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MedChem Banner

TOP RESEARCH EXPENDITURE IN THE U.S.

Medicinal chemistry involves the application of a number of specialized disciplinary approaches all focused on the ultimate goal of drug discovery.  Drug target identification and validation, rational (target-based) drug design, structural biology, computational-based drug design, methods development (chemical, biochemical, and computational), and “Hit-to-lead” development are all aspects of medicinal chemistry.  The techniques and approaches of chemical biology, synthetic organic chemistry, combinatorial (bio)chemistry, mechanistic enzymology, computational chemistry, chemical genomics, and high-throughput screening are all used applied by medicinal chemists towards drug discovery.

For our Pharm.D. students, medicinal chemistry is integrated with pharmacology to present a coherent picture of the principles of drug action.  Pharmacology mainly deals with drug action at the cellular, tissue/organ and organism levels.  Medicinal chemistry focuses on the molecular aspects of drug action: interactions with the drug targets from both the drug and the target point of view, the relationship of drug chemical structure to drug action and the effects of metabolism on the drug structure and hence its action.

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry and the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry (Med Chem IDP), while inextricably linked, are distinct with related but separate missions.  Historically, the Med Chem IDP is ~60 years old, while the Department of Medicinal Chemistry is ~25 years old.  Other key differences are the composition of the respective faculties and the responsibilities for the programs as briefly summarized below.

As a discipline, Medicinal Chemistry in the United States started at the University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy with Professor F. F. Blicke in 1926.  Prof. Blicke initiated the first graduate education program in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, focusing on synthetic organic chemistry.  The program expanded in the 1950s to include analytical aspects and pharmaceutics.  After Prof. Blicke’s retirement in 1960, his former student, Prof. J. H. Burkhalter returned to the College and argued for an independent graduate education program in Medicinal Chemistry.  Until that time, Ph.D. degrees in the College were in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy.  Since there were so few Medicinal Chemistry faculty in the College (2), Rackham would not approve it.  However, in 1967, under the direction of Graduate School Dean Alfred Sussman and with the participation of a core group of interdepartmental faculty, the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry (Med Chem IDP) was established.  The College then applied for a Pharmacological Sciences Training Program Grant (PSTP) at the same time as the Department of Pharmacology.  NIH had a rule that no institution could have duplicate training grants and asked that the two applications be merged.  This was done and Dean Sussman was made the first director of the PSTP.  The directorship has alternated between Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology ever since.  The mission of the Med Chem IDP was, and still is to train students in a broad range of chemistry-based disciplines so that its graduates are able to apply the rigor and methods of the physical sciences to drug discovery research.  This was the first such formal program in the country and involved the College of Pharmacy, the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, the Medical School, and the School of Dentistry.

The Med Chem IDP is currently administered by the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies with direct oversight by the College of Pharmacy.  The Med Chem IDP includes all faculty from the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and faculty with appropriate interests from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy as well as select faculty from a variety of schools (e.g., Literature, Science and the Arts, Medical School) and departments at Michigan (e.g., Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Pathology, Pharmacology, Radiology).  The Med Chem IDP serves to administer the Med Chem PhD program, with responsibility for graduate student recruitment, training, progression and graduation.  Approximately half of the Med Chem IDP faculty have their primary appointments outside of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry.  These faculty currently mentor ~20% of the Med Chem PhD students and are fully engaged in the Med Chem PhD program in many other ways including seminar attendance, recruitment of students, teaching in our graduate courses, and serving on candidacy and dissertation committees.  There is an annual meeting of the Med Chem IDP faculty to review the status of the IDP and the students.

