Many students, early in their studies, view each subject area as a separate discrete entity. They frequently fail to see the connections and overlap between subject areas. In light of this fact the authors describe an ongoing project to assist the students to make firm connections between chemistry and microbiology.

The initial phase of the project requires that the students synthesize one of a series of novel compounds. This is accomplished in the final three weeks of the sophomore organic chemistry class. In the following semester students participate in a microbiology course where they screen their compound, in conjunction with known standards, to determine any specific antimicrobial activity. A timetable for the project, the reinforcement of the pedagogical goals, coupled with some specific results will be discussed.