News, Events & Seminars

Bookmark this page to keep up with the latest news, events, and developments taking place at the Department of Chemistry.

Our Seminar Series hosts guest speakers who present on a variety of topics, thanks to the support of Friends of Chemistry and GreenCentre Canada.

You can also catch up with everything that's happened over the past year (or more!) through our QChem Chronicles.

Seminar Series

We thank Friends of Chemistry for their support of our seminar program.

All seminars begin at 11:30 AM on Fridays in CHE117, unless otherwise indicated.

2024-2025 Seminar Schedule

Sep 2024 | Oct 2024 | Nov 2024 | Dec 2024 | Jan 2025 | Feb 2025
Mar 2025 | Apr 2025 | May 2025 | Jun 2025 | Jul 2025 | Aug 2025

September 2024

September 6th
Grad Orientation
Speaker:
Title: Grad Orientation Day
Host: Department of Chemistry

September 13th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Alexander Conway - PhD Student
Title: Towards the Total Synthesis of Lancifodilactone G
Host: P. Evans

Abstract (PDF, 117 KB)

September 20th
Speaker: Ben W. H. Turnbull - Merck Process
Title: Diverse Catalytic Reactions in the Development of Commercial Manufacturing Routes for Nemtabrutinib and MK-7845
Host: A. Evans

Abstract (PDF, 91 KB)

September 27th
Speaker: Robert Godin - The University of British Columbia
Title: Deciphering Charge Carrier Dynamics in Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts for Improved Energy, Environmental, and Synthetic Applications
Host: K. Stamplecoskie

Abstract (PDF, 298 KB)

October 2024

October 4th
Speaker: James L. Gleason - McGill University
Title: Hydrazide Organocatalysis: From Cope Rearrangements to Novel Cyclopropane Expansions
Host: A. Evans

Abstract (PDF, 80 KB)

October 9th
Virtual Seminar
Speaker: Jean-Marie Lehn - University of Strasbourg
Title: From Cryptates to Supramolecular Chemistry and From Iron and Oxygen to the Clinic
Host: A. Petitjean

October 11th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Viveka Kulkarni - PhD Student
Title: Prolate-Shaped NHC-Protected Gold Nanoclusters and their Applications
Host: C. Crudden

Abstract (PDF, 153 KB)

October 18th
Virtual Seminar
Speaker: Kelly Chibale - University of Cape Town
Title: Fostering drug discovery in Africa
Host: C2MCI

Abstract (PDF, 17 KB)

October 23rd at 11:30 a.m. in CHE202
QGCS Symposium
Speaker: Tricia Carmichael - University of Windsor
Title: What Does EDI Mean to You?
Hosts: QGCS & C2MCI

Abstract (PDF, 61 KB)

October 24th at 11:30 a.m. in CHE202
QGCS Symposium
Speaker: Jakob Magolan - McMaster University
Title: Synthesis of Rare Prenylated Phenolic Natural Products
Hosts: QGCS & C2MCI

Abstract (PDF, 79 KB)

October 25th
Jones Lecture
Speaker: Livia Eberlin - Baylor College of Medicine
Title: Guiding Clinical Decisions with Molecular Information provided by Direct Mass Spectrometry Technologies
Host: R. Oleschuk

Abstract (PDF, 48 KB)

Lecture Brochure (PDF, 253 KB)

November 2024

November 1st
Speaker: Angela Lyon, MSc (Queen’s Chem), Patent Agent in Canada and US - Partnerships and Innovation, Queen's University
Title: Trivia Questions About Patenting Your Chemical Invention
Host: A. Bongers

Abstract (PDF, 99 KB)

November 8th
Speaker: Lindsay Grandy - Royal Military College of Canada
Title: Predicting Localized Corrosion in the Presence of Ionizing Radiation
Host: Z. She

Abstract (PDF, 30 KB)

November 15th
Speaker: Zachary Myers - Defence Research and Development Canada
Title: Working at the Interface of Science, Technology, and National Defence.
Host: Z. She

Abstract (PDF, 67 KB)

November 22nd
Harrison-MacRae Lecture
Speaker: Ilsa Cooke - University of British Columbia
Title: Unraveling the journey of interstellar carbon – from molecular clouds to solar systems
Host: A. Bongers

Abstract (PDF, 91 KB)

Lecture Brochure (PDF, 370 KB)

November 29th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Alireza Tehrani - PhD Student
Title: Development of property-dependent alignment-free spectral fingerprint for predicting molecular properties
Host: F. Heidar-Zadeh - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 57 KB)

Speaker: Niranji Thilini Ekanayake C T M Ralahamilage - PhD Student
Title: Quantum Chemical Modeling of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction on Se-Doped TiO2 (101)
Host: N. Mosey - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 95 KB)

December 2024

December 6th (Commemoration Day – No Seminar)
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December 13th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Katie Moghadam - PhD Student
Title: “Developing techniques for the forensic profiling of improvised explosive devices and 3D-printed firearms”
Host: D. Beauchemin

Abstract (PDF, 107 KB)

Speaker: Monica Ayachit - PhD Student
Title: "Light sensitive polymer nanoparticles for Remote-drug-delivery applications"
Host: JM Nunzi

Abstract (PDF, 88 KB)

December 27th (University Closed – No Seminar)
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January 2025

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January 17th

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February 2025

February 7th
Speaker: Peter Grutter - McGill University
Title: May the force be with you: using Atomic Force Microscopy to gain insights in chemistry
Host: G. Jerkiewicz

Abstract (PDF, 30 KB)

February 21st
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Yu Zhu - PhD Student
Title: Stereoselective Intramolecular Rhodium-Catalyzed [(3+2+2)] Carbocyclization Reactions of Alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) for the Concise Synthesis of Bridged Tricyclic Products
Host: A. Evans - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 71 KB)

February 28th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Leila Pujal Gómez - PhD Student
Title: Development and Application of Constrained Hirshfeld-based Atoms in Molecules Partitioning Schemes
Host: F. Heidar-Zadeh - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 30 KB)

March 2025

March 7th
Dr. Michael Baird Lecture
Speaker: Mark MacLachlan - University of British Columbia
Title: Supramolecular Adventures with Platinum
Host: A. Petitjean

Abstract (PDF, 78 KB)

Lecture Brochure (PDF, 298 KB)

March 14th
Green Chemistry Lecture
Speaker: Alessandra Quadrelli - CNRS Lyon
Title: Situated Green Chemistries
Host: P. Jessop

Abstract (PDF, 96 KB)

Lecture Brochure (PDF, 2 MB)

March 21st Virtual via Zoom
Kenneth Russell Lecture
Speaker: Jeffrey Moore - University of Illinois
Title: Space Manufacturing: Materials Chemistry for Fabrication of High-Performance Composites
Host: A. Evans

Abstract (PDF, 30 KB)

Lecture Brochure (PDF, 280 KB)

March 28th
Speaker: Louis Barriault - University of Ottawa
Title: New Forays in Total Synthesis of Polyoxygenated Diterpenes and Photoredox Chemistry
Host: A. Evans

Abstract (PDF, 82 KB)

April 2025

April 4th
Dr. Walter A. Szarek Lecture
Speaker: David Vocadlo - Simon Fraser University
Title: Chemical biology tools for probing and perturbing carbohydrate processing enzymes in mammalian systems.
Host: G. Howe

Abstract (PDF, 76 KB)

Lecture Brochure (PDF, 337 KB)

April 11th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Samantha Hollands - PhD Student
Title: Exploring uncharted territory in RiPP biosynthesis; the biosynthesis of curacozole by Streptomyces curacoi
Host: D. Zechel - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 152 KB)

April 18th (No Seminar – University Closed)
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April 23rd at 2:00 p.m. in CHE117
Speaker: Gwilherm Evano - Université libre de Bruxelles
Title: The many faces of copper: catalysis of cross-coupling and radical processes
Host: A. Evans

Abstract (PDF, 160 KB)

April 25th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Neil Grenade - PhD Student
Title: Natural Chemical Selection – The evolution of bioactive molecules
Host: A. Ross - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 153 KB)

Speaker: Jennifer Kolwich - PhD Student
Title: Platforms for natural product discovery: Monitoring spatiotemporal dynamics of metabolites from microbe co-culture using ambient mass spectrometry.
Host: A. Ross - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 140 KB)

May 2025

May 2nd
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Amir Bunyat-zada - PhD Student
Title: Investigation and characterization of Thermostable Baeyer Villiger Monooxygenase Variant
Host: G. Howe - Supervisor

Abstract (PDF, 92 KB)

Speaker: Jose Giovanni Leite de Brito - PhD Student
Title:
Host: P. Jessop - Supervisor

May 9th
Speaker: Zuzana Gajdosechova - National Research Council Canada
Title: Know what you vape: metal analysis of cannabis vape liquids
Host: D. Beauchemin

May 16th
Speaker: Boon Siang (Jason) Yeo - National University of Singapore
Title:
Host: G. Jerkiewicz

May 23rd
C2MCI EDII Seminar
Speaker: TBA
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Host: C2MCI

May 30th
Speaker: Kevin De France - Chemical Engineering, Queen's University
Title:
Host: P. Jessop

June 2025

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July 2025

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August 29th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Adekunle Omoboye - PhD Student
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Host: Z. She - Supervisor

2025-2026 Seminar Schedule

Sep 2025 | Oct 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Feb 2026
Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Jun 2026 | Jul 2026 | Aug 2026

September 2025

September 5th
Grad Orientation
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Host: Department of Chemistry

September 12th
Speaker: Santosh Gharpure - IIT Bombay
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Host: A. Evans

September 19th
Dr. Stan Brown Lecture
Speaker: Kendall Houk - UCLA
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Hosts: G. Howe & A. Evans

September 26th
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October 2025

October 3rd
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October 10th
PhD Departmental Seminar
Speaker: Venika Ekanayake - PhD Student
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Host: P. Wang - Supervisor

October 17th
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November 2025

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November 14th
Frost Lecture
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