University of Southern California Chemistry Ph.D. Program

• The department is home to approximately 190 Ph.D. students studying chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical and theoretical chemistry. Our students work in a highly collaborative and team-oriented environment and have access to a number of centers and institutes at USC spanning the areas of cancer research, sustainability, alternative energy research, and quantum information technology. The department is distinguished by a number of honors including two Nobel Prizes (Arieh Warshel 2013, George Olah 1994). Our faculty have been recognized by 5 National ACS awards in 2020.
• Our current standard Ph.D. stipend is $35,700 per year. This amount can be augmented up to $40,000 per year with a number of internal fellowships for the best applicants. There are no tuition or fees and health and dental insurance are covered.
• Our graduate program does not have an application fee, and we do not require general or subject GRE. We do not require interviews for domestic students. We also offer early admission and competitive fellowships to a number of students.
• Our students are eligible for graduate research assistant fellowships from the university. These fellowships ensure that Ph.D. students in their critical second year of graduate school are able to fully engage in research and prepare for their qualifying exams. Our graduates continue onto successful careers in academic and industrial research, teaching, and government labs, in addition to nontraditional chemistry professions.