The Department of Chemistry at the University of Rhode Island is an exciting place to be for both undergraduate and graduate studies. Student interest in chemistry and all of the sciences at URI has seen explosive growth, so we are serving a large percentage of the student body in our freshman and sophomore courses.

In the November 2010 general election the voters of Rhode Island approved a Bond Issue to provide funding for a new chemistry building. Pastore Hall is nearly 60 years old and has become limiting for both teaching and research purposes. The design of the new chemistry building is nearly complete from an outstanding architectural firm, Wilson Architects. The new building will be able to serve more students and provide us with modern laboratory space. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2013 with occupation of the finished building in summer 2015.

The faculty have been pursuing cutting edge research in diverse areas as energetic materials, forensic science, energy storage, polymeric materials, and sensors. The Chemistry Department at URI co-hosts two major centers: a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence in Explosives Detection, Mitigation, and Response (with Northeastern) and a Department of Energy EPSCoR Center for the study of lithium ion batteries (with Brown).

The study of chemistry at URI is thriving and we invite all to join us.