Siena Chemistry and Biochemistry students thrive with hands-on mentorship in a close community, launching into rewarding careers in biotech and groundbreaking research, or advancing to medical, graduate, and professional programs aligned with their goals.
As a chemistry or biochemistry major at Siena, you engage in real-world research on campus, work directly with faculty teacher-scholars, and train in our state-of-the-art facilities across the Morrell Science Center and our brand-new Nobel Hall. That's just the beginning:
Early & Guaranteed Research: Join faculty research teams as early as your first year, culminating in an independent capstone project and presentation at Siena’s CURCA Academic Showcase.
Faculty Collaboration: Collaborate side-by-side with professors through paid summer fellowships, present at national conferences, and publish as a co-author on peer-reviewed papers.
Direct Hands-On Instrumentation: Operate advanced equipment in our SAInT Center—like our 500 MHz NMR and MALDI-MS—running your own samples instead of handing them off to a TA.
A Supportive & Skilled Community: Thrive in small classes where faculty know you by name, building sought-after skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and technical writing within an active ACS chapter and peer-tutoring network.
“Chemistry: The central science.” That phrase, popularized in a 1977 chemistry textbook, refers to the link that chemistry provides between the physical sciences, mathematics, biological sciences, and the environment. Chemistry and biochemistry play a fundamental role in our everyday lives—from the air we breathe, the water we drink, and soil we walk upon to the food we eat, the medicine that improves our health, and the clothes we wear. Our labs help to analyze just that!
A degree in chemistry or biochemistry from Siena University will prepare you for graduate work in chemistry or biochemistry, as well as careers in industry, research, pharmaceuticals, education, engineering, environmental science, forensic science, medicine, and medical technology.
All of our majors participate in research during their senior year, but most choose to become involved much earlier, even as early as their first semester at Siena. Research projects with Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty are multidisciplinary and diverse, so students and faculty can explore many aspects of chemical science.
