Members Chem Crew
Daria Cirlan
Ph. D. Student
Marina Bauer
Post-Doc
Alessandra Menandro
Post-Doc
Binyu Chen
Post-Doc
Ashley Elgersma
Ph. D. Student
Ana Laura Gonçalves
Post-Doc
Subash Rajasekar
Post-Doc
Apurva Gangrade
Post-Doc
Chengkai Fan
Post-Doc
Spencer Thomas
M. Sc. Candidate
Lindsay Sanderson
Ph.D. Student
Halle Murphy
Ph. D. Student
Ravinder Singh
Post-Doc
Franklin Egemole
Ph. D. Candidate
Former Undergrads
- Jonathan Hui, 2021
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J. Heyes (UBC) 2016
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Ms. Manai Shimada (University of Yamanashi, Japan)2015
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Mr. Takashi Mochizuki (University of Yamanashi, Japan) 2014.
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Mr. Lukas Metzler (University of Freiburg, DE) 2014
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Ms. Elizabeth Kitching (Dalhousie University) 2014
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Mr. Bryton Vargu 2013
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Mr. Mads Møller Nielsen, (foreign exchange student, Danish Technical University), 2011
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Ms. Tina Lu 2011
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Mr. Andrew Wright 2011
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Mr. Nauman Mithani (CHEM 481) 2010
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Mr. Thomas Weissbach (foreign exchange student from Germany) 2009
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Ms. Mathilde Lildaal (foreign exchange student from Denmark) 2009
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Ms. Claudia Liebner (foreign exchange student from Germany) 2006
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Ms. Ami Yang 2006
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Ms. Alison Palmer 2001
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Ms. Jennifer Gilchrist 2001
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Mr. E. Swanson, 2001
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Mr. K. Zychowka, 1999
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Mr. C. Thai, 1998
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Mr. M. Maddess, 1997
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Ms. A. Siu, 1997
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Mr. M. Abley, 1997
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Mr. K. Yeung, 1995
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Mr. C. Bartels, 1995
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Mr. Simon Law, 1994
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Ms. E. Lai, 1994
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Mr. Ernest Wong, 1992
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Mr. McEachern,1992
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Mr. G. Diaz-Quijada, 1991
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Mr. Tim Freitas, 1990
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Mr. J. Lowe, 1990
Former Graduate Students
- Xin Wang, M. Sc 2021
- Luigi Tiano, M. Sc. 2021
- Yang "Kingsly" Wu, PhD 2020
- N. Peressin, M.Sc, 2020
Structure-property Relationships in Sterically-congested Proton-conducting Poly(phenylene)s:
The Impact of Backbone Linearity
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L. Wei, M.Sc, 2019
Poly(arylene imidazolium)s: Towards Stable Hydroxide Ion Exchange Membranes
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M. Adamski, Ph.D, 2019
Synthetic design and development of proton conducting polyphenylenes for electrochemical energy conversion devices
>PDF, Holdcroft group, Simon Fraser University
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T. Holmes, M.Sc, 2019
Reaction of Hydroyl Radicals with Sulfonated Phenylated Polyphenylenes
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T. Skalski, Ph.D, 2019
Synthesis of Sulfo-Phenylated Terphenylenes: Molecules, Polymers and Copolymers
>PDF, Holdcroft group, Simon Fraser University
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P. Fortin, Ph.D, 2019
Conjugated organic polymers as photocathode materials in organic photoelectrochemical cells
>PDF, Ionomr Innovations Inc.
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B. Britton, Ph.D, 2018
Fully hydrocarbon ionomer catalyst layers in proton- and anion-exchange membrane fuel cells
>Chief Strategy Officer, Director & Co-founder, Ionomr Innovations
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T. Weissbach, Ph.D, 2017
Ion Exchange Materials with Enhanced Stability
>Chemnitz University, Germany.
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C. Zhang, Ph.D, 2017
Towards Stable Polymer Solar Cells through Crosslinking and Sidechain Cleavage
>Ionomr Innovations Inc.
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J. Luo, Ph.D, 2017
Water Transport Through Ion Conducting Polymer Membranes
>PDF, Lawrence Berkeley Labs
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D. Novitski, Ph.D, 2017
Oxygen Mass Transport Parameters in Ionomer Films under Controlled Relative Humidity
>MITACS Fellow, AFCC
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A. Wright, Ph.D, 2016
Synthetic Design and Development of Sterically-Protected Hydroxide-Conducting Polymers for Energy Conversion Devices
>Carbon Inc. CA
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G. Suppes, Ph.D., 2015
Poly 3-Hexylthiophene as a Photocathode for Solar Water Splitting
>MITACS Fellow, AFCC
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A. Yang, Ph.D., 2014
Structure-Property Relationships of Proton Exchange Membranes
>NREL, Colorado
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K. Soo, M.Sc., 2013
Poly(benzimidazole) Anion Exchange Membranes.
