Two McGill Women Chemists Awarded!

Aurélie Lacroix (currently PhD student in Dr Hanadi Sleiman lab) and Dr Maryam Habibian (former student from Dr Masad Damha lab and currently postdoc fellow at Stanford in Dr Eric Kool laboratory) were both awarded the Chu Family Foundation Scholarships for Early Career Women in Science.The award by The International Society of Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids (IS3NA

Grinding enzymes to break down cellulose

Cellulose, one of the three major components of plants, is showing great promise as a renewable source for many convenience products. It is made of glucose, a molecule which can be fermented by microorganisms into virtually any desired small molecule of interest. More especially it can be converted to ethanol to make sustainable biofuels.

Watching energy flow in solids with ultrafast electron bursts

The way individual atoms and molecules move in materials has important consequences on properties such as electrical conductivity, heat capacity and acoustics.  Even in solids, atoms are always moving back and forth about some average position, and this motion occurs through specific wave-like modes called phonons.

Linking Localized Corrosion of Stainless Steel to Titanium

McGill University researchers have discovered the consequence of adding titanium and other stabilizing agents to high performing stainless steel on the material’s localized corrosion mechanism.

In a study published in npj Materials Degradation, the researchers describe a suite of electrochemical techniques used to characterize the material’s corrosion properties both on the macro and micro scale. 

Congratulations to the ChemPhoto Exhibition!

The first edition of the ChemPhoto: McGill Department of Chemistry Photo Exhibition took place in February and March 2018. The winners were selected by popular vote  (total votes: 266) and are:

McGill Chemistry Graduate Emily Cranston gave the Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry Lecture at ACS New Orleans 2018

Two Kavli Lectures are held at every ACS national meeting as the result of collaboration between ACS and The Kavli Foundation, an internationally recognized philanthropic organization known for its support of basic scientific innovation in astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, and theoretical physics.

Congratulations to Alexandra Gellé on winning first place in the #RSCNano category of The Royal Society of Chemistry Twitter Conference 2018

The Royal Society of Chemistry Twitter Poster Conferences are the biggest chemistry conferences ever organized as they are held entirely over Twitter. Chemists are invited to join this online conference by tweeting they poster, allowing people all over the word to share they research and engage with the scientific research community, without having to travel!

Congratulations to Hanadi Sleiman and CJ Li for securing major Canadian Society for Chemistry awards

In 2018, Hanadi Sleiman will receive the R.U. Lemieux Award and CJ Li the Alfred Bader Award.

These awards will be presented to them during the 101st Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition which is taking place in Edmonton from May 27-31, 2018.   

ChemPhoto: McGill Department of Chemistry Photo Exhibition

The McGill Chemistry Outreach is proud to launch the first “ChemPhoto”, a photo exhibition of chemistry to coincide with Nuit Blanche on March 3 2018. The chemistry-themed photo exhibition is open to students and staff in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University. The purpose of the exhibition is to showcase the beauty of science and to foster interest in chemistry to the general public.

Congratulations to Richard Lincoln for receiving the 2017 Gerhard Closs Award from the Inter-American Photochemical Society

Richard Lincoln in the Cosa group received the 2017 Gerhard Closs Award from the Inter-American Photochemical Society in Florida in the New Year, where he gave an award lecture entitled “Lighting and Enlightening the Chemistry of the Cell”. This award was set in remembrance of Professor Gerhard L.

Shaking up gold and palladium

Mechanochemical method makes noble metal compounds without solvents or harsh reagents. Read more in Chemical & Engineering News, the magazine of the American Chemical Society.

Memorial Tribute – Allan S. Hay (1929–2017)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and colleague Allan S. Hay, who passed away peacefully on August 14, 2017. Prof. Hay had an international reputation as one of the most creative and productive polymer synthesis chemists of all time.  He made landmark discoveries in reactions leading to polymers/plastics that have had enormous impact on commercial products for the last 50 years. 

Siba Moussa receives the Micro-Nanosystems Design Award

We’re pleased to let you know that McGill student Siba Moussa (supervisor Janine Mauzeroll, Dept. of Chemistry), has received the Micro-Nanosystems Design Award for her technology, “A Micro-liter Temperature-Controlled Flow Cell for Small Scale Studies of CYP 3A4 Enzyme Behavior.” 

Dr. Mona Nemer, McGill Chemistry Alumni, named Canada’s Chief Scientist

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has selected McGill Alumni, Dr. Mona Nemer (PhD 1982 in Organic Chemistry under the supervisor of Prof. Kelvin K. Ogilvie) to be the country's top scientist. Read more

Photo: Adam Scotti

Laura Pavelka awarded the 2017 McGill Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching

The Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching was established in 2000 to recognize excellence in teaching and its importance to the academic experience of students at McGill University. Traditionally awarded at Fall Convocation, awardees are named at the ranks of Faculty Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor. Laura is the 2017 recipient at the rank of Faculty Lecturer.