In 1999, in response to the significant growth of the College of Pharmacy under previous Dean Ara G. Paul, then Dean George L. Kenyon initiated a process of departmentalization of the College of Pharmacy.  The rationale included the recognition that the expertise and research areas of the College faculty had grown to be so diverse that it was impossible for a single person to adequately mentor and administer all faculty.  Additionally, the administration of the professional PharmD and clinical programs and the research enterprise of the College was so complex that a departmental structure was needed to efficiently carry out our mission.  Prof. James K. Coward was the first Chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of the Med Chem IDP.  The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is the administrative component of the College of Pharmacy that oversees the Medicinal Chemistry faculty, research scientists and postdoctoral fellows (e.g., recruitment, mentoring, evaluation), has responsibility for the medicinal chemistry PharmD and PhD courses and seminar program, and coordinates the participation of medicinal chemistry faculty in College-level committees and other administrative duties.  The Department of Medicinal Chemistry also administers the Med Chem IDP activities (e.g., student recruitment and progression).  In 2017, the position of Director of Education was established.  In 2022, the positions of department chair and IDP director were separated.  In 2023-24, a national search was conducted to recruit a new department chair, the first time a chair was recruited from outside of the department.

Chairs/Directors of Medicinal Chemistry at Michigan

Fredrick F. Blicke (Director, IDP)                                                  1926 - 1960

Joseph H. Burckhalter (Director, IDP)                                          1960 - 1972

Raymond Counsell (Director, IDP)                                               1973 - 1976

Leroy B. Townsend (Director, IDP)                                               1977 - 1997

James K. Coward (Chair and Director, IDP)                                1998 - 2004

Ronald W. Woodard (Chair and Director, IDP)                             2005 - 2011

George A. Garcia (Chair and Director, IDP)                                 2012 - 2020

Mustapha Beleh (Director, Education)                                         2017 - present

Heather A. Carlson (Chair and Director, IDP)                              2020 - 2021

George A. Garcia (Interim Chair)                                                 2022 - 2024

Amanda L. Garner (Director, IDP)                                                2022 - present

Robert H. Cichewicz (Chair)                                                         2024 - present

The PhD Program in Medicinal Chemistry educates and trains students in the design and synthesis of novel, biologically active compounds and in delineating their mechanisms of action using biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. Research specializations are available in synthetic, biochemical/pharmacological, and biophysical aspects of medicinal chemistry. Doctoral research in these specializations will relate to faculty areas of research, which currently include substance use disorders and addiction; neuropathic pain; obesity and metabolic disorders; neuropsychiatric disorders (psychoses, ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders); and neurodegenerative diseases.

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This specialization offered by the Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) trains students in the design and synthesis of novel biologically active compounds and in the study of their mechanisms of action using biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. Concentrations are available in synthetic, biochemical/pharmacological, and biophysical medicinal chemistry. The CDD’s excellence in teaching has been recognized by the award of a training grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for predoctoral and postdoctoral training in development of medications. These will be targeted to treat drug abuse; addiction; and other indications such as neuropathic pain, obesity, neuropsychiatric disorders (psychoses, ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders); and neurodegenerative disorders.

Where They Work

• Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research

What They Do

• Healthcare Services
• Business Development

What They’re Skilled At

• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Cell Culture
• Biotechnology

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $50
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Personal Statement
• Official GRE scores
• TOEFL score for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English
• Please note all international applicants will need to provide a WES evaluation. Link to WES: https://www.wes.org/ https://www.wes.org/

Admissions deadline for Fall term: December 6

• Program Website

Request Information for PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery

PhD Program: Medicinal Chemistry

About the track.

The medicinal chemistry track encompasses drug discovery and prepares you with the means to study the behavior of chemical substances at the molecular level.

• You will use computational, biochemical and cell-based screening technologies to identify natural and synthetic compounds with pharmacological activity.
• You will study structure-activity relationships to understand the mechanisms of drug action.
• Your research will be directed towards the identification, synthesis and development of new chemical molecules suitable for biological studies and eventually therapeutic use.

Download our brochure

Faculty Associated with this Track

• Paul Johnston, PhD
• Velvet Journigan, PhD
• Jaden Jun, PhD
• Terance McGuire, PhD
• Peter Wipf, PhD
• Xiangqun Xie, PhD, MBA
• Wei Zhang, PhD

Download the competency requirements for a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Primary Contact

Xiangqun (Sean) Xie , PhD, MBA Professor 206 Salk Pavilion 412-383-5276 [email protected]

Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy Graduate Studies

Faculty in the Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy have a broad range of expertise, which is echoed by the diversity of study of the graduate students. Graduate students receive instruction in individual and small group settings and perform original research to foster their technical abilities, increase the breadth and depth of their knowledge, and sharpen their critical thinking skills.

