Physical chemistry research at UCI includes a diverse range of topics: from single molecules and nanostructures to macroscopic systems and surfaces; from ultrafast molecular dynamics, to the conformational dynamics of biomolecules, to the long term subtle changes in the composition of the earth's atmosphere.

Organic chemistry at UCI includes: the total synthesis of complex natural products; the development of powerful synthetic methods, new reagents, and catalysts; the discovery of new organic and organometallic reactions; the creation of new polymers and materials; the design and synthesis of new antagonists and inhibitors that may ultimately lead to new drugs; the elucidation of biosynthetic pathways and mechanisms; the chemical modification of peptides and proteins to create novel structure and function and elucidate of protein-protein and receptor-ligand interactions.