Chemistry Student Opportunities

Research & Lab Work

Undergraduate research is a key component in the chemistry program at SFU. We encourage you to partner with faculty on research projects as early as your freshman year. You may also have an opportunity to gain additional experience as a teaching or a stockroom assistant.  Our chemistry majors and their faculty have presented at industry symposia, worked on grant projects exceeding $1.3 million in external funding, and have taken part in service projects that have changed lives. Download a list of current chemistry research projects involving our current undergraduate students.

R.O.C.K. (Rural Outreach Chemistry for Kids)

In the R.O.C.K. program you can work with local K-12 students to show that science (especially chemistry) is important in everyone's life and can be exciting. R.O.C.K. volunteers perform hands-on chemistry experiments and activities using mainly household products.  We focus on classroom visits (not stage presentations) in the 5 county area around SFU (Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, and Somerset). R.O.C.K. also looks at the role that chemistry will have in the future as well as how it will benefit our society. Our chemistry students participate in a minimun of 6 R.O.C.K. events each academic year.

Chemistry Department Fellowship Award

This competitive four-year fellowship of $2,000 per year is awarded up to the ten incoming freshmen or transfer students majoring in Chemistry. In order to apply for this scholarship, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5, a SAT (critical reading and math) of at least 1100 or ACT of at least 24, and a letter of recommendation from their high school chemistry teacher. Scholarship recipients must remain in good academic standing (3.0 QPA) and remain in the chemistry program. Scholarship recipients are also to participate in tutoring, service, undergraduate research, and be involved in a leadership position in the department. To apply, please fill out the Chemistry Department Fellowship Award.

Chemistry Department Awards for Students

No doubt you have big goals. We love students who reach higher in life that is why we've established a slate of awards geared to high achieving chemistry majors.

Chemistry Undergraduate Summer Research Award

Our summer research award provides students with a cash stipend and a housing allowance. The students then work for approximately six to eight weeks under the supervision of a faculty mentor on a project that will advance the state-of-the-art in their field of chemistry. Recent research topics have centered on acid mine drainage, molecular modeling, peptide & protein chemistry, and green chemistry concepts. Our campus is also a great place to be in the summertime, and students participating in summer research develop a bond of friendship that lasts beyond their time at Saint Francis University.

Chemistry Department Travel Award

Students may receive a travel award to cover or assist with costs associated with attending and/or presenting at regional and national conferences.

Chemistry Department Senior Award

This award, given during the School of Sciences Award Ceremony, is presented to the highest achieving senior student in the department based upon academic excellence.

Chemistry Department Service Award

This award, given during the School of Sciences Award Ceremony, is presented to the senior students who has demonstrated exemplary service and leadership.

Father Albert Driesch/Avian Technologies Award for Excellence in Organic Chemistry

This scholarship award, funded by Saint Francis University alumnus, Arthur Springsteen, is presented to a chemistry major that has completed Organic Chemistry I and II, and is based on overall class performance.

Kaylee Harford Undergraduate Research Award

The Kaylee Harford Undergraduate Research Award was established by Dr. Rose Clark and Dr. Edward Zovinka with the support of the Harford family and the campus community to honor Kaylee's memory. Kaylee had a love for chemistry and for experimentation that will continue through other students to conduct research during the summer months.

Chemistry Club

The Chemistry Club at Saint Francis University is a student affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society. Whether it is launching cantaloupes, sailing cardboard boats, making ice cream using liquid nitrogen to get young kids interested in chemistry, or talking issues such as radon education; our students know how to get their chem on.

Top chapter recognition

The American Chemical Society combed through more than 330 activity reports from student chapters nationwide to recognize the best in brightest university chapters for the 2011-12 school year. Our chapter was one of 36 to receive the highest classification of “Outstanding.” The results were published in the November-December edition of inChemistry, the student member magazine. The award winning chapters will be honored at the 245 ACS National meeting in New Orleans, LA in April. This is the second year in a row that our Chemistry Club has received the Outstanding Award. The Chemistry Club was also recognized as a Green Chemistry Student Chapter by the American Chemical Society for their efforts to highlight the value of green chemistry to humans and the environment.

Chemistry Honor Society

Requirements to get into the Rho Nu chapter of the chemistry honor society are: 19 credits in chemistry, a chemistry gpa of 3.3 or higher, an overall gpa of 3.0 or higher, and one must maintain an overall gpa of 3.0 once accepted into the society. For more information or if you are interested in joining the chemistry honor society, please contact Dr. Rose Clark at rclark@francis.edu

Study abroad is highly encouraged at Saint Francis. In fact Dr. Rose Clark and Dr. Ed Zovinka took a group of students to the SFU campus in Ambialet, France where they taught Environmental Chemistry during the month long stay. Six university students attended this class as part of a 15 student adventure tour. They hope to repeat the international experience with future classes. Learn more about study abroad opportunities.

Our dream for a new sciences facility is becoming a reality with completion expected in fall 2013. This 70,000 square-foot facility will house state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and research facilities (including an aquatic research facility), advanced chemical instrumentation and youth outreach areas, in addition to places for students and faculty to gather, study, and learn.

Take a look inside the Science Center