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Chemistry Facilities

Our Facilities 

The chemistry department at Washington University is home to state-of-the-art laboratories, teaching areas, and flexible spaces that foster collaboration and meet the needs of today's scientists. We are housed in six buildings, accounting for more than 200,000 square feet of teaching and research space in Wrighton Hall, McMillen Laboratory, Louderman Hall, Radiochemistry and the Cyclotron Building, and the newly renovated Bryan Hall. Our extensive footprint includes state-of-the-art facilities in mass spectrometry, magnetic resonance, protein-structure determination, ultrafast laser spectroscopy, and more.

Highlighted Facilities

Polymer Core Facility

The Polymer Core Facility, located in 443 Louderman within the Chemistry Department, offers a range of services for polymer research. These services include custom polymer synthesis and polymer characterization. The capabilities of custom synthesis include polymers having different architectures, micro-/nanoparticles (polymer, SiO2, etc.), hydrogels, and small molecules (ligands, dyes, etc.). Polymer characterization service includes molecular weight and molecular weight distribution (GPC, MALDI-TOF MS, etc.) and rheological properties. Additionally, the facility has several advanced 3D printers for additive manufacturing services.

Learn more about our polymer core facility

High-Resolution NMR Facility

The Washington University High-Resolution NMR Facility houses five modern multi-nuclear spectrometers with field strengths from 7.05-14.1 Tesla. The spectrometers are equipped with Red Hat Linux Enterprise computers and are networked to the Chemistry Computing Facility (CCF) for offline data archival and processing. The CCF supports NMR processing software provided by Varian and third party vendors.

Learn more about our NMR Facility

Mass Spectrometry Facility

The NIH/NIGMS-supported Biomedical Mass Spectrometry (MS) Research Facility, based at WashU's School of Medicine, develops novel MS-based solutions to analytical challenges, and provides service, collaboration, and training for MS-based characterization, identification and quantification of all biomolecular classes extracted from in vitro and in vivo model systems.

Learn more about our mass spectrometry facility

Chemistry Facilities

Polymer Core Facility

The Polymer Core Facility, located in 443 Louderman within the Chemistry Department, offers a range of services for polymer research. These services include custom polymer synthesis and polymer characterization. The capabilities of custom synthesis include polymers having different architectures, micro-/nanoparticles (polymer, SiO2, etc.), hydrogels, and small molecules (ligands, dyes, etc.). Polymer characterization service includes molecular weight and molecular weight distribution (GPC, MALDI-TOF MS, etc.) and rheological properties. Additionally, the facility has several advanced 3D printers for additive manufacturing services. 

 

High-Resolution NMR Facility

The Washington University High-Resolution NMR Facility houses five modern multi-nuclear spectrometers with field strengths from 7.05-14.1 Tesla. The spectrometers are equipped with Red Hat Linux Enterprise computers and are networked to the Chemistry Computing Facility (CCF) for offline data archival and processing. The CCF supports NMR processing software provided by Varian and third-party vendors.

 

 

 

Mass Spectrometry Facility

The NIH/NIGMS-supported Biomedical Mass Spectrometry (MS) Research Facility, based at WashU's School of Medicine, develops novel MS-based solutions to analytical challenges, and provides service, collaboration, and training for MS-based characterization, identification and quantification of all biomolecular classes extracted from in vitro and in vivo model systems.

Partner Facilities

Collaboration with other departments and centers is a hallmark of our program. Advanced facilities and instruments across Washington University are used by chemistry researchers. 

Washington University Center for Cellular Imaging

Nano Research (NRF) and Jens Environmental Analysis Facility

Institute of Materials Science & Engineering 

Siteman Cancer Center

Additional Facilities

Glass Shop

The chemistry glass shop provides for the construction of special Pyrex and quartz glass laboratory apparatus. To this end, the shop is equipped with a four-inch glassblower's lathe, an annealing oven, a carborundum cut-off wheel and a variety of burners. Various sizes of Pyrex tubing, flasks, beakers, ground glass and other joints and stopcocks are available in the shop or in the chemistry storeroom.

 

Machine Shop

Ours is a fully equipped machine shop with computer controlled milling machines and computer controlled lathe. We have precision lathes, programmable indexing head and rotary table, sheet metal and wood-working shops, ironworker and welders.

 

 

Storeroom

The storeroom supplies general  chemicals, glassware, apparatus, and miscellaneous supplies. After a researcher is setup with an account, they can shop during normal working hours. 

 

 

 

Services & Resources

On my first visit to WashU, I was immediately impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities that were available to the Department of Chemistry. These facilities have helped make it possible to develop a research collaboration with Oak Ridge National Lab. Additionally, I found that the small to medium research group sizes have allowed me to quickly build positive relationships with my advisor and peers.

― Nate Colley PhD Candidate, J. Barnes Lab