Department of Chemistry

Clockwise from top left: Cassandra Olsen, Paul Pritchard, Shay Chavoshian, Sam Sanchinel, Kat Furtado, Titilola Aiyegbusi and Qusai Hassan (supplied images)

Six teaching assistants (TAs) and one graduate course instructor (CI) have been recognized with 2024 Teaching Excellence Awards by the UUֱ��’s Teaching Assistants’ Training Program.

The TA Teaching Excellence, BIPOC TA Teaching Excellence and CI Teaching Excellence awards recognize the outstanding contributions of TAs and graduate student CIs who regularly support, inspire and challenge undergraduate students.

The recipients of the TA Teaching Excellence Awards are:

Shaghayegh (Shay) Chavoshian, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Cassandra Olsen, department of English, Faculty of Arts & Science
Sam Sanchinel, Women and Gender Studies Institute, Faculty of Arts & Science
Qusai Hassan, department of chemistry, Faculty of Arts & Science
Paul Pritchard, department of sociology, UUֱ�� Mississauga

In 2022, the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program introduced the BIPOC Teaching Excellence Award to recognize lived experiences of Black, Indigenous and racialized communities whose academic experiences have been impacted by systemic barriers, and to highlight their accomplishments and excellence in teaching practice. The winner of this award for 2024 is Titilola Aiyegbusi from the department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

The recipient of the CI Teaching Excellence Award is Kat Furtado from the department of classics in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

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Five researchers recognized with 2024 President’s Impact Awards

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:28:59 +0000

Five researchers recognized with 2024 President’s Impact Awards

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 03/15/2024 - 09:28

Faculty

St. George

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Department of Chemistry

Department of Computer Science

Department of History

Department of Nutritional Sciences

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Law

President's Impact Award

Rotman School of Management

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Unity Health

Women & Gender Studies Institute

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Clockwise from top left: Professor Gillian Hadfield, Professor M. Murphy, University Professor David Jenkins, Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik and Associate Professor Yvonne Bombard

Five UUֱ�� researchers have received President’s Impact Awards for their important work in AI governance, environmental justice, genomics policy, nutritional sciences and quantum computing.

The awards celebrate and honour faculty members whose research has led to a significant impact beyond academia. Laureates are designated as members of the President’s Impact Academy, and receive a monetary award of $10,000 per year for five years to be used toward their research.

“I would like to congratulate the winners of this year’s President’s Impact Awards for their outstanding work in tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time,” said Barbara Fallon, UUֱ��'s associate vice-president, research.

“From informing and improving dietary choices to fostering greater alignment between environmental justice and Indigenous communities, these scholars are generating knowledge and ideas that stand to have a tremendous impact beyond academia.

“Their exceptional contributions speak to the important role that UUֱ�� researchers play in improving lives in Canada and around the world.”

This year’s winners are:

Gillian Hadfield, professor in the Faculty of Law and Rotman School of Management, “for contributions impacting access to justice, innovative design for legal and dispute resolution systems in advanced and developing market economies, and governance for artificial intelligence.”

M. Murphy, professor in the Women & Gender Studies Institute and department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science, “for contributions that consistently move environmental justice research along a collaborative trajectory with Indigenous communities, data practices, and policy-making.”

Yvonne Bombard, scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and associate professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, “for her significant contributions in enacting national law against genetic discrimination, improving healthcare options for Canadians, and advancing clinical practice and genomics research.”

Alán Aspuru-Guzik, professor in the department of chemistry and department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, “for his pioneering work in the fields of artificial intelligence and quantum computing for materials discovery.”

David Jenkins, University Professor in the department of nutritional sciences at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, “for his studies on the health effects of food that have changed how the world makes healthy dietary choices.”

Douglas Stephan receives 2024 Catalysis Award from Chemical Institute of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 16:30:08 +0000

Douglas Stephan receives 2024 Catalysis Award from Chemical Institute of Canada

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 03/05/2024 - 11:30

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Faculty of Arts & Science

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University Professor Douglas Stephan (photo by Camilla Pucholt)

Douglas Stephan, a University Professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has received the Chemical Institute of Canada’s 2024 Catalysis Award in recognition of his contributions to the field of catalysis.

A world-leading researcher in inorganic chemistry, Stephan is best known as the founder of the field of “frustrated Lewis pair” (FLP) chemistry. His groundbreaking paper “Reversible, Metal-Free Hydrogen Activation,” published in the prestigious journal Science in 2006, has been cited more than 2,000 times and is credited with changing the way chemistry is taught by broadening the scope of catalysts beyond transition metals.

“We have 100 years of transition metals science,” said Stephan. “Doing metal-free catalysis was something we thought was impossible, so FLPs have opened the door on chemistry we couldn’t do before.”

