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Chemistry & Biochemistry

Gain research experience with faculty committed to your success

About Chemistry & Biochemistry at UCCS

The UCCS Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry offers vibrant and transformative teaching, abundant opportunities for laboratory research at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and networking resources to help students succeed in their career endeavors. 

Advancing Green Chemistry Education

Did you know that UCCS Chemistry & Biochemistry is the only higher-education department in Colorado that has signed a commitment with Beyond Benign to integrate green chemistry—environmentally sound chemistry—into all its first-year labs?

Not only do UCCS Chemistry students have opportunities to work with groundbreaking researchers in multiple subfields of chemistry, but they also enter their major and their careers with the ability to develop chemical processes and ask chemistry-related questions that recognize the human and environmental impact of their work.

Instructors Tisha Mendiola Jessop and Niki Juhl are working hard to make green chemistry accessible to everyone.

Alumni Stories

Madison Fox
Award-winning researcher

Biochemistry undergraduate and competitive figure skater Madison Fox (’22) received a 2021-22 Undergraduate Research Award to work with faculty member Dr. James Kovacs. Together, they produced an enzyme capable of breaking down toxic PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) in drinking water. Fox presented the results of this work with her mentor at the American Chemical Society—and as a result, upon graduation in 2022 she was hired by Dr. Anthony Fauci to conduct virology research on both COVID-19 and HIV.