Students can specialize their research into one of the four tracks below:

• Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry – students receive training and perform original research regarding the design, synthesis, and structural optimization of biologically active molecules and potential drug candidates.  
• Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy – students are trained to perform the isolation, characterization, biological evaluation and derivatization of molecules from natural sources such as plants and microorganisms.  
• Biochemistry – students conduct the detailed pharmacological evaluation of drugs and drug candidates of interest to faculty members in the division, including exploration of the mechanism(s) of action of these candidates.  
• Computational Medicinal Chemistry – students investigate new approaches for computer-aided drug design, including the development of new computational methods.

Each student may take a slightly different path to complete the minimum core courses by the end of the second year. Electives necessary for research specialization may be taken during years two and three. Additional courses depend on research interests, and are taken during the second and/or third years as well.

The Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy

Learn more about the faculty in the Division of Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy

General Examination and Oral Examination

A general examination is required for admission to candidacy for the PhD degree. It consists of written and oral components. The written portion of the general exam must be taken following the completion of the student's core coursework program, usually before the end of the third year of the program. The responsibility for the written exam rests with the student’s advisory committee. The written exam consists of an independent research proposal developed by the student. The proposal should not be in the dissertation research area of the student.

The oral portion of the general exam must be taken within four weeks of the approval of the written proposal by the advisory committee. The oral exam will consist of defense of the research proposal, written by the student as part of the general exam, as well as answering questions concerning the student's course work and research.

Doctoral students are required to present three formal seminars in order to complete the PhD.

Doctoral Dissertations

The doctoral dissertation defines the PhD and demonstrates the ability of the graduate student to perform independent research and scholarly activities. The dissertation details the research carried out, describes the results obtained, reports the relationship of the research to previous work in the field, and discusses the significance of the research in the further understanding the field.

Graduate Student Support

Select opportunities are available.

• Department of Chemistry >
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PhD in Medicinal Chemistry

Find your home in UB Chemistry! We're here to help you every step of the way. 

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• 5/25/23 Info for Current Students

The PhD in Medicinal Chemistry  provides a unique opportunity for students to develop a strong foundation in organic and medicinal chemistry and also to broaden their knowledge in areas such as drug discovery, biochemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology.

PhD Program Requirements

• Coursework Once admitted to the PhD in Chemistry program, students are required to complete six graduate-level lecture courses during the first two years of full-time study. Of these courses, three must be one-semester introductory core courses selected from the four traditional areas of chemistry (CHE 501 and MCH 501 are required for the Medicinal Chemistry PhD), while the other three elective courses are chosen in consultation with the student’s research advisor. 
• Proficiency Students must also demonstrate proficiency in medicinal chemistry, as well as in three of four traditional areas of chemistry, during the first three semesters. Proficiency can be established by completing a core graduate course or by passing the ACS Placement Exam in the area. A 3.00 grade point average in lecture courses is required.
• Research Synopsis During the fifth semester (third year) of graduate study, PhD students are required to prepare a written research synopsis summarizing research progress to date and future research plans. An oral examination with the student’s PhD committee is used to evaluate the student’s research potential.
• Research Proposal Also during the fifth semester, the student is required to write and orally defend an independent research proposal. This proposal involves the identification of a problem from the chemical literature that is not directly related to the student’s thesis work and a proposed solution to that problem. There are no cumulative exams in the UB Department of Chemistry.
• Public Lecture During the fourth year of graduate study, PhD students present a public lecture on their research progress. This provides the PhD committee a chance to give the student feedback prior to finishing their written dissertation.
• Dissertation and Oral Defense The majority of a PhD student’s time is spent on creative research. At the conclusion of the research work, a dissertation must be written and orally defended before the PhD committee and the department at large.

Faculty Research Mentor

The Department of Chemistry views an advanced degree in chemistry or medicinal chemistry as primarily a research degree, so the choice of research director is an important decision for the first-year graduate student. To facilitate the selection of the research mentor, the members of the faculty engaged in research present a general overview of their research interests in a series of meetings with the new graduate students. This allows the students to become acquainted with the different research opportunities in the program in an informal setting. 

