..::Catálogo Graduado-UPR-Río Piedras::..

Rafael Arce Quintero, PhD, University of Wisconsin, 1971, Professor.
Biophysical, environmental, and physical chemistry; chemical physics

Carlos R. Cabrera, PhD, Cornell University, 1987, Professor.
Analytical, inorganic, materials, and physical chemistry; chemical physics

Néstor M. Carballeira, PhD, Julius-Maximilians-Unversität, 1983, Professor.
Bioorganic, lipid, and organic chemistry; marine natural products

Zhongfang Chen, PhD, Nankai University, 2000. Associate Professor.
Computational chemistry; computational science of nanomaterials; physical organic chemistry

Jorge Colón, PhD, Texas A&M University, 1989, Associate Professor.
Bioinorganic, biophysical, inorganic, and materials chemistry

Fernando González, PhD, Cornell University, 1989, Professor.
Biochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry

Kai Griebenow, PhD, Max-Planck-Institut/Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 1992, Associate Professor.
Biochemistry; bioorganic and biophysical chemistry

Ana R. Guadalupe, PhD, Cornell University, 1987, Professor.
Analytical, inorganic, materials and polymer chemistry

Yasuyuki Ishikawa, PhD, University of Iowa, 1976, Professor.
Theoretical and physical chemistry; chemical physics

Reginald Morales, PhD, Rutgers University, 1976, Professor.
Biochemistry; bioorganic and lipid chemistry

José A. Prieto, PhD, University of Puerto Rico, 1982, Professor.
Biophysical, medicinal, organic, and organometallic chemistry

Edwin Quiñones, PhD, University of Puerto Rico, 1986, Professor.
Physical chemistry; chemical physics

Raphael Raptis, PhD, Texas A&M University, 1988, Professor.
Inorganic, bioinorganic, and materials chemistry

José Rivera, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000, Assistant Professor.
Supramolecularchemistry, molecular recognition, organic synthesis, nanotechnology, bioorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry

Abimael Rodríguez, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, 1983, Professor.
Analytical, bioorganic, and organic chemistry; marine natural products

Osvaldo Rosario, PhD, University of Puerto Rico, 1978, Professor.
Analytical chemistry

Eric R. Schreiter, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005, Postdoctoral, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Postdoctoral, Centro de Proteómica de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. Assistant Professor.
Biochemistry; protein structure and function; posttranslational protein modification; protein engineering; unusual metabolic pathways of extremophile bacteria

John A. Soderquist, PhD, University of Colorado, 1977, Professor.
Organic, organometallic, and natural products chemistry

Brad R. Weiner, PhD, University of California, Davis, 1986, Professor.
Chemical physics; environmental, materials, and physical chemistry

Zarixia Zavala Ruiz, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2004, Postdoctoral, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Assistant Professor.
Biochemistry; molecular immunology; protein structure and function

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to graduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, applicants must also fulfill the admission criteria established by the College of Natural Sciences and the Department of Chemistry:
To be considered for admission in August, students must submit the following documents no later than February 28:

Results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Advanced Examination in Chemistry
TOEFL results (foreign students only)
Three letters of recommendation from professors at the institution where undergraduate studies were completed
Attend an interview (only upon request by the Admissions Committee)

In addition to meeting all the general graduation requirements in effect at the Rio Piedras Campus, students must fulfill the specific requirements established by the program:

Courses: Complete a minimum of 21 credits in graduate courses (12 credits in required 6000-level courses, 6 credits in electives at the 6000 or 8000 level, and 3 credits in 8000-level courses in the area of specialization)
Comprehensive Examinations: Pass two written comprehensive examinations, one in the student’s area of specialization, by the end of the first year of graduate studies
Graduate Seminars: Present two graduate seminars of one credit each to the graduate faculty. One of the seminars should consist of an oral presentation of the student’s thesis proposal. The student must pass these seminars with a grade of A or B
Proposal A: Present a research work plan to the Thesis Committee
Research Group Seminars: Enroll in and attend research group seminars each semester. A minimum of 6 credits in these seminars must be completed in the student’s area of research. These credits are in addition to the 21 required credits.
Graduate Research: Complete a minimum of 6 credits in graduate research. The student will write and defend a thesis based on the work.
Graduate Teaching Assistantship: Complete a minimum of one year as a graduate teaching assistant. Enrollment in QUIM 6905-6906 Chemical Principles and Practices, for 6 credits, is required.

Advancement to candidacy for the degree of Master of Sciences will be considered once students have successfully: completed coursework, passed qualifying examinations at the end of the first year of studies, completed the graduate seminar, presented their research work plan, received recommendation from their advisor, and awarded final approval by the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Chemistry. Candidacy will be granted after the student’s second year of graduate studies.