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Three Faculty of Arts & Science researchers honoured by American Geophysical Union

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 19:22:30 +0000

Three Faculty of Arts & Science researchers honoured by American Geophysical Union

Community

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 03/01/2024 - 14:22

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry

Department of Chemistry

Department of Earth Sciences

Department of Physics

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(L-R) Professor Jonathan Abbatt, University Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar and Associate Professor Debra Wunch (supplied images)

Three researchers from the Faculty of Arts & Science have received honours from the American Geophysical Union (AGU) for their outstanding contributions to Earth and space sciences.

Barbara Sherwood Lollar, University Professor in the department of Earth sciences who is cross-appointed to the department of chemistry and the department of chemical engineering and applied chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, presented the Carl Sagan Lecture – an honour reserved for a scientist who embodies the late astronomer’s interest in astrobiology and science communication – at the union’s annual conference, AGU23.

Jonathan Abbatt, a professor in the department of chemistry, gave the Jakob Bjerkness Lecture at AGU23 in recognition of his impact in advancing understanding of the atmosphere and Earth’s climate.

Debra Wunch, associate professor in the department of physics who is cross-appointed to the School of the Environment, received the AGU’s Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award, which recognizes early- and mid-career researchers.

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Watch University Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar’s lecture (under the “Awards and Honours” tab)

Watch Professor Jonathan Abbatt’s lecture (under the “Awards and Honours” tab)

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Jennifer Murphy recognized with 2024 Clara Benson Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 17:15:07 +0000

Jennifer Murphy recognized with 2024 Clara Benson Award

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 02/13/2024 - 12:15

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

Professor Jennifer Murphy (supplied image)

Jennifer Murphy, a professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been named the recipient of the Canadian Society for Chemistry’s 2024 Clara Benson Award.

Sponsored by the Canadian Council of University Chemistry Chairs, the Clara Benson Award recognizes women who have made distinguished contributions to chemistry while working in Canada. It is named for Clara Cynthia Benson, one of the first two women to earn a doctorate from UUֱ�� and one of the university’s first two female professors.

Murphy is a leading atmospheric chemist studying atmospheric reactive nitrogen species. Her hypothesis that emissions from sea bird colonies are the dominant source of ammonia to the Arctic atmosphere led her to perform the first high-quality ammonia measurements in the Arctic, onboard a Canadian icebreaker.

“While my career has been much smoother sailing than Benson’s, there are still structural and social factors posing challenges to the equitable participation of many individuals in chemistry,” Murphy said. "One lesson I take from Clara Benson’s legacy is that sustained advocacy is needed to continue on a trajectory to a more inclusive future.”

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Aaron Wheeler recognized with Chemical Institute of Canada’s Ricardo Aroca Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:49:53 +0000

Aaron Wheeler recognized with Chemical Institute of Canada’s Ricardo Aroca Award

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 02/05/2024 - 13:49

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research

Institute of Biomedical Engineering

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Professor Aaron Wheeler (photo courtesy of NSERC)

Aaron Wheeler, a professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, has received the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Ricardo Aroca Award.

The award is given to scientists in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of analytical chemistry while working in Canada. Wheeler, who is cross-appointed to the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, was honoured for his achievements in the field of microfluidics.

Wheeler’s lab has developed microfluidic tools to analyze the chemistry of complex biological samples. His research has an array of potential medical applications ranging from developing procedures to study the most dangerous cells among millions in large tumors to growing organ tissues on devices outside the body to test drugs.

“Virtually every living organism sheds cells,” said Wheeler. “A cancerous tumor, for example, sends innumerable cells out into its host’s body. Of those, most cells will not be metastatic, so identifying and studying the few that can survive the immune system and spread the cancer is vital for understanding how to prevent and treat this disease.”

Wheeler will deliver a keynote address when he accepts the award at the Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC) 2024 in Winnipeg in June.

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Dwight Seferos receives Award for Research Excellence in Materials Chemistry

rahul.kalvapalle — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 21:53:22 +0000

Dwight Seferos receives Award for Research Excellence in Materials Chemistry

Research & Innovation

rahul.kalvapalle Mon, 12/18/2023 - 16:53

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

landscape

Dwight Seferos (photo by Diana Tyszko)

Dwight Seferos, a professor in the department of chemistry in the UUֱ��’s Faculty of Arts & Science, has received the Award for Research Excellence in Materials Chemistry from the Chemical Institute of Canada.

The award is presented to a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant who has made an outstanding contribution to materials chemistry while working in Canada. The prize comes with an invitation to give a symposium award lecture at the Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition in Winnipeg in June.

Seferos and his group have demonstrated an ability to synthesize semiconducting and conducting plastics. In simple terms, this means making components for electronics without sourcing minerals in ways that require costly and environmentally damaging mining and extraction.

"We can build molecules for function, just as an engineer can design a bridge or skyscraper," Seferos explains. "Our 'building materials' are atoms and the bonds they form when they become molecules.

