Chemistry Programs (BSc)

Chair
Paul Zelisko

Professors Emeriti
Ian D. Brindle, Heather Gordon, Stephen Hartman, David C. Moule, Stuart M. Rothstein, Art van der Est

Professors
Jeffrey Atkinson, Travis Dudding, Costa Metallinos, Georgii Nikonov, Melanie Pilkington, Hongbin (Tony) Yan

Associate Professors
Martin Lemaire, Paul Zelisko

Assistant Professors
Dustin Duncan, Jianbo Gao, Vaughn Mangal, Divya Matta

Adjunct Professors
Farooq Ahmed (CSL Silicones), Lydia Chen (McMaster University), Jianjun Li (Human Health Therapeuticsm National Council of Canada), Christopher H. Marvin (Canada Centre for Inland Waters), Balwantrai Mistry (CSL Silicones), Jeremy Rawson (University of Windsor)

Advisor
Jeffrey Atkinson

Senior Demonstrators
Polydoros Kyriacou, Sergio Paonee, Jonathon Roepke

Mass Spectrometry and Analytical Instrumentation Technologist
Liqun Qiu

NMR Technologist
Razvan Simionescu

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Abigail (Abby) MacCormack

amaccormack@brocku.ca
905-688-5550, extension 3406
CRN 411
brocku.ca/chemistry

Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions with various forms of energy. Brock students are involved in the analysis, synthesis and purification of substances, determining their structures and properties and explaining the mechanisms of processes.

Our programs stress chemical principles and practice through research in organic, inorganic, analytical, physical and theoretical chemistry, with a strong emphasis on the interdisciplinary fields of bio-inorganic and bio-organic chemistry and chemical biophysics. Research interests of the department include development of new chiral ligands, organometallic reagents, methods for asymmetric synthesis, green chemistry as well as protein affinity labelling and protein-lipid interactions, and structure-activity correlations of anticancer pharmaceuticals. Other interests include ligand design and crystal engineering aimed at self-assembly of novel molecule-based materials, design of new ligand platforms for low oxidation state main-group compounds, advanced laser spectroscopy and microscopy; novel nanostructured materials synthesis, organic matter characterization and trace contaminant analysis. Theoretical research focuses on studies to understand charge and energy transfer reactions in photosynthetic proteins.

The Honours program in Chemistry is designed to give the student a broad knowledge of chemistry as well as depth in areas in which the student is most interested. A research project must be successfully completed and a thesis written as part of the requirements for an Honours degree. The Honours program and certain combined Honours programs listed below, when taken with CHEM electives, satisfy the requirements for membership in the Chemical Institute of Canada and are the normal requirements for admission to graduate school in chemistry.

The Chemistry Co-op program combines academic and work terms over a four and one half year period. Students spend two years in an academic setting, where they acquire the necessary background prior to taking the first work placement. Successful completion of courses in the core areas of Chemistry provides the necessary academic background for the work experience. In addition to the current fees for courses in academic study terms, Chemistry Co-op students are assessed an annual administrative fee (see the Schedule of Fees ).

Eligibility to continue in the Co-op program is based on the student’s major average and non-major average. A student with a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average will be permitted to continue. A student with a major average lower than 70 percent will not be permitted to continue in the Chemistry Co-op program, but may continue in the non Co-op Chemistry stream. For further information, see the Co-op Programs section of the Calendar, and contact the Department of Chemistry.

All students in the Co-operative Education program are required to read, sign and adhere to the terms of the Student Regulations Waiver and Co-op Student Manuals (brocku.ca/co-op/current-students/co-op-student-manuals) as articulated by the Co-op Programs Office. In addition, eligibility to continue in the co-op option is based on the student’s major average and non-major average, and the ability to demonstrate the motivation and potential to pursue a professional career.

Each four-month co-operative education work term must be registered. Once students are registered in a co-op work term, they are expected to fulfill their commitment. If the placement accepted is for more than one four-month work term, students are committed to complete all terms. Students may not withdraw from or terminate a work term without permission from the Director, Co-op Program Office.

