Research Themes
Human and Ecosystem Health
Chemistry underpins everything around us and within us; it can both support and undermine our health and that of the environment. This research theme encompasses our interests in environmental analysis, chemical toxicology, medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and beyond.
Builds on: strengths in food science, organic and analytical chemistry, toxicology
Key topics: legacy pollutants and emerging contaminants, water, environment, and human environment livability
Potential partners: biochemistry, biology, environmental science, health sciences, neuroscience, civil and environmental engineering, numerous government departments and industrial partners
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Molecules and Materials for Sustainability
Building our prosperity without compromising the ability of future generations to thrive represents our biggest global challenge. This theme examines how chemistry can play a major role in achieving our society’s sustainable development goals, both through modifying current chemical processes using “greener” approaches as well as developing new technology for energy, environment and health applications.
Builds on: strengths in nanotechnology, inorganic/organic chemistry, food science
Key topics: value-added materials from biomass, carbon neutrality and sustainability, smart materials, materials for energy, green chemistry, solar cells, solar fuels, remediation using nanotechnology, coatings for electronics and solar cells
Potential partners: biochemistry, electronics, mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, numerous government departments and industrial partners
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Food Safety, Security, and Analytical Methods
Chemistry is integral to our food and agriculture systems from the farm to the fork. This theme comprises chemistry’s role in measuring and improving agricultural productivity, food safety, nutritional analysis, and more.
Builds on: strengths in food science, toxicology, analytical chemistry, nanotechnology
Key topics: policy in food, food toxicology, biomedical toxicology
Potential partners: biochemistry, public affairs, Sprott School of Business, numerous government departments and industrial partners
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Machine Learning and Big Data as Tools for Chemistry Research
Advances in adjacent disciplines such as Computer Science and Data Science can be leveraged to accelerate chemical innovations and solve intractable chemical problems. This emerging theme in our department seeks to explore these cutting edge tools to questions in the chemical and biological sciences.
Builds on: Presents an opportunity to collaborate with computer science and data science, who are currently experiencing rapid growth
Key topics: omics, imaging and biosensing, computational chemistry, modelling of biological, chemical and food systems, AI and aptamers
Potential partners: computer science, math and stats, data science, biology and biochemistry, numerous government departments and industrial partners
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Chemistry Education
Chemistry Education combines the two pillars of higher education, research and teaching, into a single discipline that is scholarly research and practice in chemistry teaching. Chemistry Education is integral to our Department’s success as it encourages us to research and apply evidence-based practices to our undergraduate and graduate teaching for long-lasting impacts on our student population.
Builds on: years of dedication to high quality teaching and award-winning faculty in the Department of Chemistry
Key topics: active learning, blended learning, experiential learning, employability skills, program mapping and alignment, scientific communication
Potential partners: Educational Development Centre, Discovery Centre, Chemistry Education Canada, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, engineering