To Register for Courses:
- Chemical Engineering
- Biology
- Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy
- Biomedical and Molecular Sciences
- Environment Studies
- Mathematics
- Civil Engineering
- Chemistry at Royal Military College (RMC)
For a list of all courses across campus, please visit the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs academic calendar
Mandatory Courses
Expand to see the description, location, and time for each course.
Mandatory courses are courses that all chemistry graduate students are required to take based on their graduate program in chemistry. Students are automatically registered for their mandatory courses and do not need to include them on an academic change form.
An introduction to safety procedures and the safe handling of chemical compounds and equipment in the laboratory. This non-credit course is required for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering students. All other members of the Chemistry department are welcome to attend. Students must attend all lectures and exam.
Class #1: September 14th 6:00 - 9:00 pm in CHE 117
Class #2: September 21st 6:00 - 9:00 pm in CHE 117
Class #3: September 28th 6:00 - 9:00 pm in CHE 117
Class #4: October 19th 6:00 - 9:00 pm in CHE 117
Exam: TBD
Coordinator
Dr. Philip Jessop
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 412
Email: jessop@queensu.ca
Based on the regular departmental seminar program offered during the fall, winter and summer, this non-credit course is to be taken every year by all graduate students. As part of this course M.Sc. and Ph.D. students must attend a minimum number of departmental seminars. In addition, Ph.D. students will present one seminar on their research prior to their thesis submission.
To achieve a PASS in the Seminar Series, students must maintain an attendance record of 75% at regular departmental seminars, including named and distinguished lecture series. Seminar attendance is monitored using sign-in attendance sheets. Students with legitimate excuses and/or teaching conflicts will not be penalized for missing seminars. Furthermore, students will be credited for seminars attended in other departments which may be relevant to their research (typically in physics, biochemistry, environmental science, etc.) To obtain a seminar credit, a student must provide a note signed by the seminar coordinator of the other department. Students who do not attend the required 75% of the departmental seminars will obtain an "incomplete". In the subsequent terms, the students who have attended less than 75% of the seminars will have to attend more seminars in the following terms so that a minimum attendance is accomplished for any past terms where an incomplete grade was assigned in addition to 75% attendance for the current term.
Coordinator
Dr. Graeme Howe
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 512
Email: graeme.howe@queensu.ca
Principles of scientific verbal and written communication in Chemistry. Topics include computer literature searching, scientific writing techniques (for research reports, journal manuscripts, and theses), oral and poster conference presentations, and communication skills as teaching assistantships. Assignments will include completion of online course modules on scientific communication from MyGradSkills.ca.
Lectures: Fridays 1:30 - 3:00 PM in CHE 117
Note: This is a twelve-week module that is scheduled from September to December (2 module credit)
Instructor
Dr. Amanda Bongers
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 507
Email: amanda.bongers@queensu.ca
Elective Courses
Expand to see the description and instructor information for the courses offered in 2022-2023. Please contact the course instructor for location and times prior to the first day of classes.
All of our chemistry courses run on a 6 week schedule unless otherwise noted.
Courses marked with ** are modules offered concurrent with fourth year courses. Students are allowed to take only two of these 800 level courses throughout their graduate program for credit.
Courses marked with *** are modules that are considered outside of the Department of Chemistry. Unless permission is obtained from the supervisor and coordinator of graduate studies in chemistry, chemistry students are only allowed to take two courses offered outside of the Department of Chemistry towards their six module requirement.
Fall 1 Courses - Begin September 6, 2022
Fall Mid-term Break: October 11th to 14th; Classes may or may not be scheduled, please speak with instructor to confirm
Relationships between macromolecular structure, the physical properties of polymeric materials, and applications. Topics include conformation and configuration, the glass transition, rubber elasticity, flammability, viscoelasticity, yielding, and fracture. Case studies in material selection will be included.
Instructor
Dr. Simon Hesp
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 309
Email: simon.hesp@chem.queensu.ca
A study of the intramolecular forces responsible for molecular recognition and host/guest interactions in organic and inorganic supramolecular complexes, including rotaxanes and catenanes. Synthesis, characterization, and applications of supramolecular complexes in catalysis, biomimicry, and nanotechnology.
