Welcome to the Chemistry and Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program

The Chemistry and Nanoscale Science Ph.D. Program is an interdisciplinary program of research and teaching that promotes the understanding, development, and manipulation of chemical structures and phenomena that have nanoscale dimensions. Research and academic work towards earning a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Nanoscale Science addresses the development of materials and processes on the scale of roughly 1-100 nanometers in length, and the study of phenomena that occur on this size scale. The program prepares students to become scholarly, practicing scientists who possess the critical thinking, methodological, and communication skills required to advance and disseminate knowledge of fundamental and applied science in the areas of chemistry, biochemistry, energy materials, optics/spectroscopy, physics, and engineering.

community Spotlight

2024 Graduating Nanoscale Science Students

2024 Nanoscale Science Graduates!

Yelixza Avila – Kirill Afonin (advisor)

Varsha Godakhindi – Juan Vivero-Escoto (advisor)

Jennifer Kant – David Pugalee (advisor)

Beth Scarbrough – Jay Troutman (advisor)

Abhishek Shibu – Michael Walter (advisor)

Congratulations Ph.D. Student Allison STadick!

Chemistry and Nanoscale Science Students In Focus

Ph.D. Student Allison Stadick finished 3rd place overall at the UNC Charlotte Three Minute Thesis (3MT) sponsored by the graduate school. Allison is studying antimicrobial light-activated magnetic metal nanoparticles with Prof. Juan Vivero-Escoto.

Welcome Dr. Eva Ge and Dr. Laura Casto-BoggesS

Faculty In Focus

Dr. Ge and Dr. Casto-Boggess join the Department of Chemistry and Nanoscale Science PhD program as faculty (Fall 2023).

Congratulations Nanoscale Science Students!!!

2024 Graduate Research Symposium Winners!!!

Sudip Dam – 1st in Oral Presentation in Interdisciplinary Research

Jenny Kant – 1st in Poster Presentation in Interdisciplinary Research

Elizabeth Skelly – 2nd in Oral Presentation in Interdisciplinary Research

(Pictured Left to Right: Sudip Dam, COS Dean Donovan-Merkert, Elizabeth Skelly)

Poler Research Group

Faculty In Focus

The Poler Research Group consists of students from the Chemistry and Nanoscale Science Ph.D. program, the Optical Science and Engineering Ph.D. program, the Master’

Walter Research Group

Faculty in Focus

Welcome to the Walter Research Group in the Chemistry Department at UNC Charlotte. We are interested in the synthesis and development of new materials for Solar Energy Conversion and fluorescent molecular probes. 

Afonin Research Group

Faculty Spotlight

The study of RNA has become one of the most prominent areas in modern biology and biomedicine. RNA is now appreciated to function as an enzyme, natural scaffold, and powerful regulator of gene expression. 

Bejger Research Group

Faculty Spotlight

Research in the Bejger lab is focused on the design, synthesis, and assembly of molecular clusters for energy applications.