Students are also encouraged to speak informally with as many faculty members as possible before making their decision. Assistance is available to those students having difficulty with this decision. However, it is to the student’s advantage to select a research advisor at the earliest possible date. Typically, graduate research is initiated during the second semester or during the first summer within the program.

PhD Student Timeline

Upon arrival, all new graduate students are required to take standardized tests produced by the American Chemical Society to assess their preparation for graduate study. Results of these tests are used by the Graduate Curriculum Committee to help students select their first-semester courses. A typical first-semester graduate student takes three core graduate-level courses and is also engaged in TA duties. Most of the required course work is finished by the end of the second or third semester in the program.

The following table provides a typical PhD graduate student timeline:

PhD Program Metrics

Email  [email protected]  or contact  Prof. Timothy Cook , director of graduate studies, for more information on this program and the admissions process.

Doctor of Philosophy in Medicinal Chemistry (PhD)

Location: Boston Start Term: Fall Either build on your master’s-level knowledge or start directly on your PhD examining the behavior of chemical substances at the molecular level and conducting research related to the development of new drugs and novel targets.

Research Drug Design and Synthesis in Some of the World’s Most Advanced Laboratories

Your doctoral journey.

Our research-and-development focused curriculum prepares you for roles at the frontier of drug discovery and enhancement in the pharmaceutical industry. You’ll work side-by-side with globally respected faculty working on novel drug targets and diseases. This program is STEM-designated , qualifying international students for an additional two years of OPT work in the United States.

First-Year Experience (following completion of your MS degree)

• deepen your grasp of pharmaceutical science principles
• study medicinal, organic, and bio-organic chemistry and spectroscopic analysis
• participate in related laboratory rotations and graduate seminars

Second-Year Experience

• engage in research in your desired area of specialization
• continue to participate in related graduate seminars

Third-Year Experience

• develop a thorough understanding of drug metabolism
• extend your research in a desired area of specialization and create a grant proposal

Medicinal Chemist compensation reported by Payscale.com in 2022.

The projected professional growth between 2022 and 2032 is 6%, faster than average.  (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Massachusetts is #1 in Industry investment in R&D per capita. (Massachusetts Life Sciences Center)

Developing Future Leaders in the Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dream Jobs That Help Humanity

As a medicinal chemist, you’ll work with some of the most dynamic technologies and life-saving breakthroughs in healthcare.

Working at the Frontier of Therapeutics

Jose Mauricio Paredes Quiroz, MS ’22, pursues his calling as a drug hunter working on RNA-based therapeutics at Dicerna Pharmaceuticals.

Students Publish with Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor

Professor Swati Betharia, PhD in Pharmacology ’11, led a research team of undergraduate and graduate students to a key finding on neuroprotection against metal toxicity.

Graduate Degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences

As well as the PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, we offer five additional opportunities for graduate study at the master’s, doctoral, and certificate levels.

Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry

Two-year, full-time program on the Boston campus.

Master of Science in Pharmaceutics

Two-year, full-time program on the Boston and Worcester campuses.

Master of Science in Clinical Research

Flexible full-time or part-time program on the Boston campus and online.

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research

Flexible three-course program on the Boston campus and online.

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutics

50-credit, full-time program on the Boston and Worcester campuses.

Download a Program Fact Sheet

Download a program fact sheet for a snapshot of the Doctor of Philosophy in Medicinal Chemistry.

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Medicinal Chemistry PhD Track

College of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program at UNMC- Medicinal Chemistry Feature

Medicinal Chemistry Faculty

Professor, UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Phone: 402-559-5362 Fax: 402-559-5673

Phone: 402-559-9729 Fax: 402-559-5673

Professor, UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Co-Director, T32 Training Program in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Drug Discovery

Phone: 402-836-9763 Fax: 402-559-5673

Professor, UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vice Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Phone: 402-559-3453 Fax: 402-559-9365

Associate Professor, UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Phone: 402-559-9361 Fax: 402-559-5673

Explore our other PhD program tracks

• Drug Delivery and Biopharmaceutics Track
• Biophysics Track
• Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Track

Amber Hawk, MS Ed

Director of Admissions & Recruitment

Phone: 402-559-5366

Fax: 402-559-5060

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College of Pharmacy - Chicago | Rockford

Phd in pharmaceutical sciences.

