Chemistry Graduate Modules
Graduate courses are selected in consultation with your supervisor and approved by the departmental graduate coordinator. Once you have chosen your courses, the course(s) may be added by filling in an academic change form and submitting it to the Graduate Assistant for approval by the Graduate Coordinator. Once your ACF is approved, your courses will be added/dropped on the Student Online University System, SOLUS and you should be able to view your course registration on SOLUS.
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.
Description
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 9th 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Welcome and Intro to Course
Class #2: September 16th 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Q&A
Class #3: September 23rd 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Q&A
Exam: September 30th 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Exam
Instructor
Dr. Philip Jessop
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 412
Phone: 613-533-3212
Email: philip.jessop@chem.queensu.ca
Description
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. Guojun Liu
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 411
Phone: 613-533-6996
Email: guojun.liu@chem.queensu.ca
Description
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.
Note: This is a twelve-week module that is scheduled from September to December (2 module credit)
Coordinator
Dr. Amanda Bongers
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm507
Phone: 613-533-2631
Email: amanda.bongers@queensu.ca
Elective Courses
Expand to see the description and instructor information for the courses offered in 2020-2021. 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, students are only allowed to take two courses offered outside of the Department of Chemistry towards their six module requirement.
Description
A survey of materials characterisation methods with an emphasis on practical applications in materials and polymer chemistry. Techniques will include electron microscopy, scanning probe diffraction methods.
Instructor
Dr. Kevin McEleney
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 101B
Phone: 613-533-3165
Email: kevin.mceleney@queensu.ca
Description
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
Phone: 613-533-2615
Email: simon.hesp@chem.queensu.ca
Description
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.
Instructor
Edward Thomas
Email: edward.thomas@queensu.ca
Coordinator
Dr. Nick Mosey
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 403
Phone: 613-533-2650
Email: moseyn@queensu.ca
Description
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
Phone: 613-533-2644
Email: gang.wu@chem.queensu.ca
Description
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.
** 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
Phone: 613-533-2621
Email: farnaz.heidarzadeh@queensu.ca
Description
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.
** 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
Phone: 613-533-2619
Email: diane.beauchemin@chem.queensu.ca
Description
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.
** 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, rm 508
Phone: 613-533-6286
Email: andrew.evans@chem.queensu.ca
Description
Kinetics and mechanisms of reactions of transition metals in biological systems, including metalloproteins and metalloenzymes. Roles of metals in hydrolytic and redox enzymes, oxygen transport, development of model systems.
Instructor
Dr. Anne Petitjean
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 410
Phone:
Email: anne.petitjean@chem.queensu.ca
Description
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
Phone: 613-533-2260
Email: francoise.sauriol@chem.queensu.ca
Description
Enzyme mechanisms and inhibition, catalytic antibodies, stereochemical and other biological probes. Phosphoryl group transfer reactions.
Instructor
Dr. Graeme Howe
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 512
Phone: 613-533-6089
Email: graeme.howe@queensu.ca
Description
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: CHEM 805
Instructor
Dr. Francoise Sauriol
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 108A
Phone: 613-533-2260
Email: francoise.sauriol@chem.queensu.ca
Description
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 TBA
Phone: TBA
Email: TBA
Description
A discussion of some modern methods used in organic synthesis with an emphasis on stereoselective reactions; illustrations of the value and scope of the methods and applications in the synthesis of complex modules.
Lectures: Mondays 1:30 - 2:30; Wednesdays 12:30 - 1:30; Fridays 11:30 - 12:30 in Biosciences Complex, room 2111
**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. Chantelle Capicciotti
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 405
Phone: 613-533-2627
Email: c.capicciotti@queensu.ca
Description
This course will examine the biosynthesis of major classes of natural products including polyketides, no-ribosomal peptides, terpenoids, indolocarbazoles, and alkaloids. Focus will be given to the mechanisms of the biosynthetic enzymes. Strategies for discovering new natural products as well as engineering existing pathways to create new compounds will also be considered.
Prerequisite: CHEM 883 or equivalent.
Instructor
Dr. Avena Ross
Office: Chernoff Hall, rm 407
Phone: 613-533-2618
Email: avena.ross@chem.queensu.ca
Description
Introductory solid state theory from the chemist’s perspective: free electron metals, Bloch functions and LCAO description of 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
Phone: 613-533-3250
Email: wang.peng@queensu.ca
More information about our graduate courses can be found in the School of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.