Professor Tomislav Friščić will return to the Department of Chemistry as one of McGill University’s six inaugural Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada.
Category:
Published on: 27 Aug 2026
McGill Chemistry Department shares the news of the passing of Prof. Rudy Marcus, CALTECH Professor and Nobel Laureate. A Montrealer and alumnus of our Chemistry Department at McGill University, where he conducted his undergraduate and graduate studies, his work over decades was inspirational to many generations of chemists worldwide. A brilliant, most humble colleague that brought understanding to the most fundamental chemical reaction, the electron transfer, among many other systems he worked on. He will be greatly missed.
Category:
Published on: 11 Aug 2026
Professor Parisa A. Ariya was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Patterson Distinguished Service Medal, an award widely regarded as the most prestigious Canadian distinction recognizing exceptional contributions to meteorology. Meteorology is a broad discipline within the atmospheric sciences and encompasses several specialized research areas, including atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, dynamic meteorology, hydrology, climatology, and climate change. The award consists of a formal citation, a framed letter, and a gold medal.
Category:
Published on: 14 Jul 2026
It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you that our dear colleague and friend Dr. Derek G. Gray, Professor Emeritus, passed away on Saturday May 30th
Category:
Published on: 8 Jun 2026
A new international study offers insights into the health risks posed by crops’ absorption of “contaminants of emerging concern” (CECs) and flags knowledge gaps the authors say must be addressed.
CECs include pharmaceuticals, microplastics, engineered nanomaterials and PFAS (commonly known as “forever chemicals”). The researchers warn that even when present at very low concentrations, these chemicals can subtly alter plant physiology, disrupt soil health and pose wider environmental and human health risks.
Published on: 31 Mar 2026
It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you that Dr David Harpp, Tomlinson Professor Emeritus in Science Education, our colleague, but also to many of us in the department a teacher, mentor and friend for many decades, passed away Saturday February 14th, peacefully and in the presence of those closest to him.
Category:
Published on: 19 Feb 2026
Using proteins from a common tobacco plant virus, McGill chemistry researchers have developed a simple, eco-friendly way to arrange gold nanoparticles into ultrathin sheets, strengthening the particles’ optical properties. The result: cheaper, safer materials for solar panels, sensors and advanced optical devices.
Published on: 8 Dec 2025
Congratulations to Professor Audrey Moores (Chemistry), who has been awarded the Canadian Pacific Chair in Biotechnology!
The Canadian Pacific Chair in Biotechnology is an endowed chair created in 1984 to promote research in the field of biotechnology. The chair is awarded for a five-year term and rotates among McGill's Faculties of Medicine, Science and Agriculture.
Category:
Published on: 4 Dec 2025
McGill University researchers have developed a novel method to replicate four types of microplastics commonly found in the environment, providing researchers with a standardized approach to study their toxic effects.
Published on: 3 Sep 2025
An interdisciplinary team of McGill researchers has developed an ultra-strong, environmentally friendly medical glue, or bioadhesive, made from marine waste. The discovery has promising applications for wound care, surgeries, improved drug delivery, wearable devices and medical implants.
“Being able to produce glues that can close wounds or make something strongly adhere to the skin is critical for many medical interventions,” said Audrey Moores, Professor in the Department of Chemistry.
Published on: 31 Jul 2025
Congratulations to Dr. Alison Bain, who completed her PhD in the Preston Group at McGill in 2021, on being selected for Chemical & Engineering News’s Talented 12 list for 2025. Now an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Oregon State University, Dr. Bain continues to develop state-of-the-art optical trapping techniques to study aerosols at the single-particle level. Her research centres on how fundamental physical and chemical properties of aerosols shape climate, air quality, and other pressing environmental issues. This honour recognises Dr.
Category:
Published on: 23 May 2025
· There are no established protocols for nanoplastic detection within complex environmental matrices.
· Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of environmental nanoplastics is impeded by methodological constraints.
· Ariya's lab, namely Zi Wang, present a versatile platform evolved from matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS for airborne nano/microplastic research.
· The 3D-printed hollow-laser desorption/ionization (HoLDI) target enables efficient, high-throughput analysis of aerosols collected on simple substrates without pre/post-treatments.
Category:
Published on: 25 Mar 2025
A groundbreaking discovery by McGill University researchers is among the top scientific advances of 2024, according to Québec Science magazine.
The scientists developed a novel method to transform two greenhouse gases—methane and carbon dioxide—into valuable chemicals using sunlight. This innovation could help reduce emissions and provide a more sustainable way to produce certain industrial products.
Category:
Published on: 9 Jan 2025
Representing McGill University’s Chemistry Department, the MC² facility, and the QCAM-FRQNT strategic cluster, Petr Fiurasek was honored to be invited to the University of Córdoba to deliver two lectures. One presentation was part of the advanced characterization course for physics master’s students. Beyond the scientific discussions, the visit aimed to foster collaboration between the University of Córdoba and Quebec universities through MITACS and various mobility programs
Category:
Published on: 29 Nov 2024
The Eric McCalla lab's work improving Na-ion battery cathodes has been highlighted in a nice article and video by Patrick de Bellefeuille from MétéoMédia.
Category:
Published on: 26 Nov 2024
Pages