We enable students with backgrounds in fundamental sciences to become leaders in pharmaceutical sciences

Located in the vibrant and multicultural city of Chicago, UIC's PhD Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the strongest and largest of its type in the United States. Our college is consistently ranked in the top ten in terms of funds secured annually from the National Institutes of Health and by US News and World Report. We pride ourselves on giving students from all types of backgrounds the tools they need to become independent researchers. Students in the program select one of the program concentrations, described below.

Important dates Heading link Copy link

We are so pleased you are considering graduate studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago! Although Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the best graduate programs of its kind in the country, our real pride is mentoring students into independent researchers who become leaders in our field. The program has some unique strengths, including providing flexibility to carry out internships in your later years. Have a look around our website. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . We look forward to reading your application! Debra Tonetti, PhD  |  Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Program Coursework Heading link Copy link

All students in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program take the following courses. Additional concentration coursework is also required and is shown in each of the concentration tabs.

• Drug Discovery, Design, and Development (PSCI 501, 3 credit hours)
• Training in Research Presentation (PSCI 502, 1 credit hour)
• PSCI 503: Biostatistics for Pharmaceutical Scientists (1 credit hour)
• BSTT 400: Biostatistics I (4 credit hours) [Note: BSTT 400 is required for the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration]
• Scientific Ethics and the Responsible Conduct of Research (GC 501, 1 credit hour)
• Research Rotation (PSCI 592; 3-4 credit hours)
• PSCI PhD Course Requirements
• PSCI Department Course Descriptions

Program Concentrations Heading link Copy link

Five concentrations comprise the PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Click on the tabs below to learn more about each of them. To see the faculty mentors for each concentration, visit the Faculty Mentors page .

Chemistry in Drug Discovery

Concentration description.

Faculty in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery concentration use the tools and techniques of chemistry to discover and develop new chemical probes and potential therapeutics. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze small molecules, peptides, and proteins.

Concentration Coursework

Students in the Chemistry in Drug Discovery Concentration take the following courses:

• Fundamental of Drug Action I (PHAR 422, 4 credit hours)
• Principles of Medicinal Chemistry (PSCI 530, 5 credit hours)
• Electives (9 credit hours)

Concentration Coordinator

Prof. Terry Moore ([email protected])

Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics

The Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics concentration is designed to provide advanced understanding of fundamental causes of diseases, strategies that identify new drug targets, and mechanistic explanations of how drugs work (or fail) from the perspective of the target and systems they impact. Faculty affiliated with MMT integrate a wide variety of molecular, biochemical, genetic, bioinformatic, and bioengineering approaches to study mechanisms of pathogenesis ranging from infectious diseases to cancer. Students will enroll in fundamental molecular and cellular biology courses and select elective courses in areas of their focused research.

Students in the Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics Concentration take the following courses:

• Biochemistry (e.g., GEMS 501 or equivalent graduate-level biochemistry course, 3 credit hours)
• Molecular Biology (e.g., GEMS 502 or equivalent molecular biology course, 3 credit hours)
• Biostatistics I (BSTT 400, 4 credit hours)
• Molecular Genetics (GEMS 511, 3 credit hours)
• Receptor Pharmacology and Cell Signaling (GEMS 515, 3 credit hours)
• Microbial Pathogenesis (MIM 560, 3 credit hours)
• Cancer Biology and Therapeutics (PSCI 540, 3 credit hours)

Prof. Alessandra Eustaquio ( [email protected] )

Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery

Faculty in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration use the tools and techniques of physical and biologic sciences and engineering to understand and develop delivery systems and formulations for therapeutic molecules and control the biodistribution of therapeutic molecules. Students in this concentration learn how to design, synthesize, characterize and analyze novel materials and drug delivery systems and design and develop technologies related to therapeutic distribution in the body.