“The impact of this is we hope to one day make components for electronics without sourcing minerals in ways that require environmentally damaging mining and extraction processes."

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Eugenia Kumacheva awarded Henry Marshall Tory Medal by Royal Society of Canada

lanthierj — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:41:47 +0000

Eugenia Kumacheva awarded Henry Marshall Tory Medal by Royal Society of Canada

Research & Innovation

lanthierj Tue, 09/12/2023 - 17:41

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Faculty of Arts & Science

Royal Society of Canada

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Eugenia Kumacheva (supplied image)

University Professor and Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Eugenia Kumacheva of the Faculty of Arts & Science at the UUֱ�� has been awarded the Henry Marshall Tory Medal by the Royal Society of Canada.

The medal is presented every two years "for outstanding research in a branch of astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or an allied science.” It is named in honour of mathematician Henry Marshall Tory, who was the first president of the University of Alberta, the National Research Council of Canada, and Carleton College (later Carleton University).

Kumacheva’s remarkably diverse research explores the field of “soft matter” or polymers, colloids, liquid crystals, hydrogels and living matter. She has designed and developed soft materials for use in an extraordinarily broad range of areas, including telecommunications, security, data storage, drug delivery, anti-cancer therapies and tissue engineering.

A native of Ukraine, Kumacheva’s stellar career is notable for the number of areas in which she has made major contributions, including chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering. Her many prior awards include: the Order of Canada, the L'Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science, the International Chorafas Foundation Award in Physics and Engineering; the Alexander von Humboldt Senior Research Award; the de Gennes Prize; and the Guggenheim Fellowship.

"I am delighted to be a recipient of this award not only because this is the recognition of my research accomplishments, but also because Henry Marshall Tory was an outstanding person,” Kumacheva says. “The legacy that he left was well beyond being a distinguished scientist. His commitment to spreading scientific knowledge and international goodwill had a huge impact on the state of science and education in Canada."

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R.J. Dwayne Miller named fellow of U.K.’s Royal Society

siddiq22 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:51:24 +0000

R.J. Dwayne Miller named fellow of U.K.’s Royal Society

Research & Innovation

siddiq22 Fri, 07/21/2023 - 13:51

Faculty

St. George

Department of Chemistry

Department of Physics

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

R.J. Dwayne Miller (photo by Diana Tyszko)

R.J. Dwayne Miller, a University Professor in the departments of chemistry and physics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been named a fellow of the Royal Society, the U.K.’s national academy of sciences and the oldest science academy in continuous existence.

Miller was among 80 new fellows from around the world honoured in May for their substantial contributions to the advancement of science.

“These individuals have pushed forward the boundaries of their respective fields and had a beneficial influence on the world beyond,” Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society, said in a statement.

Miller was recognized for his leading work on ultra-bright electron sources that made it possible to capture atomic motions at the fundamental space-time limit to imaging chemistry – one of the grand challenges in chemistry.

“Being elected to the Royal Society is the equivalent of being selected to a Walk of Fame for scientists,” Miller says. “It is an incredible honour to be considered, never mind being included in this singular group of individuals who have given us a new set of glasses with which to see the world more clearly.”

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Alina Trofimova awarded Dean’s Doctoral Excellence Scholarship

siddiq22 — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:30:11 +0000

Alina Trofimova awarded Dean’s Doctoral Excellence Scholarship

Research & Innovation

siddiq22 Wed, 07/12/2023 - 11:30

Students

St. George

Department of Anthropology

Department of Chemistry

Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations

Faculty of Arts & Science

landscape

Alina Trofimova (supplied image)

Alina Trofimova, a PhD student in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has been awarded the Dean’s Doctoral Excellence Scholarship – the top prize in the Faculty of Arts & Science Excellence Scholarships, given to a PhD student in recognition of their achievements in research and for demonstrating leadership.

“It's a huge honour that I’m very grateful for,” Trofimova said.

“I’m in the final year of my PhD and I was hoping to be a teaching assistant less and focus more on my research. As much as I love being a TA and working with students, this will allow me to do that.”

The scholarship recognizes the originality, significance and quality of a student’s research, which Trofimova has demonstrated in the papers she’s co-authored and contributed to during her time in the lab.

Trofimova is a member of Professor Andrei Yudin’s lab where Yudin and his team develop new tools for chemical synthesis and create innovative molecules.

“Over the past four years, Alina has made some of the most challenging molecules my lab has ever dreamed of,” Yudin said.

“What sets her apart is the tenacity with which she approaches scientific challenges and the intellectual rigour with which she analyzes complex data.”

Three runners-up were also recognized with A&S Doctoral Excellence Scholarships. They are:

Thomas Dudgeon, ecology and evolutionary biology
Fernando Mercado Malabet, anthropology
Jun Wong, Near and Middle Eastern civilizations

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