A.B. in Chemistry and Physics

Harvard’s A.B. in Chemistry and Physics (ChemPhys) gives students practical exposure to the boundary between chemistry and physics through laboratory-based coursework and original research. Students can work with Harvard faculty in research groups, use specialized scientific instrumentation, and pursue research during the academic year or through summer opportunities; the program’s interdisciplinary structure also connects chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computational approaches.

Students can build practical experience through:

• Original undergraduate research: Chemistry & Physics concentrators can undertake original research with Harvard faculty, gaining experience that goes beyond standard coursework and exposure to the type of work performed in graduate school or industry.
• Chemistry research groups: Students can join Chemistry and Chemical Biology research groups working across analytical chemistry, biophysics, catalysis, chemical biology, energy, inorganic chemistry, materials, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and theoretical chemistry.
• Physics research: The Physics Department provides ChemPhys students with opportunities to conduct research with Harvard faculty or participate in external programs such as Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), with summer research specifically recommended as an entry point.
• Advanced chemistry laboratories: Harvard offers special laboratory courses for advanced students, while Chemistry & Chemical Biology research-for-credit options include CHEM 91R, CHEM 98R, and CHEM 99R. Students can use two consecutive semesters of research-for-credit courses toward the advanced laboratory requirement, subject to the department’s requirements.
• Independent research projects: Through CHEM 98R, students can join a research group under faculty supervision, with the opportunity to continue into CHEM 99R during the senior year. Harvard notes that some of these individual research projects result in publications.
• Magnetic Resonance Lab: The Laukien-Purcell Instrumentation Center provides access to 11 spectrometers, including seven NMR instruments, EPR, mass spectrometry, IR, and MPMS instrumentation.
• X-ray and crystallography facilities: The Center for Crystallographic Studies provides small-molecule single-crystal diffraction, X-ray services for thin-film and powder samples, and crystallography education—valuable for students working in materials, inorganic, structural, and physical chemistry research.
• Nanoscale research facilities: The Center for Nanoscale Systems (CNS) provides capabilities in nanofabrication, materials synthesis, imaging, and computer analysis of nanoscale-system designs, supporting interdisciplinary chemistry and physics research.
• Scientific seminars and collaboration: Harvard Chemistry & Chemical Biology research is supported by seminars and colloquia in organic, physical, biophysical, inorganic chemistry, chemical biology, materials, energy, and climate, with some sessions jointly held with other Harvard departments and MIT.
• Computational and quantitative work: CHEM 10: Quantum, Statistical and Computational Foundations of Chemistry introduces computational and theoretical foundations, while the ChemPhys concentration also emphasizes mathematics as an essential tool for connecting chemistry and physics.

The A.B. in Chemistry and Physics provides an interdisciplinary foundation for graduate research as well as careers across science, technology, medicine, and other professional fields. Harvard Physics reports that in 2024–25, 79 students graduated with Physics or Chemistry and Physics bachelor’s degrees; more than half continued into graduate programs, while about one-third entered industry or research institutions.

Typical career roles: Research Scientist, Laboratory Scientist, Data Scientist, Technical/Scientific Consultant.

Career development and progression are supported through:

• Mignone Center for Career Success: Harvard’s career service provides advising, career programs, employer connections, job and internship opportunities, and recruiting support for students preparing for employment or further study.
• Research experience: Chemistry and Physics concentrators can undertake original research with Harvard faculty or through external Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs), gaining experience relevant to both graduate school and industry.
• Industry connections: Harvard Physics’ 2024–25 industry careers panel featured representatives and alumni from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Meta, L3Harris, Draper, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, providing exposure to careers spanning pharmaceuticals, technology, aerospace/defense, and research.
• Employment and salary figures: Harvard’s official Physics sources publish the above Chemistry and Physics graduate destinations, but a current program-specific median salary or salary range for Chemistry and Physics A.B. graduates is not stated on the official program pages reviewed. Harvard therefore does not provide an official salary figure that can be reliably attributed specifically to this program.
• Professional development: Harvard’s Office of Career Services provides career fairs, workshops, networking opportunities, and individual advising, while Crimson Careers provides Harvard-exclusive job and internship listings.
• Graduation outcomes: The Chemistry and Physics program is particularly aligned with advanced scientific study: Harvard states that more than half of the 2024–25 Physics/Chemistry and Physics graduates continued to graduate programs, while approximately one-third entered industry or research institutions.
• Long-term academic value: The interdisciplinary curriculum combines chemistry and physics and is described by Harvard as strong preparation for graduate research in the physical sciences. The concentration can therefore provide a foundation for advanced study in chemistry, physics, chemical physics, applied physics, biophysics, and related areas.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into Ph.D. programs in Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Applied Physics, Biophysics, or Quantum Science and Engineering, depending on their research interests. Harvard also identifies related doctoral pathways including Molecules, Cells and Organisms and other interdisciplinary programs that accept students with strong backgrounds in chemistry and physics.