The Department of Chemical Sciences has hosted vibrant research in chemistry since the nineteenth century and today boasts a diverse, high quality research environment with cutting edge facilities.

Areas of strength include synthetic organic chemistry, physical organic chemistry, carbohydrates, proteins and enzyme chemistry, organometallic and supramolecular chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis and adsorption, thermal methods of analysis and synthesis, and materials chemistry. Many other areas arise from collaboration with biologists, pharmacists, pharmacologists, physicists and forensic scientists.