The graduate program of the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology involves 19 faculty members and approximately 20 postdoctoral research associates, about 60 full-time graduate students and several part-time graduate students.

There are well-developed research programs not only in the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, but also in the interdisciplinary fields of polymer chemistry, biochemistry and medicinal chemistry. There are extensive interactions between Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science in the area of polymers/bio/nano/materials, and collaborative programs with the Biology, Computer Science, Physics, and Mathematical Science Departments, and the School of Engineering and the Center for Integrated Electronics. These, and off-campus collaborations which include Albany Medical College, the University at Albany, and the New York State Wadsworth Laboratories provide essential connections between chemistry and other areas vital to modern society.

Most students are admitted to the program with full support as teaching assistants, which generally involves instruction in laboratory courses or assisting faculty in studio format courses. Students usually work as TA's for one or two years, after which they become research assistants with support provided by their research advisor for the remainder of their studies.