Instructor
Dr. Anne Petitjean
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 410
Email: anne.petitjean@chem.queensu.ca
Most undergraduate quantum courses treat only bound states but much of chemistry occurs in the continuum. This course offers an introduction to the ideas used to understand how molecules fall apart and combine allowing us to apply quantum mechanics to study photodissociation and chemical reactions.
Instructor
Dr. Tucker Carrinton
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 409
Email: tucker.carrington@queensu.ca
The Science Leadership and Management course will be delivered over twelve 3-hour sessions to Chemistry and Physics students in either of the first two years of their PhD studies (or other graduate students with permission from the course coordinator and supervisor). The first and last four-week sessions will focus on the develop and application of leadership skills, and the second four-week session will focus on the development of management skills, that are useful in scientific positions in industry and academia.
Note: This is a twelve-week Pass/Fail module that is scheduled from September to December.
Enrolment Deadline: September 19th (unless has permission from instructor)
Instructor
Edward Thomas
Email: edward.thomas@queensu.ca
Coordinator
Dr. Nick Mosey
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 403
Email: nicholas.mosey@chem.queensu.ca
Fall 2 Courses - Begin October 24, 2022
This course will cover subject areas of magnetic resonance spectroscopy including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Instructor
Dr. Gang Wu
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 408
Email: gang.wu@chem.queensu.ca
An overview of modern computational techniques and software for the determination of molecular orbitals and structures. Intended as a general introduction for graduate students of all disciplines.
Lectures: Mondays 9:30 - 10:30 AM; Wednesdays 8:30 - 9:30 AM; Thursdays 10:30 - 11:30 AM
** Student allowed to take only two of these 800 level courses throughout their graduate program. These modules will be offered concurrent with fourth year courses.
Instructor
Dr. Farnaz Heidar-Zadeh
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 304
Email: farnaz.heidarzadeh@queensu.ca
An introduction to modern mass spectrometry. Instruments and the various methods of forming or introducing ions into the gas phase will be discussed and mass spectra will be interpreted.
Lectures: Tuesdays 9:30 - 10:30 AM; Thursdays 8:30 - 9:30 AM; Fridays 10:30 - 11:30 AM
** Student allowed to take only two of these 800 level courses throughout their graduate program. These modules will be offered concurrent with fourth year courses.
Instructor
Dr. Diane Beauchemin
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 308
Email: diane.beauchemin@chem.queensu.ca
Specific properties of polymer (glass transition, crystallinity, poly-dispersity, etc.) and their dependence on macromolecular structure and isomerism.
Instructor
Dr. Guojun Liu
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 411
Email: guojun.liu@chem.queensu.ca
A review of the basic reactions involving transition metal catalysts in transformations of organic compounds. Fundamental reactions such as oxidative addition, reductive elimination, migratory insertions and transmetallations will be covered. Different types of ligands and their bonding properties will also be covered. Reactions of importance to organic chemistry including hydrogenations, oxidations, cross coupling reactions, metathesis and other pertinent reactions will be covered.
Lectures: Mondays 1:30 - 2:30 PM; Wednesdays 12:30 - 1:30 PM; Fridays 11:30 - 12:30 PM
** Student allowed to take only two of these 800 level courses throughout their graduate program. These modules will be offered concurrent with fourth year courses.
Instructor
Dr. P. Andrew Evans
Office: Chernoff Hall, room 508
Email: andrew.evans@queensu.ca
Winter 1 Courses - Begin January 9, 2023
Reading Week: February 20th to 24th; No classes scheduled
An introductory course on identification of organic and organometallic compounds using multinuclear NMR techniques. The focus will be on practical applications for those working in synthetic chemistry.
Instructor
Dr. Francoise Sauriol
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 108A
Email: francoise.sauriol@chem.queensu.ca
A critical review of the current research literature with strong emphasis on student discussions and presentation. Topics are selected from recent examples in the literature and may include light-matter interactions, nanostructures, surface probe studies, computational methods and other examples in physical chemistry and molecular physics.
