The BS in Chemistry (Research Option) and BS in Biochemistry (Research Option) is offered for students who wish to participate in a research problem under the supervision of one of the forty-six members of faculty and adjunct faculty in the School. Participants in the Research Option learn how to attack a research problem from experiment design and execution to interpretation of results. There is an expectation that undergraduates who contribute to completed studies will be co-authors on submissions to high-quality scholarly journals. Research projects are available in the traditional areas of chemistry (analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical, and polymer chemistry) as well as highly interdisciplinary research areas, such as nanochemistry, polymer and materials chemistry, environmental chemistry and sensors, medicinal chemistry, molecular biophysics, and computational chemistry.

To participate in the Research Option in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, students should obtain a research project with a faculty member in the department and apply online via http://undergradresearch.gatech.edu/research_option/index.php. Successful completion of the Research Options requires participation by the student in 9 credit hours of supervised research (CHEM 4698/4699) with a chemistry and biochemistry faculty over three or more semesters, approval of a brief proposal on their project to a committee of two or more faculty, completion of LCC 4700 (a thesis writing course), and submission of an approved thesis. Successful completion of the Research Option is noted on the student's transcript. Students completing this degree may pursue graduate studies in the chemical or biological sciences or research careers in industrial or governmental laboratories. This degree is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS).