Overview

Courses

NC State has an assortment of coursework that prepares students at the basic science:life science interface, and each degree program has courses that dig deeper into a student’s chosen discipline.  Having identified a gap in student training, the Chemistry of Life Program is creating a new lecture course that infuses chemical mechanistic underpinnings in life science topics and is of interest to a broad audience of students from across campus. The course will cover the chemical aspects of the central dogma, followed by a problem-focused look at how chemical tools can help probe, manipulate and treat biological systems relevant to human, animal and plant health.  We are also partnering with the Biotechnology Program to develop a lab course that will allow students to learn how chemistry (chemical biology) can aid in the study of biological systems and complement genetics and molecular biology.  Future efforts will work to bridge disciplines such as biological sciences and chemistry at the introductory levels through a cohort model as well as expand on the key courses listed below.

If you have interests in organic chemistry, biochemistry and biology consider enrolling in CH 495 (Chemistry of Life) for Fall 2023!  

  • Chemistry of Life Lecture (CH 495, new prefix coming in 2023) – Fall Semester
    • Open to undergraduate students who have completed CH223 or CH227 and BIO 183 (recommended)
  • Chemistry of Life Lab in partnership with the BIT Program (BIT 510CLP) – Fall 2022 and Spring 2023,
    • Open to undergraduate students who have completed CH495 – Chemistry of Life and other students in the BIT Program

Research Opportunities

Our faculty engage in research with undergraduates across all of our participating departments and colleges, and there are an array of opportunities to get involved.  Outside of these existing opportunities, the Chemistry of Life program is partnering with the Comparative Medicine Institute to create Chemistry of Life SIRI summer positions – this program enables undergrads to engage in team-based research projects at the chemistry:life science interface under the direction of talented graduate students or postdocs. We have also recently received funding from the Beckman Foundation to support exceptionally talented students as part of this program, see here for more information!

Jeremy Feducia
Co-Undergraduate Program Coordinator
jfeduci@ncsu.edu

Jane Lubischer
Co-Undergraduate Program Coordinator
jllubisc@ncsu.edu