Students in the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Concentration take the following courses:

• *This 4 credit hour course will count 1 hour toward the program core statistics requirement and 3 hours toward the Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery concentration requirements. Students will not receive credit for two introductory statistics courses.
• Essentials for Animal Research (GC 470, 1 credit hour)
• Experimental Animal Techniques (GC 471, 2 credit hours)
• Principles of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery (PSCI 510, 3 credit hours)

Prof. Richard Gemeinhart ([email protected])

Pharmacognosy

Faculty research programs in the Pharmacognosy concentration aim to develop therapeutics from natural products and to study the mechanisms of pain, cancers, and a wide array of infectious and tropical diseases. Students of this concentration are trained in a combination of bioinformatics, synthetic biology, genetic engineering, chromatography, and spectroscopy to achieve these goals.

Students in the Pharmacognosy Concentration take the following courses:

• Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy (PSCI 520 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)
• Structure Elucidation of Natural Products (PSCI 521 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)
• Advanced Pharmacognosy (PSCI 522 or equivalent; 3 credit hours)

Prof. Brian Murphy ([email protected])

PharmD/PhD Joint Program Heading link Copy link

Pharmaceutical Sciences participates in the joint PharmD/PhD program, which trains students for careers in academic pharmacy and bench science research. Students admitted to this joint program participate in the PharmD curriculum and pursue original doctoral research projects in the laboratories of the university’s graduate faculty in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The joint program offers the potential of reducing the time of earning both degrees in sequence (9 or more years) by approximately two years. The trade-off is that both degrees are awarded at the end of the training period and neither degree can be received before the other is completed.

The PharmD/PhD program is for exceptional, highly motivated and achieving students ready to meet the challenge of increased academic load and independent research project.

Program coordinator: Dr. Lindsey McQuade ( [email protected] )

• Joint PharmD/PhD Course Requirements
• Joint PharmD/PhD Program Page

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Pride Points for PhD PSCI Heading link Copy link

$ 37,500 annual graduate stipend for students on teaching assistantship or research assistantship

33 internships completed by department graduate students in the last five years

19 students currently on training grant or fellowship

# 7 nationally ranked College of Pharmacy according to US News

# 7 nationally ranked total research funding among Colleges of Pharmacy according to AACP

Start your application Heading link Copy link

The Pharmaceutical Sciences Program at UIC offers a supportive, inclusive environment and rigorous academic preparation for students who are interested in careers in pharmaceutical sciences. If you have any questions about the program or about your application, please contact [email protected].

Get in touch: Contact Us

Drug Discovery (Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry)

Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry is a dynamic, multifaceted graduate program dedicated to improving human health through research leading to new concepts for the design and development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

Drug Discovery (Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Division)

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in Annual Research Funding

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Announcing our new B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science

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Faculty and Staff

Our department is made up of eleven full-time teaching and research (T&R) faculty members, three full-time staff members, two administrative faculty members, and numerous postdoctoral fellows, as well as both adjunct and affiliate faculty, all of whom contribute to our mission to achieve excellence in our professional and graduate programs through innovative education and leading-edge research.

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Graduate Programs

We offer programs leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy in pharmaceutical sciences. These programs provide the preparation and research experience for academic, governmental and industrial careers.

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Suite 205, Biotech I Virginia Biotechnology Research Park 800 E. Leigh Street Box 980540 Richmond, VA 23298-0540 Umesh Desai , Chair

Phone: (804) 828-6448 Fax: (804) 828-7625

Job Openings

Medicinal chemistry is the science of understanding and designing new and more potent therapeutic agents to address modern problems in health and medicine. This is accomplished through a multidisciplinary approach including techniques such as organic synthesis, high-throughput screening, computational modeling, and structure based drug design. Medicinal chemistry involves the use of a variety of biochemical and analytical methods, and researchers get hands-on experience with cutting-edge instrumentation and analysis. The invention of new drugs takes many years of effort, and medicinal chemists play perhaps the most important role in their development. A medicinal chemist learns and studies how the drug interacts with a target, and uses this knowledge to optimize the activity for human use. Graduates of the VCU Medicinal Chemistry program are highly valued in both industry and academia, given the breadth of knowledge they learn throughout their training.

