About Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chair's Welcome Message
Welcome to SF State’s Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry! Our mission is to offer an outstanding educational environment for our students. Our faculty are dedicated to providing excellent classroom and laboratory instruction, extensive hands-on experience using modern instrumentation, and student support through mentoring and advising. We offer four undergraduate degrees (B.S. Chemistry, B.A. Chemistry, B.S. Biochemistry, and a Minor in Chemistry) and two graduate degrees (M.S. Chemistry and M.S. Chemistry-Concentration Biochemistry). In addition, we’ve established the SF State Scholars Program (Blended B.S. + M.S. degree) for accelerated pathways to the M.S. degree. Together, these degree programs provide a robust and valuable education that prepare our students for a variety of professional trajectories.
Our students have the opportunity to participate in research on significant chemical or biochemical problems under the direct supervision of faculty members who are recognized authorities in their fields. We are currently housed in our new, state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Innovation Center. Our new facilities include 5 modern teaching labs, 12 shared research labs, a chemistry computational lab, and a shared equipment lab equipped with a variety of new chemical instrumentation.
A degree in chemistry or biochemistry from our program opens a multitude of professional opportunities for our students, including employment in companies within and outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly in biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Many of our graduates go on to pursue advanced degrees in M.S. and Ph.D. programs, or enter medical, dental, pharmacy, and veterinary schools. Our department also features an active student-run organization, which offers a variety of activities to build community and enhance the educational experience among students and faculty.
Whether you're just beginning your academic journey or planning your next step, we look forward to supporting your goals and welcoming you to our community!
Sincerely,
Bruce Manning, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
San Francisco State University
Contact: bmanning@sfsu.edu
Visit us in the new Science and Engineering Innovation Center
The Science & Engineering Innovation Center (SEIC) is a newly constructed 125,000 square foot building that now houses the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry labs, classrooms, and offices. In addition, the department now occupies newly renovated space in the adjacent Existing Science Building for teaching organic chemistry, nursing chemistry, and upper division biochemistry lab classes.
- Studio chemistry teaching labs (SEIC 214, 214, and 215). Three new “studio chemistry” teaching labs designed for simultaneous lecture/lab instruction are housed in the SEIC for lower division general chemistry courses.
- Agilent technologies Teaching Laboratory (SEIC 201). The Agilent technologies Teaching Lab houses new, state-of-the-art chemical instrumentation used for teaching and research. The facility is equipped with multiple UV-VIS absorbance spectrometers, time-resolved and steady-state fluorimeters, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers, two gas chromatographs (GCs), a triple quadrupole GC-mass spectrometer, an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, and a benchtop X-ray diffractometer.
- Richman Quantitative Chemistry Teaching Laboratory (SEIC 203). The Michael and Kathy Richman Quantitative Chemistry Teaching Lab is where our upper-division chemistry laboratories are taught. This space features multiple fume hoods, drying ovens, centrifuges, and an array of sample preparation tools.
- McKinney Computer Lab (SEIC 115). The McKinney Computer Lab features workstations for computational chemistry teaching and research. The room allows for small classroom teaching of computational chemistry and advanced courses in physical chemistry.
- Biochemistry Teaching Laboratory (SCI 207). The Biochemistry Teaching Laboratory in the Existing Science Building was fully renovated and equipped with new biochemical sample preparation and analysis equipment.