Chemistry and Biochemistry

Chemists create new substances and develop methods for preparing, separating, purifying and identifying them. They study the composition, structure and transformation of matter. Chemistry is a central discipline as it provides the molecular foundations essential for other branches of science: medicine, biology, earth sciences, pharmacy, and materials science. The Swiss chemical industry accounts for one third of the country’s total exports.

The Section of Chemistry and Biochemistry has had for a long time an excellent scientific reputation at an international level. Over the past few years, it has built on this and attracted a number of excellent teachers and researchers. The Section offers students a comprehensive choice of programs in chemistry and in biochemistry leading to bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees which open the door to a multitude of careers in the public and the private sectors.

The Section of Chemistry and Biochemistry is proud to have attained a standard of excellence in many areas of research.

Among our key subjects are: asymmetrical organic synthesis and the development of catalysts; the search for new economical and ecological routes to products with biological effects; supramolecular and macromolecular chemistry; the study of natural and industrial colloids and polymers; the self-assembly of inorganic molecules, essential for nanotechnology and biological catalysts; analytical chemistry and the development of sensors to study the circulation of chemical compounds in the environment; cellular membrane biochemistry, in particular the transport and anchorage of proteins; methods of spectroscopic analysis, for instance to study ultrafast processes; computational chemistry, making it possible to predict the structure and reactivity of new substances and sophisticated molecular structures.