A little about me…
University of Toronto
I then moved to the University of Toronto, where I conducted my PhD under the guidance of Prof. Sophie Rousseaux. There, I developed new chemical reactions for the synthesis of small, strained, carbocyclic rings (cyclopropanes and cyclobutanes). Due to their strain, these small rings display interesting properties that can be exploited in drug development, material science, and a range of other applications. Because of this, I focused on the synthesis of small rings that contain a boron “handle” that can be used by chemists to attach these small rings on all sorts of other molecules. I also had the opportunity to mentor a number of undergraduate and graduate students, who themselves went on to pursue chemistry themselves.
University of Alberta
I was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. I attended the university of Alberta for my BSc, which a specialization in Chemistry. During this time, I had the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research under the guidance of Prof. John C. Vederas. I was able to work on a series of different projects, ranging from synthesizing Cladosporin (antimalarial) analogues and novel spin-labeled amino acids to working on analyzing and enhancing the pharmacokinetic properties of Apelin, a peptide that contains promising role in proper cardiovascular function.
Yale University
Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow at in the lab of Prof. Scott Miller at Yale University. I am developing new reactions to synthesize challenging scaffolds in a way that carefully controls their 3-dimensional shape. I am excited to see where this research takes me, and I will hopefully be able to share it with the general public in the near future. I am eager to learn new things, share knowledge with those around me, and engage in the scientific process to contribute positively to the world. Scientific development is the way out of some of the most difficult problems society faces at the moment, and I am incredibly grateful to be able to take part in this process and do it alongside such talented, interesting, and unique people.