>Teaching
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E.M. Tsang, Ph.D., 2011
Structure-Property Relationships Of PEMS Using Fluorous-Ionic Copolymers.
>Instructor, Hong Kong Univ
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O.Thomas, M.Sc., 2011
Poly(benzimidazoles) as Ion Exchange Membranes.
>AFCC
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B. Gholamkhass, Ph.D., 2011
A Study on Structure-Property Relationships of P3HT-Based Conjugated Polymer for Photovoltaic Devices.
>PDF, UBC; Ionomr Innovations
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Z. Zhou, Ph.D., 2010
Towards Control Of Phase Segregation In Donor-Acceptor Blends By Post-Functionalization Of Conjugated Polymer.
>Saltworks Corp. Vancouver
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T. Soboleva, Ph.D., 2010
Water-Sorption in Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers.
>NSERC Ind. PDF, AFCC Burnaby
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M. Adachi, Ph.D., 2010
Water-Permeation through Fuel Cell Membranes.
>Research Scientist, Toyota Corp, Japan
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G. Shultz, Ph.D., 2009
Ir-bound Conjugated Polymers.
> Univ. Ulm, Germany
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X. Han, Ph.D., 2009
Thermally-Reactive Conjugated Polymers.
>PDF, Stanford Univ.
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T. Astill, Ph.D., 2008
Hydrocarbon-Based Solid Polymer Electrolytes for Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers.
>Technical Representation, Perkin Elmer, Vancouver.
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T. Gordon, Ph.D., 2008
Direct Thermal Lithography. Past Position: PDF, Univ. Alberta;
>Research Scientist, Chemical Company, AB
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M. Rodgers, Ph.D., 2007
Proton Conducting Membranes.
>Research Faculty, Florida State University
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J. Schmeisser, Ph.D., 2007
Proton Conductivity of Polymer Membranes.
>Lecturer in Liberal Arts College, Detroit.
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O. Savard, M.Sc., 2007
Proton Conducting Polyimides.
>Technical Advisor and Marketing, Perkin Elmer, London, UK
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A. Siu, Ph.D., 2006
Electrochemistry and Methanol Permeability of Ion Conducting Polymers.
>Research Associate NRC/IMI.
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G. Vamvounis, Ph.D., 2005
Luminescence of Conjugated Polymers.
>ARC Fellow (faculty member), Chemistry, Univ. Queensland, AUs
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T. Navessin, Ph.D., 2004
Fuel Cell Electrochemistry
> Research Officer NRC/IFCI;
>Founder and CEO, Blueprime Management Technologies
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K. Shi, Ph.D., 2004
Synthesis of Ionically Conducting Membranes.
> Senior Research Officer, NRC/IFCI
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Carmen Chuy-Sam, Ph.D., 2002
Ion-Conducting membranes.
>Research Scientist, AFCC, Burnaby, BC
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J. Yu, Ph.D., 2002
Photolithography of Pi-Conjugated Polymers.
>Research Manager, Chemical Company, Shanghai, China
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V. Basura, Ph.D., 2000
Electrochemistry of Proton Exchange Membranes.
>Team Leader, Research, Ballard, Burnaby, BC
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C. Yang, Ph.D., 1999
Optical and Fluorescent Properties of Thiophene-based Conjugated Polymers.
Current Position: Research Manager, Chemical Company, Zuzhou, China
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G.A. Diaz-Guijada (co-supervised with BM Pinto), Ph.D., 1999
Regiochemical Analysis of Polythiophenes and Conformational Analysis of Oligothiophenes.
>Research Officer NRC/NINT
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M.V. Lauritzen, M.Sc., 1998
Solvato-Controlled Doping of Poly(3-alkylthiophenes) and Other Conjugated polymers Using Silver (I) Triflate.
>Team Leader, Research, Ballard, Burnaby, BC
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J.K. Lowe, Ph.D., 1997
Synthesis, properties and Photolithography of Polythiophene derivatives.
>BCIT, Burnaby, BC
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E.K. Lai, M.Sc., 1995
Conducting Polymer Films for the Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen.
> Team Leader, Research, AFCC, Burnaby
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M.S. Abdou, Ph.D., 1995
Towards “Macromolecular” Electronics Photochemical and Electrical Properties of pi-conjugated Poly(3-alkylthiophenes)
>Dupont, Willington
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R. Hader, M.Sc., 1994
Towards the Synthesis of Segmented Polythiophenes
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M. Arroyo, M.Sc., 1994
Synthesis and Properties of Water Soluble Conducting Poly(3-alkylsulfonate) thiophenes
Former Post-docs
- Dr. Simon Cassegrain 2020-2023 - Senior Polymer R&D Chemist at Ionomr Innovations Inc.
- Dr. Anastasiia Konovalova, 2020 - 2022 - Post-doc Shannon Boettcher - University of Oregon
- Dr. Peter Mardle, 2020 - 2022 - Assistant Research Officer NRC
- Dr. Philip Overton, 2019 to 2022 - Ballard
- Dr. Thomas Skalski, 2019 to 2021 - Ionomer Innovations Inc.
