April 9, 2026
Student-led festival brings world class film to Maine
The Bates Film Festival might at first seem like any other film festival. There are screenings, facilitated panel discussions, and featured guests. Running May 12-17,…
Chemistry and Biochemistry at Bates
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry focuses on teaching, learning, and scholarship within chemistry and intersecting disciplines.
Students will develop an understanding of the foundational theories of chemistry, apply these theories to the practice of reasoning from evidence, and learn to appreciate the role of science in society.
Contact Us
Thomas Pinette, Academic Administrative Assistant
45 Campus Avenue
Bonney Science Center
Phone: 207-755-5928
tpinette@bates.edu
What You Will Learn
To develop and apply the foundational theories of chemistry and biochemistry
How to analyze experimental approaches and data analysis from scientific literature in order to understand how we gain new knowledge
To communicate with both scientific audiences and the general population, both orally and through written work
How to examine scientific work through the lens of society and populations with variable amounts of power and privilege
To conduct original research in a capstone course or a research lab
To understand science as a human activity practiced by a collaborative and diverse community
Life After Bates
Many majors go on to earn graduate degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, molecular biology, or microbiology. Students are well-prepared for professional post-graduate, health-related study in medical school, nursing school, veterinary school, dental school, and public health. Recent grads work in fields related to healthcare, consulting, pharmaceutical research and development, biotech, materials, and energy, among others.
94%
of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school — settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.
” Looking back, I felt exceptionally well-prepared for medical school and my subsequent career in surgery following my degree in biological chemistry from Bates. Throughout my education, I was challenged academically in a manner that made me think critically and required a deep understanding of the subject matter well beyond simple memorization. These skills were invaluable as I made my way through the rigorous curriculum of medical school. My education at Bates was capped by my honors thesis, which I performed under the mentorship of Paula Schlax. I still consider my thesis experience, from study design and lab work through a presentation in Washington, D.C., and manuscript preparation, the start of my career as an academic surgeon.”
— Nicholas Swerdlow ’09
Selected Places of Employment/Service
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Mass General Brigham
- Pfizer
- MIT Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Eurofins
Selected Graduate Schools
- MIT
- Columbia University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Stanford University
- Duke University
- Yale University
- Northwestern University
- University of Cambridge
- Harvard University
- Cornell University
Why Study Chemistry and Biochemistry at Bates?
Our classes emphasize active learning both in the classroom and the laboratory, offering a variety of hands-on learning opportunities. Students and faculty work closely together to conduct scholarly work through real-time experimentation in instructional and research labs. The department supports collaboration of faculty and students across disciplines and endeavors to create a supportive, inclusive environment for all members of the Bates community interested in chemistry and related fields.
Featured Courses
Meet the Faculty
Faculty members have expertise in all areas of chemistry, including analytical, biochemistry, computational, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, and every faculty member is active in research in their respective fields. Some have received grants from NIH, while others collaborate with researchers at major universities to break new scientific ground. Faculty present their work at national meetings and specialty conferences and regularly co-author with students on publications in nationally renowned journals.
News & Events
April 9, 2026
Bates announces 2026 Commencement honorands, including writer…
Bates will recognize four honorary degree recipients during Commencement on May 31, including Commencement speaker Deborah Harkness.
April 9, 2026
Record-breaking applications for the Class of 2030
The application pool for the Class of 2030 is the largest in Bates’ history with a total of 12,009 applicants seeking admission for the 2026-2027…