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At IUP we understand that not every university’s degree are created equal. We focus on student opportunities such as an integrated leadership minor, undergraduate research, internships, and guaranteed graduate school admissions to achieve a near 100 percent employment and graduate school placement rate.
Chemistry Education, Chemistry, BS
Minors:
Certified Degrees: The department undergoes a rigorous review by the American Chemical Society to have certified degrees offered, the gold standard for biochemistry and chemistry programs.
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Chemistry majors Nicholas Wright and Camryn Roche received top honors for their exceptional undergraduate research at the fifty-sixth annual Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists Research Conference, held April 5, 2025, at Bloomsburg University.
Two standout undergraduate student researchers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Parker Bradley and Symia Taimuty-Loomis, were selected to participate in the 2025 Undergraduate Research at the Capitol event.
Chemistry junior Parker Bradley presented his research on anticancer ruthenium-platinum bimetallic complexes at the Undergraduate Research at the Capitol – Pennsylvania event on March 25, 2025, engaging with legislators and showcasing his work conducted under Avijita Jain in the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
The Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics will host a seminar by Thomas A. Baker ’05 from Boston Consulting Group, titled “The Future of the Energy Transition: Renewables, AI, and the Next Generation of Clean-Tech,” on Friday, April 4, at 2:30 p.m. in Kopchick 102.
Chemistry explains a lot of the mysteries of our world, and that’s one of the things Avijita Jain likes most about it. Learn more about her in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
Riley Sullivan, an undergraduate researcher, presented his study on sustainable activated carbon biochar at Pittcon 2025, showcasing its potential for wastewater treatment.
H. M. (Skip) Kingston, a distinguished chemist and IUP alumnus, has returned to his alma mater as a scholar in residence. His pioneering research, philanthropic contributions, and mentorship are advancing scientific innovation at IUP, particularly in healthcare diagnostics and rural medicine, while equipping students with hands-on experience in cutting-edge analytical techniques.
Now a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University, Emma Bouchard ’22 focuses on leveraging machine learning to design chemical probes for studying enzyme catalysis, with an emphasis on automation and AI-driven solutions.
The IUP Physics and Pre-Engineering Clubs will host the annual Physics Olympics on April 4, providing local high school students with a hands-on competition featuring physics challenges, faculty interactions, and campus lab tours—continuing a tradition that has promoted STEM education since 1975!
Because of the technology and further exploration it involves, Jana Villemain has never lost interest in biochemistry. As a faculty member at IUP, she enjoys sharing that passion. Learn more about her in this week’s Meet Our Faculty feature.