Allosteric Interactive Drugs

M. Safo , R. Glennon ,  U. Desai

Anti-cancer and Anti-HIV Drug Development

Y. Zhang , R. Huang , S. Zhang ,  B. Windle

Anticoagulants and Enzyme Mechanism

Behavioral Effects of Drugs

R. Young , M. Dukat ,  R. Glennon

Bioinformatics

G. Kellogg , R. Westkaemper,  B. Windle

Centrally-acting Agents

R. Glennon , M. Dukat ,  S. Zhang

Chemical Biology

R. Huang ,  B. Windle

Drug Discovery

Drugs of Abuse

M. Dukat , R. Glennon , R. Young ,  Y. Zhang

Molecular Modeling and Drug Design

U. Desai , G. Kellogg , M. Safo , R. Westkaemper, Y. Zhang , M. Dukat ,  R. Huang

Natural Product Synthesis

Next Generation Antibiotics

Qsar technology development, rna-drug interactions, structural biology, x-ray crystallography.

College of Pharmacy

• Our Department
• DEI Efforts
• About the PhD Graduate Program
• PhD Requirements
• Research Facilities and Equipment
• Faculty Research Foci
• Postdocs & Research Staff
• Abul-Hajj and Hanna Award for Exceptional Graduate Student in Medicinal Chemistry
• Ole Gisvold Lecture
• Philip S. Portoghese Distinguished Lecture
• Taito O. Soine Lecture
• Distinguished Lectures
• Medicinal Chemistry Seminars
• Epigenetics Consortium Seminars
• Chemical Biology Initiative Seminars
• Epigenetics Consortium
• From Digitalis to Ziagen

• Expertise & Outcomes

Our Department consists of a diverse group of faculty members, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, and staff working at the interface of chemistry and biology. 

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry was previously home to the Editorial Offices of  ACS Infectious Diseases and the  Journal of Medicinal Chemistry .

We are part of the College of Pharmacy and University Health Sciences, which house nationally and internationally acclaimed programs in the areas of biochemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology, virology, immunology, cancer biology, structural biology, and drug delivery.

The University of Minnesota has one of the largest Academic Health Centers in the United States, and the Department of Medicinal Chemistry is proud to contribute to its success.

Our Graduate Program has been awarding PhD degrees to students for over seventy-five years and has a long and distinguished history of being among the top medicinal chemistry programs in the country.

Offices & Labs for the Department of Medicinal Chemistry can be found in CCRB, Weaver-Densford Hall, and 717 Delaware St.

Our research and practice focuses on:

• Design and synthesis of new medicinal agents
• Development of new concepts for the design of selectively acting ligands
• Improvement of existing drugs by molecular modification
• Structure elucidation of biologically active natural products
• Physicochemical and theoretical studies on drugs and macromolecules
• Investigations of the effects of molecular structure on the distribution, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and toxicity of biologically active substances
• Application of the basic principles of chemistry and molecular biology to the development and production of therapeutics from natural sources

A defining feature of our department are our faculty's incredibly diverse and highly specialized research interests.

Many are considered subject matter experts in their discipline and their interdisciplinary cutting-edge research changes lives.

This also affords our students a solid foundation from which to develop and explore their own scientific and professional interests, both in the classroom and in the laboratory.

Our students leave well prepared for the evolving multidisciplinary research of the pharmaceutical industry and academia.

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• PHAR 5310: Topics in Pharmacy Ethics (Pandemics)
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Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.

The Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery integrates aspects of contemporary medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, emphasizing topics most relevant to therapeutics design, discovery, and action.

The Master of Science in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery offered by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, develops students' knowledge in the design, synthesis, and mechanisms of action of novel biologically active compounds using modern biochemical, biophysical, and pharmacological approaches. The core curriculum focuses on a combination of synthetic organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and pharmacology courses. Through in-depth elective courses, the program offers students the opportunity to develop medicinal chemistry expertise that can be applied to a practice-oriented career in the pharmaceutical industry. Graduates of the program will also be well prepared to enter related PhD programs at the university.

