The research topics of the HRSMC are collected in the three research themes 'Synthesis, Characterisation, Reactivity and Properties of Molecules' (Theme 1), 'Photochemistry and (Laser) Spectroscopy' (Theme 2), and 'Theoretical Chemistry' (Theme 3). In the following table the names of the group leaders involved in the HRSMC per February 2009 and their research themes are collected.

Theme Group leader(s) Institute Workgroup
1 Elsevier HIMS Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry
  Hiemstra/Timmerman HIMS Biomolecular Synthesis
  Lammertsma EMS Organophosphorus, Organometallic and Computational Chemistry
  Orru EMS (Bio) Organic Chemistry
  Overkleeft/vdMarel LIC Bio-organic Synthesis
  Bouwman LIC Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics & Inorganic Materials  
  Reek/Hartl HIMS Supramolecular Catalysis
  Wever HIMS Bio-organic Chemistry & Bio-catalysts
2 Buma/Brouwer HIMS Molecular Photonics
  Linnartz LO Laboratory Astrophysics and Astrochemistry
  Gooijer EMS Analytical Chemistry & Applied Spectroscopy
  Groenen/Orrit/Völker LION Molecular Nano-Optics and Spins
  de Groot/Buda LIC Biophysical Organic Chemistry
  Janssen EMS Physical Chemistry
  Koper LIC Catalysis and Surface Chemistry
3 Baerends/Bickelhaupt/
Visscher		 EMS Theoretical Chemistry
  Neugebauer LIC Theoretical Chemistry
  Bolhuis/ Meijer HIMS Computational Chemistry & Physics