A number of faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry participate in interdisciplinary organizations. These organizations bring researchers from different departments together, provide administrative support and space for professional researchers, house specialized instrumentation with supporting technical staff, conduct targeted seminar programs, and administer research grants.

   Graduate Program in Biomolecular Science and Engineering (BMSE)

The newly organized Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomolecular Science and Engineering offers advanced graduate degrees and trains students for leadership positions in the exploding fields represented by two parallel curricular tracks: one in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and a completely new track (to be offered for the first time starting in the Fall of 2001) in Bioengineering and Biomolecular Materials.

   Materials Research Laboratory (MRL)

The MRL was established in 1992 with funding from the National Science Foundation. It supports interdisciplinary research in materials-related areas, particularly the development of new types of structured materials and biomaterials. Current interests are in Complex Fluids (Soft Materials), Solution Synthesis at Molecular Interfaces, Heterogeneous Polymeric Structures, and Non-equilibrium Phenomena in Complex Materials. A dedicated MRL building opened recently.

Quest is a national Science and Technology Center established in 1989 with funding from the National Science Foundation. QUEST's mission is the study of new physical phenomena that can be realized in microscopically small structures exhibiting quantum effects in one, two, and three dimensions: so-called Quantum Wells, Quantum Wires, and Quantum Dots or Boxes.

IQuest was established in 1969. Current research areas encompass nanostructured magnets, quantum electronic structures, liquid crystals, complex fluids, superfluids, superconductors, pattern formation during crystal growth, and strongly driven molecular systems. While time scales for these phenomena vary from hours and days to femtoseconds, extensive common ground is found in non-linear condensed matter physics.

MSI was established in 1969 and is the largest institute in terms of members, money administered and square footage at UCSB. It is the focus for marine, coastal zone, and freshwater research and marine policy studies. Researchers from chemical, biological and geological sciences participate. MSI will be housed in a new dedicated building in year 2004.

ITP was established at UCSB in 1979 by action of the National Science Foundation and the Regents of the University of California. ITP considers problems that by their nature are best analyzed by a group of expert theoreticians. A large number of short- and long-term distinguished visitors are attracted to the institute each year. ITP is housed in a dedicated building.

CPOS draws together scientific expertise in physics and chemistry to do fundamental research on a new class of materials - organic compounds capable of conducting electricity. This institute aids both experimental and theoretical studies on some unusual and highly promising new materials. CPOS is housed in the Chemistry Building. One of the CPOS members, Alan Heeger (also of the Department of Physics), was awarded the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on conducting polymers.

NRI studies normal and abnormal functions of the nervous system using cellular and molecular approaches. Focus is on visual neuroscience, degenerative diseases, neural regeneration, cellular signaling, the cell cycle and cytoskeleton, mechanisms of ion channel function and synaptic transmission. Researchers from chemical, biological and psychological sciences participate. NRI occupies the top two floors of the Biological Sciences II building.

PIRE-ECCI focuses on Electron Chemistry and Catalysis at Interfaces (PIRE-ECCI) and will provide American and Chinese students with an enriching global experience in interdisciplinary research spanning the fields of heterogeneous catalysis, surface science and chemical dynamics at interfaces.