June 2020:
I want to add my voice to the growing national outcry condemning the deep-seated racism and systemic violence against people of color that exists in this country. The death of George Floyd – and too many others before him, including Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Philando Castile – has brought into sharp focus the need for social and justice reform. It is a sad fact that racism is pervasive in our culture, and can manifest itself in many forms, and at every level. Black lives matter. I stand with the those who are fighting for much needed reform. In science, we believe that data shapes our thinking and guides us to a fundamental view of the way the world works. But we have ignored the data that clearly shows bias and inequalities against people of color. Black drivers are more likely to be stopped by LAPD [1], more likely to be incarcerated in state prisons [2], and Black males in America are 2.5 times more likely than white males to die during an encounter with law enforcement [3]. We can’t change this data overnight. But we can do our part. As a Department, we must examine and identify ways in which our policies, procedures, and curricula may limit opportunities for people of color. We must break down these barriers and find ways to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in science, higher education, and society. And as individuals, especially as faculty members in positions of influence, we must reflect on how we might be unknowingly contributing to the perpetuation of racial injustice. We must change. I believe that it is only when racism is extinguished, and people of color can fully and freely contribute, that our society will truly flourish.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/02/california-police-black-stops-force
Simon J. Garrett
Department Chair
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Welcome to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at CSUN!
Our department offers M.S., B.S. and B.A. degrees in Chemistry and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Biochemistry. Our B.S. degrees are accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS) as meeting their strict standards for breadth and rigor, making our students nationally competitive in the job market or graduate/professional programs.
Whether you are a Chemistry or Biochemistry major, or taking a class in our department as part of another major, you will find our faculty and staff are committed to helping you succeed. We offer small classes, award-winning teacher-scholar faculty, hands-on laboratory experience and outstanding opportunities to get involved in research. A significant number of our undergraduates are part of special training programs such as Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC), Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE), or Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity Promoting Opportunities for Diversity in Education and Research (BUILD PODER). Want to know more? Ask us.
If you are a graduate student, you’ll find a rewarding program of classes, a friendly group of student peers, and engaged research mentors coordinating innovative research in all areas of chemistry and biochemistry. Financial assistance is available in many cases. The Department has a wide range of modern facilities and equipment to advance your work and a number of the faculty have federal and other grants to support you. Take a look at the Faculty pages to learn about our research activity.
Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, research often culminates in co-authorship and publication of your work in reputable scientific journals. Many students get to also attend or present at local, national or even international conferences.
We know CSUN is only the first step in your scientific career. After graduation, our students have been successfully employed in all types of chemical industry (including pharmaceutical, materials, defense, research and development, analytical testing, healthcare and biotechnology), and have enrolled in prestigious Ph.D. graduate schools or professional programs such as medical, dental or pharmacy.
If you’d like to learn more about how Chemistry and Biochemistry can be a part of your career plan, please contact us. In the meantime, browse around our site for more information. This is an exciting time to be a scientist.
Simon J. Garrett
Department Chair