Chemistry PhD Program

NYU Shanghai, in partnership with the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) and the NYU Department of Chemistry, invites applications from exceptional students for PhD study and research in Chemistry.

Participating students are enrolled in the NYU GSAS Chemistry PhD program, complete a portion of their coursework at the NYU Department of Chemistry in New York, and then transition to full-time residence at NYU Shanghai where they finish their coursework and undertake doctoral research under the supervision of NYU Shanghai faculty.

Highlights of the Program

  • NYU PhD degree in Chemistry upon graduation
  • Graduate coursework at the NYU Department of Chemistry in New York and NYU Shanghai
  • Research opportunities with and close mentorship by NYU Shanghai faculty
  • Access to the vast intellectual resources of NYU GSAS and NYU Department of Chemistry
  • Cutting-edge research environment at NYU Shanghai, including the Center for Computational Chemistry, activities such as a regular program of seminars and visiting academics, a thriving community of PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates, and links with other universities within and outside China
  • Financial aid through the NYU Shanghai Doctoral Fellowship, including tuition, fees, and an annual stipend
  • Additional benefits exclusive to the NYU Shanghai program, including international health insurance, housing assistance in New York, and travel funds
 

Supervising Faculty

  • william-glover

    William Glover

    Theoretical Photochemistry, Biophysics, Quantum Chemistry

  • Xiang Sun

    Xiang Sun

    Theoretical Chemistry, Quantum Dynamics, Statistical Mechanics, Spectroscopy

  • John Zhang

    John Zhang

    Protein-Protein Interaction, Computational Drug Design, Protein Dynamics

Representative Publications by NYU Shanghai Faculty

William Glover

Xiang Sun

John Zhang

 

Structure of Program

Participating students complete the PhD degree requirements set by the NYU Department of Chemistry and in accordance with the academic policies of NYU GSAS. Each student develops an individualized course plan in consultation with the Director of Graduate Study at the NYU Department of Chemistry and the student’s NYU Shanghai faculty advisor. Most students will complete their PhD in 5 years. A typical sequence follows:

Summer 1  
in Shanghai

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Begin program with funded summer research, up to 3 months preceding first Fall semester, to familiarize with NYU Shanghai and faculty as well as lay a foundation for future doctoral study.

Year 1 Fall  
in New York

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Pursue PhD coursework at Department of Chemistry alongside other NYU PhD students. 

Year 1 Spring in Shanghai​ or New York

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Complete PhD coursework and conduct research rotations with NYU Shanghai faculty. Select PhD advisor and make further progress in research during the summer in Shanghai.

Year 2 and Onward  
in Shanghai

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Under supervision of NYU Shanghai faculty advisor, pursue dissertation research. Complete all required examinations and progress evaluations, both oral and written, leading up to submission and defense of doctoral thesis.

To learn more about the NYU Chemistry PhD program degree requirements, please visit this page.

 

Current Students

NameResearch Areas
Yuquan CaoQuantum Chemistry, Photochemistry, Excited States
Kai ChenMolecular Simulations
Shiyu HuBioinformatics, Machine Learning, Drug Design, Protein Interactions
Zengkui LiuQuantum Effects in Spectroscopy and Charge Transfer
Raj RoyNon-adiabatic Dynamics, Electronic Structure Theory, Excited State Properties
Jialong WangTheoretical Photochemistry, Excited State, Electronic Structure Theory
Wei XiaDrug Design, Protein Ubiquitination and Degradation, Protein-Protein Interactions
Yuzhi XuMachine/Deep Learning in Chemistry, Protein Structure Prediction
Lei ZhengDrug Discovery, Machine Learning, Molecular Dynamics
Fanyu ZhaoMachine Learning, Quantum Chemistry, Drug Design
Xiaofang ZhangUltrafast Spectroscopy in Liquids System
 
 

Alumni

NamePlacement
Yuanming Bai, PhD '23Research Scientist at Solvay, China
Xingpin Li, PhD '23Chemistry Olympiad Coach at Xishan Senior High School
Amiel Paz, PhD '23PRISM Postdoc fellow in theoretical chemistry at Stanford University
 
 

Application Process and Dates

Applications are to be submitted through the NYU GSAS Application portal, within which students should select the Chemistry PhD as their program of interest, and then indicate their preference for NYU Shanghai by marking the appropriate checkbox when prompted. Applicants will be evaluated by a joint admissions committee of New York and Shanghai faculty. Application requirements are set by the NYU Department of Chemistry and are the same as those for all NYU PhD applicants; however, candidates are recommended to elaborate in their application and personal statements about their specific interests in the NYU Shanghai program and faculty.

For admission in Fall 2025, the application deadline is December 1, 2024, but applications submitted before December 16 will still be considered.

 

Contact Us

Interested students are welcome to contact Prof. William Glover, NYU Shanghai Graduate Coordinator of Chemistry, at william.glover@nyu.edu for inquiries regarding the academic program, or Vivien Du, PhD Program Manager, at shanghai.phd@nyu.edu with general inquiries.