Chemistry
Doctor of Philosophy
Bond with your future
Scientists with advanced degrees in chemistry play a vital role in advancing chemical research, pushing the boundaries of what we know about the physical world and driving innovation across industries.
In this program, you’ll have the chance to dive into the branch of chemistry that sparks your curiosity — whether it’s analytical, inorganic, organic or physical chemistry. You’ll gain real-world experience with advanced instrumentation as you contribute to the development of new materials for medicine, agriculture, food science or industrial applications. Your work might also involve tackling field-based challenges, such as environmental monitoring, reducing pollution or designing sensors for detecting explosives.
What sets this program apart is the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research. Students explore groundbreaking topics across fields like bio-organic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, environmental chemistry and nanomaterials — making your learning both broad and deeply impactful.
Overview
Related Topics
Mixing curiosity and chemistry
Application information
Applicants for the Ph.D. in chemistry must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:
- Education level: Bachelor’s
- GPA: 3.0
- GRE: Yes (for international education)
- TOEFL/IELTS: 79/6.5
- Number of references: Three
- Other requirements:
- An interview is required before admission
- It is recommended to fill out the Chemistry Department’s Prescreening Form
Program availability
Semester intake: Fall and Spring
Campus location accepting applications: Moscow
Eligible for international admission
Deadlines: General application deadlines
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Contact information
Department contact: Frank Cheng; ifcheng@uidaho.edu
Graduate admissions contact: graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu, 208-885-4001
Costs, funding and research
To learn about various ways to fund your graduate degree, check out Graduate Funding.
For detailed information about the cost of attendance, visit Financial Aid.
Beginning Fall 2026, Ph.D. students appointed as Teaching Assistants will receive an annual support package that includes:
- Base stipend: $21,177.00 for the 9-month academic year
- In-state tuition: fully covered by the program
- Out-of-state tuition: waived for non-resident students
- Health insurance: fully covered
- Summer support: additional scholarship up to $8,000, depending on funding availability
Real-world experience
Our department fosters collaboration with research labs including:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Recognized STEM Program
This program is recognized as a STEM program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and may be eligible for the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension for international students.
Degree fit
This degree could be a good fit if you:
- Have a solid background in analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry
- Want to be in the lab designing and conducting research
- Want to apply your chemistry knowledge to solve pressing global problems
- Have a strong work ethic
Related clubs and organizations
- Chemistry Club
- Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
Career outcomes
Current job openings
2,256 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Natural Sciences Managers
$152,883 - Industrial Engineers
$119,879 - Chemists
$84,459 - Postsecondary Chemistry Teachers
$82,848
* Career data provided by Lightcast.