Do you like chemistry but you consider yourself more inclined towards the study of advancing technology? Then you should be a cheminformatics major at Michigan Tech! Cheminformatics integrates a comprehensive knowledge of chemistry with an extensive understanding of information technology. This intersection of chemistry and information technology embraces an expanding territory; it includes computational modeling of individual molecules, thermodynamic methods of estimating chemical properties, methods of predicting biological activity of hypothetical compounds, and organization and classification of chemical information. You’ll give a modern, technological twist to the standard science of chemistry.
One of the best parts about the cheminformatics degree is the opportunity for hands-on research. All areas are available for research including computational, analytical/forensic chemistry, inorganic and organic synthesis, physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, polymer chemistry, chemical biosensors, and solid state materials.
Before you get ready to plunge into your cheminformatics career, here are a few things you should know about the program…
- Dr. Melvin Calvin is a chemistry Nobel Prize winner – the only one at Michigan Tech!
- You can get free help on your assignments or work for the Chemistry Learning Center.
- Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged; most students participate in either undergraduate research or a co-op experience in a company (or both).
- You’ll be able to use the state-of-the art studio laboratory for your first-year chemistry course; there’s a special section of University Chemistry just for chemistry department majors.
- You’ll love the small class size with a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio!
- You’ll have the opportunity to attend national meetings like the American Chemical Society annual meeting.
- Hands-on experience is a must with quality research instrumentation.
Another great point of interest about our cheminformatics program is that our undergraduate students are heavily recruited by industry, graduate schools, and medical schools. Your family will be relieved to hear that fact! Also, recently hired cheminformatics faculty are pursuing dynamic research projects and are anxious to include undergraduate researchers in their work. But no matter what, chemistry, as the central science, is an excellent preparation for a wide range of careers and graduate studies; giving you a lot of flexibility no matter where you allow your cheminformatics degree to take you.
