Chemistry Research Opportunities for Mount Students

The Mount is dedicated to the success of each and every student. While most universities reserve research assistantships mainly for graduate students, the Mount provides research opportunities to undergraduate students as well. Students work with faculty, including the following Professors, in different areas of research:

Dr. Katherine Darvesh Professor
Katherine.darvesh@msvu.ca
www.msvu.ca/chemistry/kdarvesh
Dr. Darvesh’s research focuses on quantum chemistry, computational studies of potential anti-Alzheimer drugs

Dr. Ian Pottie Professor
ian.pottie@msvu.ca
www.msvu.ca/chemistry/ipottie
Dr. Pottie’s research focuses on organic chemistry, biological chemistry, and synthetic methodology development

Dr. Chérif F. Matta Professor and Department Chair
cherif.matta@msvu.ca
www.msvu.ca//chemistry/cmatta
http://www.cmatta.ca/
Dr. Matta’s research focuses on theoretical biochemistry and biophysics, specifically, mitochondrial biophysics and the effects of electric fields on molecular electron densities.

Dr. Aibing Xia Associate Professor
aibing.xia@msvu.ca
www.msvu.ca//chemistry/axia
Dr. Xia’s research focuses on organometallic synthesis and catalysis, inorganic chemistry

Student Research Projects:

K. Darvesh:

Danielle Mullin (Directed Study), Winter 2023 – Limiting Reactant Calculations

Tia Tower (Directed Study), Winter 2023 – Redox Reaction incorporating Universal Design for Learning

Erin Wiggins (Directed Study), Winter 2023 – Adapting Titration Experiments for Students with Colour-Vision Deficiencies

Victoria Turpin (Directed Research), Winter 2014 – Computational Chemistry in the Analysis of Physostigmine Analogues

C. Matta:

Alya Arabi (PhD Candidate), Theoretical study of the physical bases of bioisosterism

Hugo Bohorquez (PhD Candidate) – (1) Quantum mechanical classification of atoms types in biological molecules; (2) Correlation between properties of the amino acids and their biological functions; (3) Quantitative molecular similarity studies

Daniel MacKeigan (Research Assistant), Summer 2009 – (1) Mathematical relationships between sets of properties of the naturally-occurring amino acids; (2) Visualization of molecular scalar and vector fields
 
Leigh Herman (Research Assistant), Summer 2009 – (1) Mathematical relationships between sets of properties of the naturally-occurring amino acids; (2) Visualization of molecular scalar and vector fields
 
Matthew Loranger (Undergraduate Research Assistant), 2008 – Computational study of metal-serotonin interaction

Alya Arabi (NSERC, USRA), Summer 2008 – Atomic Partitioning of the Bond Dissociation of First to Third Row Molecules

Alya Arabi (Jeanne Sauve Award), Summer 2007 – Effect of Monovalent and Divalent Cations on the Hydrolysis of ATP

I. Pottie:

Donald Dewolfe (Directed Research), Fall 2020 – Winter 2021 – Synthesis and NMR evaluation of dicyclohexylboryl propylnitronate

Eric Essertaize (Directed Research), Jan 2019 – Apr 2019 – Evaluation of the alkylation of 6-hydroxynicotinic acid

Jessica Spruin (Directed Research), Fall 2018 – Winter 2019 – Derivatization of testosterone and 17B-estradiol and their evaluation with GCFID and HLPC spectroscopic methods

Fall 2016 – present Yuriy Barchuk – Evaluation of the effects of proton pump inhibitors on cholinesterase enzymes

Fall 2016 – present Guilherme Ferreira – Synthesis of possible imaging agents from picolinic acid

Melissa Beck, Fall 2017 – Winter 2018 – Evaluation of the ability of thioester derived from 1-methyl-4-piperidine to develop Alzheimer pathology I human tissue

Kosuke Kanayama (Directed Research), Fall 2017 – Winter 2018 – Synthesis of p-iodophenylamino 1-methyl-4-piperidinecarboxylate

Rachel Witt (Directed Research), Fall 2016 – Synthesis of m-iodophenylamino 1-methyl-4-piperidinecarboxylate

Chelsey Williams, Summer 2016  – Synthesis and biochemical evaluation of the 4-iodophenylcarbamate of N-methyl piperidinol

David Garrison, Summer 2015 – Isolation of triisopropyl propanenitronate and its reactivity towards aldehydes

Leanne Ingram, Summer 2015 – Synthesis of diphenyl carbamates derived from 4-iodophenol

Jacob Soley (Honours Student), Fall 2014 – Winter 2015 – Radiolabelling of diphenyl carbamates

David Garrison, Summer 2014 – Isolation of triisopropyl propanenitronate and its reactivity towards acetals

Nawal Paul (PDF), Sept 2013 – Jan 2014 – Investigation of the in situ generation of triisopropyl propanenitronate and its reactivity with aldehydes

Leanne Ingram (NSERC USRA), Summer 2013 – Investigation of the synthesis of diphenyl carbamates from 4-iodophenol

Jacob Soley (Dal CO-OP Undergraduate Student), Summer 2013 – Biochemical evaluation of diphenyl carbamates derived from 4-iodoisocyanate

David Garrison (Student Affairs Undergraduate Grant), Summer 2013 – Investigation of triisopropyl propanenitronate with acetals

Alyssa Jaeschke (SMU MSc Student CGS Award), Sept 2012 – Sept 2014 – Development of the Nitronate Nazarov Reaction from Phenyl Nitromethane

Courtney Jollymore (Dalhousie MSc Student Banting Award), Sept 2012 – Sept 2014 – Synthesis of esters from Methylpiperidinyl which incorporate 18F for PET imaging Butyrylcholinesterase

A. Xia:

Sarah Madore (Directed Research), Fall 2021 – Preparation and Application of Potentially Redox Active and Hemilabile Iminothiophene Ligands

Michael Butz (Directed Research), Fall 2020 – Winter 2021 – Preparation and catalytic study of palladium complexes containing novel pyrazolylimine ligands derived from 2-bromoacetophenone

Hayden West (Directed Research), Fall 2019 – Winter 2020 – Preparation and catalytic study of palladium complexes containing novel pyrazolylimine ligands derived from (3-bromomethylphenyl) phenylmethanone

Darcy Burley (Directed Research), Fall 2018 – Winter 2019 – Preparation and catalytic study of late transition metal complexes containing novel pyrazolylimine ligands derived from (3-bromomethylphenyl)phenylmethanone.

Emily Maynard (Directed Research), Fall 2018 – Winter 2019 – Preparation and catalytic study of late transition metal complexes containing novel thiophenyl imine and amine ligands

Taylor Wilson (Directed Research), Winter 2018 – Preparation and catalytic study of late transition metal complexes containing novel thiophenyl imine and amine ligands

Christina Jones (Directed Research), Winter 2016 – Preparation and application of aminoquinolylphosphine ligands

Shangyou Huang (Directed Research), Summer 2014 – Preparation and characterization of tridentate imino ligands derived from amino acids.

Matthew Timm (Research Assistant), October – December 2014 – Preparation and application of aminoquinolylphosphine ligands