Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

The doctoral program in chemistry and chemical engineering provide an educational and research environment in chemical sciences and engineering. The chemical sciences are of vital importance in the modern world, and the research undertaken in our Institute spans fundamental studies in theoretical chemistry and biochemistry to applications in devices and engineering. We aim for top international level.The links on this page should help to provide a more detailed picture of our Institute and reveal that it is exciting environment in which to conduct research in the chemical sciences and engineering. Our doctoral program admits students directly after Master degree or exceptionally after a 4-year Bachelor's degree. The duration of the program is 4 years, and admission is on a competitive basis. We have actually over 200 PhD students registered. The program is entirely in English.  

Candidates are invited to submit their applications prior to January 15, April 30th or September 15th.EPFL has an attractive campus, offering many sports activities. Lausanne is a lively and well-connectedcity in the center of Europe, close to the Swiss Alps.

We also have a permanent EPFL outpost in Valais, centered on new professor’s chairs, in the fields of energy and health research. Part of the research will focus on the hydrodynamics of turbomachinery in order to optimise one of the Valais’major energy production methods, as well as on water management and optimal use of lakes and rivers. Other research will be devoted to green chemistry (biomass from agricultural areas, CO2 capture and processing, etc.)

Core courses

• Advanced electroanalytical chemistry (II session)
• Advanced electroanalytical chemistry I 
• Basic and advanced NMR - Level 1 (a)  
• Basic and advanced NMR - Level 1 (b) 
• Basic and advanced NMR - Level 2
• Basic principles of drug action at the cardiovascular system 
• Basic principles of drug action at the nervous system 
• Biomimetic membrane systems and their applications 
• Chemosensory receptors: Applications for biosensors and medical therapies  
• Computational methods in materials chemistry 
• Computation of molecular properties  
• Current Topics in Chemical Biology 1  
• Current Topics in Chemical Biology 2  
• Density functional theory for chemistry students
• Efficient Synthetic Routes Towards Bioactive Molecules  
• Electrochemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Metals and Semiconductors for Energy Conversion  
• Frontiers in Chemical Synthesis. Towards Sustainable Chemistry
• Frontiers in Organic Synthesis. Part III Stereochemistry
• Frontiers in Organic Synthesis. Part II Synthesis of carbo- and hetero-cycles  
• Gene transfer and recombinant protein expression in animal cells 
• High pressure in chemical kinetics and equilibria 
• Information literacy for chemists
• Inorganic chemistry "Applications and spin-offs" 
• Inorganic chemistry "Fundamentals and properties"  
• Inorganic chemistry "Techniques and methods" 
• Leading research in Chemical Engineering (a) 
• Leading research in Chemical Engineering (b) 
• Mass spectrometry, principles and applications 
• Perspectives in Modern Organic Chemistry (OCS) A 
• Perspectives in Modern Organic Chemistry (OCS) B 
• Perspectives on photonics: from materials to devices  
• Principles and Applications of X-ray Diffraction 
• Recent Events in Energy-1 
• Recent Events in Energy-2  
• Scientific Writing (EDCH)  
• Seminars in Physical Chemistry (1)
• Seminars in Physical Chemistry (2)
• Surface and thin films processes  
• Synergism between Art of Total Synthesis and High Level Strategic Design (MOM)  
• Solar photovoltaics and energy systems 

At the time of enrollment in the doctoral program, a student must have Master's degree (or exceptionally a 4- or 5-year Bachelor's degree) + min. 6 months of research. Candidates are invited to submit their applications prior to January 15, April 30th or September 15th.
Please complete and submit the online registration form completed by  three letters of reference (uploaded by your referees online) and your academic papers before the deadline. Each candidate is evaluated individually. Our program strongly recommend an English TOEFL (or similar).