A chemist manipulates equipment in a fume hood lit with blue light.

About CHE

The U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry (CHE) supports innovative research and education in the chemical sciences through strategic investments aimed at developing a chemistry workforce that engages all U.S. regions and communities.

Central to the U.S. economy, the chemical industry converts raw materials like oil, natural gas, water, metals and minerals into more than 70,000 different products, ranging from agricultural fertilizers and plastics to batteries and pharmaceuticals.

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What we support

The division invests in experimental and theoretical research in fundamental chemical synthesis and reactivities, measurement and computation, as well as in cross-disciplinary applications involving biological sciences, computer science, engineering, geosciences, materials research and physics.

A view from the top looking down on densely packed, atmospherically relevant, organic molecules

NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation

CHE supports and manages the NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation program, which focuses on major, long-term chemical research challenges.

Interns in lab coats and protective eyewear looking at bottled sample held by scientist.

Research facilities and institutes

CHE funds multiple facilities housing advanced chemical research instrumentation and capabilities, as well as two multidisciplinary research institutes.

Researchers posing for a portrait in lab by a fume hood

Workforce development and broadening participation

CHE provides opportunities for workforce development and education to allow more people and communities to explore a rewarding career in the chemical sciences.

Core research programs

  • Chemical Catalysis (CAT): Supports experimental and computational research directed towards the fundamental chemistry aspects of catalytic processes at the molecular and/or bond level of understanding.
  • Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI): Supports research focusing on chemically relevant measurement science and chemical imaging.
  • Chemical Mechanism, Function and Properties (CMFP): Supports physical organic and physical inorganic chemistry research on the nature of chemical mechanism, function and structure property studies.
  • Chemical Structure and Dynamics (CSD): Supports experimental and applied computational physical chemistry research on the nature of chemical structure and bonding, electronic structure, and chemical dynamics.
  • Chemical Synthesis (SYN): Supports experimental research on the development of new and efficient synthesis methodologies and on the synthesis of complex and/or challenging chemical structures.
  • Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP): Supports experimental and computational research that uses innovations in chemistry to study the molecular underpinnings of biological processes.
  • Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods (CTMC): Supports the discovery and development of theoretical and computational methods or models to address a range of fundamental chemical challenges, with emphasis on emerging areas of chemical research.
  • Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS): Supports experimental and computational research in chemistry in order to understand environmental phenomena at the molecular scale.
  • Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN): Supports novel basic research that addresses fundamental questions and advances knowledge regarding the chemistry of macromolecular, supramolecular and nanoscopic structures. 

Who we are

The division's workforce is composed of both federal employees and scientists from research institutions in temporary positions with a wide range of expertise.

Leadership

Dr. Lin He
Acting Division Director

Dr. George Richter-Addo
Acting Deputy Division Director

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