Program Overview (Download an Organic/Bioorganic Flyer as a PDF)

Organic and bioorganic chemistry at OSU is a vibrant and exciting program. We offer a flexible Ph.D. curriculum in which the coursework and research projects are tailored to the student's interests. In addition, many of the research groups have combined meetings which fosters additional collaborations and interactions. We have outstanding research facilities with up-to-date NMR instrumentation (300 MHz, 400 MHz and 600 MHz), an in-house X-ray facility staffed by a full-time Ph.D. crystallographer and a world-class in-house low / high resolution mass spectrometry service. In addition, the chemistry department supports a glass blower, electrician and machine shop to assist with research activities.

RESEARCH. Our faculty have wide-ranging interests including the total synthesis of biologically active natural products, study of new asymmetric methods in organic synthesis, the probing of the biosynthetic and metabolic pathways and organotransition metal chemistry for the development of new catalytic transformations. Short descriptions of each faculty member's research interests are listed below.

Chris Beaudry - new strategies for the efficient synthesis of complex natural products.

Paul Blakemore - the development of new methods in enantioselective organic synthesis.

Rich Carter - the construction of complex natural products possessing unique structural motifs and wide-ranging biological activity.

Paul Cheong - computational study of mechanisms, selectivities, and reactivities of bio, organic, and transition metal catalysts and reactions.

Kevin Gable - the study of organotransition metal chemistry in a manner that will lead to new catalytic transformations of organic molecules.

Jim White - the study of new synthetic methods and strategies for application to the total synthesis of natural products.

Mark Zabriskie - biosynthesis of peptide antibiotics and the discovery of novel bioactive natural products.  

In addition emeritus faculty members, Max Deinzer and Pete Freeman are active in organic-related research.

PH.D. PROGRAM GUIDELINES. The graduate program at OSU is geared to provide the student with a solid foundation in organic and bioorganic chemistry. The student and his or her advisor work together to select the courses best suited to the student's interests and research project. In addition, the student's doctoral committee (consisting of 4-5 faculty members) closely follow the student progress through yearly informal meetings. A general outline of the 1st year of a student's program is provided below. The vast majority of the student's requirements are completed during their 1st year, thereby allowing them to focus the remainder of their time on research.

1st Year

The students also typically take two special topics courses (CH 636, 637, and 638) during their 2nd year. These courses, along with your elective course(s), allow the student to tailor his or her education to meet the student's interests and research project.

In addition, the students are expected to give two seminars (typically in 2nd-4th years) on topics not directly related to their research program. These presentations are done in a nurturing environment that allows the student to hone their public speaking skills. The organic and bioorganic graduate students are expected to attend these seminars to support their fellow students and to learn about new research areas.

The following rule changes applies to all students entering the program as of September 2010: All students in good standing are required to present a literature seminar (CH 633) by the end of their third academic year in the program.  Obtainment of a grade of A- or better for the first seminar will exempt the student from having to perform a second literature seminar.  Students receiving a grade of B+ or lower are expected to complete a second literature seminar on an unrelated topic to their first seminar within twelve months of their first seminar.  A grade of B or better must be obtained from the second seminar in order to consider this requirement satisfied.  Students who fail to obtain a B or better on the second seminar are referred to their dissertation committee for further recommendations. These recommendations may lead to termination from the program, conversion to a Masters (M.S.) degree track in the program or a requirement to perform a third and final literature seminar within 3 months of the previous seminar.
 
Finally, doctoral students are expected to take and pass cumulative exams which consist of questions selected by the faculty from the current literature. The student must obtain 4 points (out of 16 possible) by the end of their second year. In addition, the student must obtain an additional 6 points on the cumulative exams in order to proceed to candidacy. After completion of their cumulative exams and toward the end of the student's doctoral degree (3rd-5th year), the student is expected to pass an oral preliminary exam. This exam consists of the presentation and defense of an original proposal to his or her doctoral committee as well as the presentation of the student's research progress to date.

The following rule changes applies to all students entering the program as of September 2010: All students in good standing are expected to complete their oral preliminary exam within twelve months of satisfying their cumulative exam requirement of 10 points.   Students may request from their dissertation committee a one time extension to their oral preliminary exam.  Extension of the deadline for completing the oral preliminary exam is solely the discretion of the dissertation committee. Failure to complete their oral preliminary by the stated timeline may led to termination from the program or conversion to a Masters (M.S.) degree track in the program.

SEMINAR PROGRAM. We maintain an active seminar program with both academic and industrial speakers from across the country and around the world. These seminars are typically given on Monday afternoons at 4 pm. A list of our recent and upcoming speakers can be found on our website. The students actively participate in the seminar program through individual meetings with the speakers. In addition, the students also have more informal interactions including lunch with the visiting scientists. In fact, many of the lunches have ultimately translated into postdoctoral positions and job opportunities.

Each spring, a leader in the field of organic chemistry is invited to present the George H. Büchi Memorial Lecture.  This  award was started in 2003 to honor the late Professor Büchi.  Three of Buchi's Ph.D. students (James D. White, David A. Horne and Steven Gould) have held faculty positions at Oregon State University - making his impact on this department's success and direction significant.

JOB PLACEMENT. The organic and bioorganic division has a strong track record for the placement of their graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in industrial and postdoctoral positions. A selected list of recent companies and universities where our students and postdoctoral fellows have obtained subsequent appointments is shown below.