Skip to main content
Floating molecules
Faculties and schools_

School of Chemistry

Driving breakthroughs in energy, health and the environment
Working with industry, government and the community to support researchers and educate aspiring chemists as they work to address critical real-world challenges. We are recognised as one of the top Chemistry Schools in Australia.

Our philosophy and practice of using research-led teaching provides all of our students with the latest, cutting-edge scientific knowledge and invaluable problem-solving skills as they embark upon their careers.

Research fellowships

We are one of Australia's leading research departments, and has enjoyed considerable success in attracting competitive research grants from the ARC and NHMRC over recent years. The school is home to a large number of Research Fellows including ARC DECRA and Future Fellows, and NHMRC Early Career and Principal Research Fellows.

To ensure the school remains at the forefront of chemical research and teaching we are always keen to attract talented researchers at all levels. The school and the University have considerable expertise to assist staff in the development of competitive fellowship applications. There are a range of sources for funding of research fellowships, which are outlined on the Research Office website.

For further information on assistance offered to potential applicants at the School of Chemistry please contact the Associate Head of Research, Professor Chris Ling.

Key fellowships available

The Australian Research Council (ARC) runs a number of programs that provide an independently funded position for high-performing researchers at different stages of their careers. The School encourages external applications for all these schemes, and provides support to qualified candidates in the form of helping to identify synergies with current School staff and facilities, writing assistance, and negotiating internal in-kind and cash co-contributions.

ARC DECRA (3 years - Early Career researchers, up to 5 years post- PhD with allowances for career interruption)

ARC Future Fellowships (4 years - Mid Career researchers, up to 15 years post-PhD with allowances for career interruption)

Australian Laureate Fellowships (5 years - the highest level of Fellowship)

The prestigious University of Sydney Fellowship supports early career researchers (up to 5 years post-PhD) to undertake independent research for 3 years.

Our people

Seminars

We run a number of free seminars every month. All are welcome, no booking is required.

Date Speaker
16/10

Special seminar:  That won’t work with my students – the role of evidence in changing practice

  • Speaker: Professor Tina Overton, School of Chemistry, Monash University 
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: Dr Stephen George-Williams
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
16/10
Sydney University Chemical Society seminar:  
  • Speaker: Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Techology (SMaRT), The University of New South Wales
  • Talk: MicrofactoriesTM: Our secret weapon in the War on Waste
  • Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm (Light refreshments from 5:00 pm outside LT2)
  • Venue: Chemistry LT2, Level 1
  • Host: Dr Alexander Yuen
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
18/10

School seminar:  Selective fluorination – A key for selective synthesis of fluorinated biorelevant compounds

  • Speaker:  Professor Günter Haufe, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Münster University, Germany
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: Dr Yu Heng Lau
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
22/10

Chemistry Careers Evening 2019

Learn where your Chemistry degree can take you!

The event is designed for all chemistry students, whether you are postgraduate or undergraduate, to connect you with our recent alumni and employers.

The event is FREE, but please register your attendance to help us plan for catering.

What's on the program?

  • 5-5:30 | Drinks reception
  • 5:30-6 | Speaker: Dr Maaike Wienk from AMSI - author of the graduate employment report "Who are the top PhD employers?"
  • 6-6:30 | Q+A panel with recent Chemistry alumni and employers
  • 6:30-8 | Networking food and drinks

This event is organised by A/Prof. Siggi Schmid, Dr Stephen George-Williams, Dr Shelley Wickham and Dr Yu Heng Lau, with generous funding from a University of Sydney Student Life grant.

Date Speaker
06/11

Special seminar:  Responsive soft materials made by supramolecular self-assembly

  • Speaker: Professor Bart-Jan Ravoo , Center for Soft Nanoscience (SoN), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: Prof. Kate Jolliffe
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
06/11

Sydney University Chemical Society seminar: 

  • Speaker: Dr Alice Motion, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney
  • Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm (Light refreshments from 5:00 pm outside LT2)
  • Venue: Chemistry LT2, Level 1
  • Host: Dr Alexander Yuen
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
13/11

Special seminar:  The 2019 Cornforth Lecturer

  • Speaker: Professor Greg Winter, The Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology and 2018 Nobel Prize-winner British biochemistry.
  • Time: 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
  • Venue: The Charles Perkins Centre (CPC) Lecture Theatre (underneath the Cafe)
  • Hosts: Prof. Richard Payne and Faculty of Science
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
  • Register at (limited spaces left):  https://bit.ly/2OJZ8AF
15/11

School seminar: 

  • Speaker: Professor Paul Francis, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: A/Prof. Liz New
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
18/11 - 19/11

Postgraduate Symposium:

  • Speakers: All 2nd Year PhD Students
  • Posters: 1st Year and 3rd Year PhD Students
  • Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 
  • Venue: Chemistry LT1, Level 1
  • Host: Sydney University Chemical Society (SUCS)
  • Oral Presentations from 2nd Year PhD Students (as per APR requirements)
  • Poster Presentations from 1st, 3rd/4th Year PhD students and all Master students
  • Career/Alumni session organised by The Faculty of Science
  • Information on how to register for an oral presentation or poster. https://forms.gle/NXXmhsmtekS48uzc6
  • All staff and students welcome. Lunch provided. Free to attend.
22/11

School seminar: 

  • Speaker: Associate Professor Christopher Thompson, School of Chemistry, Monash University
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: Dr Stephen George-Williams
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
27/11

Special seminar: 

  • Speaker: Dr Manuel Nuño, Vapourtec Ltd, Suffolk, United Kingdom
  • Time: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
  • Venue: Room 418, Level 4, School of Chemistry
  • Host: Prof. Richard Payne
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
27/11

Special seminar: 

  • Speaker: Associate Professor Amir Karton, RACI PC lectureship, School of Chemistry, University of Western Australia 
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: Prof. Richard Payne
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
29/11

School seminar: 

  • Speaker: Professor Audrey Moores, Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Canada
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: A/Prof. Liz New
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
Date Speaker
13/12

Special seminar: 

  • Speaker: Dr William Brant, Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • Time: 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT2, Level 1
  • Host: Dr Siegbert Schmid
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
13/12

School seminar: 

  • Speaker: Dr Michael Grunweld, Department of Chemistry, The University of Utah, USA 
  • Time: 11:00 pm to 12:00 pm
  • Venue: Chemistry LT4, Level 2
  • Host: Dr Asaph Widmer-Cooper
  • All welcome. No booking required. Free.
   

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The School of Chemistry is committed to supporting equity, diversity and inclusion and has set up a committee to oversee these principles.

We make all efforts to support staff with caring responsibilities and retaining staff who are planning a career transition such as parental leave. We have developed a Parental Leave Process to reinforce the School’s commitment to supporting and growing a talented and diverse workforce. We also supply access to a parents room for staff and students with young children.

Read the committee’s Terms of Reference here. 

 

Head of School

Professor Philip Gale
Professor Philip Gale
View academic profile

For undergraduate or Honours enquiries

School of Chemistry

Latest news