- Dr. Qiliang Wei, 2019 to 2021
- Dr. Mike Adamski, 2019 to 2020 - Ionomer Innovations Inc.
- Dr. Shaoyi Xu, 2017 to 2018
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Dr. Hsu Feng Lee, 2016-2017 – Ionomr Innovations Inc.
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Dr. Jiantao Fan 2014 to 2017 – Faculty, Southern University of S&T, Shenzhen
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Dr. Pankaj Choudhury 2014 to 2016
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Dr. Lida Gassemzadeh 2012 to 2014 →Researcher, Ballard Power Systems
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Dr. Anthony Lee 2013-2014 →Faculty, Fuzhou University
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Dr. M. Kulkarni 2009 to 2013 →Researcher
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Dr. J. Li 2011 to 2012
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Dr. A. Mani, 2008 to 2010
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Dr. J. Brusso, 2008 to 2009 (→Prof., U Ottawa))
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Dr. A. Leung, 2008 to 2009 (→Research Associate NRC/IFCI)
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Dr. Z. Zhang, 2004 to 2006 (→Research Scientist, Ciba Shanghai)
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Dr. B. Easton, 2002 to 2004 (→Prof., U Ont. Inst. Tec, UOIT)
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Dr. G. Kwak, April 2002 to 2003 (→Prof., Nara Institute of S&T, Japan)
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Dr. Y. Li, Feb. 2000–Feb. 2002 (→Prof., Univ. Waterloo)
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Dr. S. Reddy, Jan. 2001 –June 2001
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Dr. J. Ding, September 1998 – 2000 (→Senior Research Associate NRC/ICPET)
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Dr. P. Beattie, March 1997- 1999 (→Research Manager, Ballard, Burnaby)
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Dr. E. Simon, March 1996- April 1998 (European Space Agency, NL)
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Dr. T. Yang, Jul. 1990 - Feb. 1991
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Dr. H. Mao, Sept. 1990 - Dec. 1991
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Dr. Y. Son, Apr. 1992 - Apr. 1993 (→Researcher Moli Energy, BC)
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Dr. M.S.A. Abdou, Jan. 1995 -Dec. 1995 (→Dupont, Wilmington)
Former Research Associates
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Miho Killer
2016-2019
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Mr. Owen Thomas, 2011 to 2014
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Dr. U. Thanganathan, 2008 to 2009
>faculty, Nagoya Inst. Tech
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Ms. Zhoa-Lan Jia, 2010
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Dr. X. Chen, 2003 to 2008 (NSERC).
>Research Officer, CSIRO, Melbourne
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Dr. Y. Yang, June 2001 -2007, NSERC
>Research Scientist, AFCC,Burnaby
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Dr. F. Orfino, January 1994-2000
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Mr. Z. W. Xie, (part-time) Sept. 1990 - 1994
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Dr. B. Xu, February 1992 - December 1993
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Dr. M. Lebedev, Aug. 1993 - 1996, NSERC
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Evelyn Lai, January 1995 - 1996
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Y. Gu, January 1995 - 1996

Lindsay is a proud graduate of Dalhousie University, holding a B. Eng in Chemical Engineering and having completed the enriching co-operative education program. Her journey so far has led her to Rayleigh Solar Tech, a dynamic Halifax-based startup, where she immersed herself in a 16-month endeavor to enhance carbon electrode materials for perovskite solar cells.
Ashley completed her BSc in Chemistry at The King’s University in Edmonton, Alberta. During her degree, she participated in a variety of research, including in vanadium-naphthenic acid coordination in the Athabasca oil sands, computational methods for ab-initio molecular dynamics, and the development of online chemistry education resources.
Apurva earned both her MSc and PhD in Energy Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. For her Master’s degree, she focused on metal hydride ceramics as hydrogen storage materials, specifically investigating the kinetics of hydrogen sorption.



Ravinder received his PhD from National Chiao Tung University (NCTU), Taiwan. He also worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at National Taiwan University (Taiwan) and University of Waterloo (CANADA). During these eras, his research activities focused on the use of cutting-edge synthetic methodologies and technical skills for the design, efficient synthesis, and characterizations of organic chemical entities (small, supramolecular, and polymers w/and w/o post-polymerizations) for multifaceted applications such as Opto-Electronics, Sensory (Chemo-/Bio-Sensors/OTFTs), Photo-Controllable/Stimuli-Responsive, AIE-based materials (Type-I ROS PSs for Photodynamic therapy and Energy-Transfer), and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs).

Ana Laura obtained her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She did part of her undergraduate studies at the Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble, France, where she had her first contact with electrochemistry. She has a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of São Paulo with one year done at the University of Surrey, UK. She also did a 2 years post-doc at the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN), Brazil, in collaboration with Shell.
Binyu graduated with a B. Eng. in Chemical Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology and a M. Sc in Chemistry from Memorial University of Newfoundland.