North Central College - Naperville, IL
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Chemistry

Why choose chemistry at North Central College?

Our chemistry major provides undergraduates with exceptional academic opportunities. As early as your first year, you’ll have the chance to conduct original research using advanced scientific instruments right here on campus. That kind of hands-on lab experience is often reserved for graduate students at larger institutions. And, thanks to Naperville’s proximity to Chicago, you’ll have easy access to BP Amoco, Nalco, Baxter Healthcare, Sigma-Aldrich and other companies that value chemistry expertise. You’ll also connect with top-tier institutions where you can pursue graduate studies after completing our American Chemical Society-approved major.

You can also:

  • Work with cutting-edge scientific instrumentation—right away.
  • Take advantage of competitive science scholarship and grant opportunities.
  • Join the Student Members of the American Chemical Society chemistry student group.

To learn more about experiences and opportunities here at North Central College as a chemistry major, click here.

News

Anna Laky
Anna Laky earns 2012 Outstanding Major in Chemistry Award
Anna Laky of Villa Park was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Major in Chemistry Award during Honors Day May 15 at North Central College.
Heather Carlson ’91 delivers keynote address at Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research
Heather Carlson '91 delivered the keynote address at North Central College’s 15th annual Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research.
David Letterman asks Naperville science kid, “Do you go to North Central?”
A Naperville "Science Kid" prompts David Letterman to ask about North Central College.
more news

News

Internships

  • Flash learning objects intern, Reflection Software, Woodridge, IL

Graduate Schools

Recent graduates in chemistry have been accepted at:

  • University of North Carolina
  • University of Illinois
  • University of Iowa
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Illinois at Chicago: College of Dentistry
  • John Marshall Law School
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Oregon State University

Careers

Recent graduates in chemistry include:

  • Chemist, Exelon, Chicago
  • Chemist, Downers Grove Wastewater Treatment, Downers Grove, IL
  • Chemist, BP Amoco, Naperville
  • Chemist, Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, IN
  • Chemist, Flavors of North America, Geneva, IL
  • Forensic chemist, American Institute of Toxicology, Indianapolis, IN
  • Chemistry teacher, Naperville North High School, Naperville
  • Chemist, Underwriter Laboratories, Northbrook, IL
  • Chemist, Los Alamos National Lab, Santa Fe, NM
  • Research & development engineer, Universal Oil Products, Riverside, IL

Feature

Jesse Carey

Chemistry major

“I started working on a research project the summer after my first year. I wanted to make compounds in a new, greener way using a technique called BASIL (it stands for biphasic acid scavenging using ionic liquids). I presented my work to Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area during my sophomore year, then continued my research with Professor Paul Brandt over the next two summers.

“Starting my research early definitely helped me with upper-level course work; I also developed good lab skills and got to meet other people. Learning to share research with biologists, physicists, and psychologists—and with people from other fields—teaches you how to explain what you’re doing in layman’s terms.”

Feature

Cassandra Schneider

Chemistry

Cassandra Schneider succinctly describes how she decided to attend North Central College: “I found it online, came here and fell in love with the College,” she says.

Like others who major in a science at North Central, Cassandra learned the importance of developing communication skills in addition to conducting research and gaining valuable experience. She researched BASIL (biphasic acid scavenging using ionic liquid) with Paul Brandt, associate professor of chemistry. “The teachers at North Central are very helpful,” Cassandra says. “They don’t just give you an answer, they help you work toward it.”

In addition to pursuing her bachelor of science degree in chemistry, Cassandra explored her love of music. She plays the cello and performed often with the College’s various musical ensembles. She also performed in Pfeiffer Hall’s orchestra pit for musical theatre productions.

As a member of North Central’s Chemistry Club, Cassandra reached out to the community by performing  science demonstrations at a local middle school. She also demonstrated chemistry principles to high school students through ChemWest, a network of chemistry teachers in Chicago’s western suburbs.

Cassandra completed her studies at North Central in June 2011 and plans to pursue graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, where she hopes to earn a doctorate in inorganic chemistry.

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