Department of Chemistry | Johns Hopkins University

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The Department of Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University is made up of internationally recognized faculty involved in all areas of contemporary chemical science, including many interdisciplinary areas that combine chemistry with biology, medicine, physics, and materials.

Degrees Offered BS, PhD
Major Chemistry

Professor Rebekka Klausen and student work on chemistry equation on glass board.

The Greenberg Group Publishes in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on the formation and consequences of DNA-protein cross-links in human cells.

Examination of a Chimeric Bis-Electrophile for Selective DNA–Protein Cross-Linking and Mechlorethamine Reveals an Unknown Source of Nitrogen Mustard Cytotoxicity, August 19, 2025

DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) are an important form of DNA damage. The consequences of DPCs in human cells are less well understood than other forms of DNA damage, in part due to the lack of agents that form them selectively. The Greenberg group developed a molecule (MEBAC) that selectively forms DPCs...

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A Step Up in Complexity for Silicon Ladder Molecules

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, June 28, 2025

Ladder compounds are molecules consisting of two or more fused rings that result in two parallel chains of atoms. These compounds have attracted interest for the unusual properties arising from their fixed conformations. While carbon-based ladder compounds have been richly explored, far fewer examples exist of ladder compounds comprised of...

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The Leckta Group reports: “A Highly Selective C-H Bond Fluorination Unlocks Conformational Reporting in a Complex Natural Product Derivative”

Chemical Science, the Royal Society of Chemistry, March 26, 2025

Abstract The site-selective C-H bond fluorination of complex natural products is one of the more sought-after transformations in organic and medicinal chemistry. In many radical-based fluorinations, however, a tempest of poor regio- and stereoselectivity, multiple additions of fluorine, and difficult separations of products conspire to make selective monofluorination appear out...

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The Toscano Group Publishes in the Journal of the American Chemical Society: Unraveling Cellular Responses to Hydropersulfides

Journal of the American Chemical Society, February 18th, 2025

Hydropersulfides (RSSH) play essential roles in cellular signaling and redox balance, yet their regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. While significant progress has been made in understanding their biosynthesis, little is known about how cells respond to dysregulated RSSH levels. Investigating these reactive species has been challenging due to their inherent instability....

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Faculty

Chemistry faculty train students interested in pursuing Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in the classroom and in the laboratory.

Undergraduate

Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged for chemistry majors. Most students graduate with several semesters of experience with a research group.

Graduate

Graduate students make up the heart of the chemistry department, and the department strives to support students’ individual needs. Each student is carefully advised and classes are traditionally quite small.

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October 9, 2025November 11, 2025