional chemist or biochemist you will be expected to solve real world problems and have the opportunity to work on major societal issues, many of which are blur disciplinary lines. Lehigh Chemistry provides an approach to graduate education that trains students to be successful independent scientists in an increasingly interdisciplinary scientific world. Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry are engaged in research that ranges from exploring fundamental chemistry and biochemistry, to solving mission-based problems that are increasingly complex and transdisciplinary.<br>The assembly of molecular building blocks to form nanostructures and extended solids that can function as materials with useful properties is an important theme in the Department of Chemistry. This research encompasses the assembly of molecular solids with electronic conductivity, the condensation of molecular precursors to form covalent, porous organic polymers for gas separation and water purification, and the synthesis of nanoparticles and nanoporous structures of ultra-hard materials at extreme pressure. Our faculty both develops new materials through assembly and evaluates the electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of molecular assemblies and low-dimensional nanomaterials for a range of applications with a key focus on molecular electronics and photovoltaics. The experimental characterization with the resolution of a few nanometers is complemented by computational studies and simulations that probe the fundamentals of nanoscience.