MS in Chemistry/Biotechnology

The MS in Chemistry/Biotechnology at Tufts University gives students practical exposure to advanced chemical research, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, chemical biology, and therapeutics development. Students can choose independent study and a master’s thesis, including presenting and defending their research before a committee, while the Professional Skills in Chemical Research course develops practical research and professional capabilities. The program also places students within an interdisciplinary research environment spanning chemistry, biotechnology, materials science, engineering, biomedical sciences, and medicine.

Students can build hands-on experience using Tufts’ modern analytical and bioanalytical infrastructure, including NMR, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, EPR, FTIR, UV-Vis, fluorescence, chromatography, microscopy, and other specialized research equipment. The department also provides access to research groups working in chemical biology, bioorganic chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, biotechnology, materials chemistry, therapeutics, microfluidics, and related areas.

Practical learning opportunities include:

• Master’s research: Students may elect to complete a master’s thesis based on original research and present and defend it before their research committee.
• Independent study: Up to two courses, totaling no more than six credits, may be approved as independent study, allowing students to develop focused experience beyond standard coursework.
• Professional research training: The year-long Chem 291/292: Professional Skills in Chemical Research course is specifically designed to develop professional skills connected with chemical research.
• NMR facilities: The Chemistry Department operates Bruker Avance Neo 400 and Avance III 500 multinuclear NMR spectrometers, while the nearby Tufts Medical School provides additional 400 MHz, 500 MHz, and 600 MHz NMR capabilities.
• Mass spectrometry: Students working in relevant research areas can access Agilent 6230 TOF, Thermo LTQ LCMS, Bruker Autoflex Max MALDI-TOF, Voyager Pro MALDI MS, and QTOF MS instrumentation for chemical and biomolecular analysis.
• Analytical chemistry tools: Department facilities include FTIR, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectrometers, XPS/UPS, SEM, ICP-OES, HPLC, capillary GC, EPR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction equipment.
• Bioanalytical research: Tufts provides specialized equipment for biological chemistry and chemical biology research, supporting areas such as biomolecule analysis, therapeutics development, and bioanalytical chemistry.
• Microfluidics and device development: The Mace Lab combines analytical chemistry, materials science, and engineering to develop patient-centric diagnostic technologies, including assay development, device prototyping, separations, microfluidics, and field-deployable testing kits.
• Chemical biology research: Tufts research groups investigate areas such as protein chemistry, chemical biology, bioorganic chemistry, post-translational modifications, therapeutic molecules, and biomaterials, giving students opportunities to work at the chemistry–biology interface.
• Interdisciplinary facilities: Students can collaborate with researchers across the Tufts Medical, Dental and Veterinary schools, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Biomedical Engineering, and other university departments.
• Biomedical research cores: Relevant graduate researchers can access facilities such as the Flow Cytometry Core, Preclinical Imaging Core, Tufts NMR Center, Genomics Core, and Imaging Core on the Health Sciences campus.
• Research collaborations: Chemistry research at Tufts includes collaborations with pharmaceutical companies on anti-cancer agents, biomedical engineering on biotechnology and systems biology, and NASA research centers on planetary chemical and biological environments.
• Research institutes and centers: Students can benefit from Tufts' wider research ecosystem, including the Tufts Institute for the Environment and interdisciplinary research activities spanning biotechnology, materials science, biomedical research, and environmental chemistry. 

The MS in Chemistry/Biotechnology at Tufts University prepares graduates for careers spanning chemistry, biotechnology, healthcare, and science-related business, with opportunities to develop both advanced scientific knowledge and professional skills. Tufts specifically reports graduates progressing into research, health careers, entrepreneurship, and project management, making the degree relevant to roles such as Research Scientist, Biotechnologist, Project Manager, and Chemistry/Health Research Professional.

Career development and future opportunities:

• Career advising: Tufts Career Center supports graduate students with individual career advising covering career decision-making, job searches, networking, resumes, CVs, cover letters, and interview preparation.
• Job and internship access: Students can use Handshake to access job, internship, research, and other career opportunities, while Tufts organizes career fairs, employer interviews, coffee chats, workshops, and networking events.
• Employer connections: Tufts works directly with employers through career fairs, on-campus and virtual interviews, employer workshops, coffee chats, and employer site visits, giving students opportunities to meet organizations and learn about available positions.
• Employment and salary figures: The Tufts MS Chemistry page reports an average salary of $94,000–$153,000, based on the January 2026 Lightcast Analyst and the 2024 GSAS-SOE Graduate Exit Survey. This figure is published for the MS Chemistry program rather than specifically for the Chemistry/Biotechnology MS, so it should not be treated as a dedicated Chemistry/Biotechnology salary statistic.
• Industry ecosystem: The Medford/Somerville location places Tufts near the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, energy, materials, and engineering employers of the Boston and Cambridge region, supporting professional exploration and networking opportunities.
• Employer partnerships: Tufts' Career Center offers formal employer partner and sponsorship programs, including Jumbo Year, Jumbo Launch, and Jumbo Recruitment Day, while employers can recruit Tufts students through career fairs, interviews, workshops, and other engagement activities.
• Research progression: The Chemistry/Biotechnology program is closely connected with interdisciplinary research areas including chemical biology, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, catalysis, green energy, organic synthesis, materials science, and therapeutics development, giving graduates a foundation for research-oriented careers and further study.
• Accreditation value: Tufts University is institutionally accredited through NECHE, providing institution-level quality assurance. Tufts also lists ACS accreditation for its ACS Certified Chemistry BS, but the university does not identify the MS in Chemistry/Biotechnology itself as separately ACS-accredited; therefore, the ACS certification should not be presented as accreditation of this master's degree.
• Graduation outcomes: Tufts reports that Chemistry/Biotechnology master's graduates have entered careers across chemistry, biotechnology, research, healthcare, science-related business, entrepreneurship, and project management.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the MS in Chemistry/Biotechnology, students can continue into Tufts' PhD in Chemistry/Biotechnology, which is jointly offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology Center and is designed for research careers spanning chemical science and biotechnology. Tufts also offers PhD pathways in Chemistry, Chemical Physics, and the joint Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering program, allowing students to extend their master's-level preparation into advanced research.