More Details

Unique features.

• The University is strategically located within the Boston-area biomedical and pharmaceutical/biotech-industry ecosystem
• The MS program provides opportunities for original research experience in department labs, and the option to do a literature or laboratory-based master's thesis for credit
• The interdisciplinary and comprehensive program is structured with core and elective courses using laboratory and computer-based technologies
• Northeastern’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is consistently ranked first in NIH funding among all private U.S. schools of pharmacy.
• The program offers multiple opportunities for experiential learning through departmental and off campus internships and co-ops
• Program faculty includes industry-practiced scientists in drug discovery
• Those already employed in pharmaceutical/biotechnology careers can take specific courses for advanced training

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the MS in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery program, students will be able to:

• Explain current trends in organic synthesis as applied to therapeutics invention.
• Produce literature reviews encompassing retrieval, critical analysis, assessment, and written/oral presentation of current topics in drug discovery.
• Use organic-synthesis methodology and instrumentation in drug discovery.
• Apply experimental techniques to design, synthesize, and profile novel drug-like chemical entities.
• Maintain and use data, records, and notes/documentation according to ethical standards of research practice and academic integrity.
• Conceptualize and communicate to diverse constituencies in good oral and written English the principal concepts in medicinal chemistry as applied to drug discovery/development.
• Judge how social, economic, and ethical issues may impact drug discovery.
• Determine shortcomings of extant pharmacotherapeutics and how they may be overcome.
• Predict future trends in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery for synthesis of druggable chemical matter.
• Apply organic chemistry to advance drug discovery and development.
• Determine therapeutic areas where synthesis of new drug-like molecules is needed to satisfy unmet medical needs.

Career Outlook

Graduates of the Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery program often work in chemistry labs synthesizing new chemical matter as potential drugs. Some graduates from the department have established careers as independent:

• Industry scientists and administrators (Big Pharma, biotech)
• Clinical laboratory staff
• Academic biomedical researchers
• Science teaching faculty
• Medical liaison specialists
• Pharmaceutical product representatives
• Medical writers

Looking for something different?

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-ranked university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

• Application
• Application fee
• Two letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Personal statement
• For those whose native language is not English, the TOEFL or IELTS exam will be required. A minimum score of 100 in the iBT TOEFL is preferred, or a minimum score of 7.5 in the IELTS Academic is preferred. TOEFL Code for the application is 8246
• GRE scores are optional
• Mathematics (including calculus)
• Biochemistry
• Organic chemistry

 Please note: All international applicants will need to provide a WES

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the Bouvé College of Health Sciences admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Domestic: August 1 International: June 1

Industry-aligned courses for in-demand careers.

For 100+ years, we’ve designed our programs with one thing in mind—your success. Explore the current program requirements and course descriptions, all designed to meet today’s industry needs and must-have skills.

View curriculum

Northeastern's signature experience-powered learning model has been at the heart of the university for more than a century. It combines world-class academics with professional practice, allowing you to acquire relevant, real-world skills you can immediately put into action in your current workplace. This makes a Northeastern education a dynamic, transformative experience, giving you countless opportunities to grow as a professional and person.

Our Faculty

Northeastern University faculty represents a broad cross-section of professional practices and fields, including finance, education, biomedical science, management, and the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors and collaborate alongside you to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

You can see the faculty associated with the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences programs here .

By enrolling in Northeastern, you’ll be connected to students at our 13 campuses, as well as 300,000-plus alumni and more than 3,500 employer partners around the world. Our global university system provides you with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally and serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

Below is a look at where some of our alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.

Where They Work

• Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research

What They Do

• Healthcare Services
• Business Development
• Sales/Marketing
• Strategic Planning
• Competitive Surveillance
• Medical Liaison Specialists
• Pharmaceutical Product Representatives
• Medical Writers

What They're Skilled At

• Pharmaceutical Industry Practice
• Biotechnology
• Experimental Techniques in: Applied Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry and Human Biology
• Drug Design, Delivery, Action and Therapeutic Application

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on  Linkedin .

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