Instructor
Dr. Paul Duchesne
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 306
Email: paul.duchesne@queensu.ca
Enzyme mechanisms and inhibition, catalytic antibodies, stereochemical and other biological probes. Phosphoryl group transfer reactions.
Instructor
Dr. Graeme Howe
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 512
Email: graeme.howe@queensu.ca
A review of business skills critical for success of the technical professional in the chemical industry. Topics many include an introduction to financial accounting, organizational design, managing systems, marketing and business strategy, and planning for innovation.
Note: This course is taught in a workshop format over four evenings and includes a project which will be presented and discussed over the course of a single day. Due to the format of the course students need to attend all lectures.
Coordinator
Dr. Richard Oleschuk
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 200B Email: richard.oleschuk@chem.queensu.ca
Instructor
Will Rogers
Email: TBA
This multidisciplinary course main objective is to learn about the social and scientific concepts behind CO2 utilization. The participants will learn the basic chemistry of CO2 and the current ways to sequester and use CO2 at the laboratory and industrial scales. They will also learn about the impact of CO2 on society and climate change, the economic advantages of CO2 utilization and the legal and political aspects related to this modern challenge.
This online course will consist of 13 lectures of 2-3 hours given by specialists in the field of CO2 utilization. They are members and collaborators of the CREATE center on CO2 utilization and are professors in chemistry, chemical engineering, geological engineering, economy and law.
Enrolment Deadline: January 20th
Coordinator
Dr. Philip Jessop
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 412
Email: jessop@queensu.ca
The theory and practice of scanning probe techniques, including scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and related techniques. Applications to modern research in surface and interfacial chemistry.
Instructor
Dr. Zhe She
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 307
Email: zhe.she@queensu.ca
A multi-disciplinary graduate course on the principles of micro/nanofabrication. It aims to help students from a broad range of sciences gain perspective on techniques, tools, and strategies for the micro/nanofabrication of devices for a variety of applications. The course will feature hands-on experience at NanoFabrication Kingston, the cleanroom and nanofabrication facility at Queen's
Prerequiste: Permission of the instructor
Instructor
Dr. Graham Gibson
Email: gibsong@queensu.ca
Winter 2 Courses - Begin February 27, 2023
Advanced methods for the identification of organic and organometallic compounds using multinuclear NMR techniques. The focus will be on practical applications for those working in synthetic chemistry.
Prerequisite: CHEM805
Instructor
Dr. Francoise Sauriol
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 108A
Email: francoise.sauriol@chem.queensu.ca
Topics to be covered in this course include (a) luminescent/electroluminescent compounds, (b) fullerene chemistry and (c) magnetic and electronic materials.
Lectures: Mondays 1:30 - 2:30 PM; Wednesdays 12:30 - 1:30 PM; Fridays 11:30 - 12:30 PM
**Student allowed to take only two of these 800 level courses throughout their graduate program. These modules will be offered concurrent with fourth year courses.
Instructor
Dr. Lucia Lee
Office: TBA
Email: lucia.lee@queensu.ca
Introductory solid state theory from the chemist's perspective: free electron metals, Bloch functions and LCAO description and solids. Experimental determination of band structure using photoelectron spectroscopy. Application to material properties such as conductivity, superconductivity, and semiconductors.
Instructor
Dr. Peng Wang
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 303
Email: wang.peng@queensu.ca
Liquid crystalline polymers, spontaneous order and induced order in polymers specifically designed to mimic supramolecular association and recognition. Dendrimers, block structures, and associated surfaces will be included.
Instructor
Dr. Guojun Liu
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 311
Email: guojun.liu@chem.queensu.ca
This course introduces the current topics in luminescent materials chemistry including photophysical and photochemical properties of transition metal and main group compounds, and characterization methods. The design and synthetic aspects of luminescent materials and their applications in sensing and optoelectronic devices, and photocatalysis will also be discussed.
Instructor
Dr. Kevin Stamplecoskie
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 505
Email: kevin.stamplecoskie@queensu.ca