Chemistry Department

Details

The Chemistry Department is located downtown Paris, along the Seine river, one block away from the French national library, in the Lavoisier and Lamarck brand new buildings on campus. With more than 500 undergraduate students majoring in chemistry, 70 doctoral candidates and postdoctoral associates, and 90 academics working in three joint laboratories between the university and the CNRS (French national center for scientific research), and one laboratory of The Institute of Earth Physics of Paris (IPGP), the Department is involved in outstanding research and innovative educational programs. The Department houses ultramodern labs for physical and analytical chemistry as well as state-of-the-art platform technologies (near field microscopes, short pulse lasers, X-ray diffraction, SEM, XPS, NMR…). A great group of more than 50 technical and nontechnical staff support the Department’s research and teaching operations..

Core chemistry is at the heart of this research, at the interface with physical chemistry, nanosciences and nano-biosciences, and environmental sciences. This includes cutting edge and highly recognized research ranging from molecular and biomolecular electrochemistry and its applications (e.g. electrochemical biosensors, as well as joint projects with private companies in the field of analytical biochemistry and medical diagnostic), bioelectronics (with particular emphasis on structural and dynamical aspects of nanometer-sized biosystems), molecular plasmonics, organic electronics, synthesis of new materials and hybrid materials, studies of modified surfaces, computational modeling to the synthesis of biomolecules.

Cross-fertilized research activities bridging the gap between chemistry and environmental sciences include study of the chemical and biological processes in aquatic ecosystems affected or not by strong pollution, study of tropospheric environment in view of its impact on climate and pollution, and finally concerns the interplay between exobiology and planetology with questions relative to the emergence of complex organic systems during primitive life.

All these activities are illustrated by many publications in highly reputed scientific journals as well as by numerous collaborations with French and international academic laboratories concomitant with private companies. The department thus pursues a strong tradition of excellence and recognition of both its public educational programs and top quality research programs at the crossing of the fields, for the benefit to society and citizens.

Chemistry Department Director