The requirement for graduation with a Chemistry (Honours) degree is a minimum 70 percent major average and a minimum 60 percent non-major average. The Chemistry Co-op program designation will be awarded to those students who have honours standing and who have successfully completed a minimum of twelve months of Co-op work experience.

The equipment available in the Mackenzie Chown and Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complexes is actively used for both teaching and research. Undergraduate students gain hands-on experience in operating modern equipment for separating of complex mixtures, determining molecular structures, and making quantitative measurements. Newer equipment is computer-controlled and is connected to the University’s Ethernet backbone. Student and faculty researchers have access to cluster platform systems, housed at Brock University and other SHARCNet academic institutions.

Instrumentation includes 300, 400 and 600 MHz NMR cryospectrometers for high-resolution solution and solids studies. Mass spectrometry facilities include a Thermo DFS high resolution mass spectrometer with EI, CI and FAB ion sources. It is equipped with a high-performance capillary GC system. The lab also contains a Bruker HCT Ultra LC/MS system with ESI and APCI interfaces and a BrukerAutoflex II TOF/TOF MALDI system. For X-ray crystallography, a Bruker Apex II CCD diffractometer, equipped with an Oxford low temperature device, is available for the collection of single crystal data. A number of spectroscopic instruments are available in the research laboratories including time-resolved EPR, ICP and ICP/MS, FTIR, UV/Visible, fluorescence cuvette and microplate fluorimeters. There are several chromatography systems for HPLC, FPLC and capillary GC analysis. A state-of-the-art biotechnology research lab was recently equipped for biochemistry and microbiology work. This instrumentation is augmented by a range of modern facilities available through the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, which support work in biochemistry, especially work involving proteins, nucleic acids, yeasts, and bacteria.

Students should consult the Department Chair when planning years 3 and 4 of the BSc (Honours) and BSc with Major programs, or year 3 of the BSc (Pass) program.

In addition to its own programs, the Chemistry department participates in combined major programs with five other departments/centres and is also a major participant in the Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Oenology and Viticulture programs.

Program Notes

1. Professional schools may require an introductory PHYS credit with a lab.
2. The elective credits are normally taken from the Faculty of Mathematics and Science (except ASTR 1P01 , ASTR 1P02 , BIOL 1F25, BIOL 1P27 , BIOL 1P28 , CHEM 1P00 , ERSC 1P92 , SCIS 1P50  , SCIS 1P51   and SCIS 1P52  ).
3. APCO 1P93  is recommended. MATH 2P03  and MATH 2P08  are recommended for students interested in physical chemistry and STAT 1P98  is recommended for students interested in analytical chemistry.
4. CHEM 3P40  and CHEM 3P41  are required for CHEM majors and are highly recommended for combined majors. At least one of these is a prerequisite for most projects in CHEM 4F90  and CHEM 4F91  and should be taken in year 3 by students intending to proceed to a year 4 thesis in Chemistry. Combined majors proceeding to research in organic and inorganic chemistry must take CHEM 3P40  while combined majors proceeding to research in analytical, physical, and theoretical chemistry must take CHEM 3P41 .
5. Students planning to pursue graduate studies in Chemistry are strongly recommended to take at least two and one-half CHEM credits numbered 3(alpha)90 or above covering at least three of the sub- disciplines of physical, inorganic, analytical and organic chemistry, in addition to CHEM 4F90  and CHEM 4F91 . Chemistry majors planning to pursue graduate studies in biochemistry or biological chemistry are strongly recommended to take CHEM 4P27  or CHEM 4P67  and two additional year 4 CHEM credits.
6. Students with a minimum 70 percent in 4U/M chemistry take CHEM 1P91  and CHEM 1P92 . Students with a minimum 70 percent in 4U/M chemistry may not take CHEM 1P00  without permission from the Department, which is granted only in exceptional cases.
7. MATH 2P92  is recommended when offered. Students should consult an advisor when planning years 3 and 4 of the BSc programs or year 3 of the BSc Pass program.
8. MATH 1P01  and MATH 1P05  expect a certain level of achievement on relevant high-school courses and placement tests are conducted prior to the term. Students who do not meet the preparation requirements are able to enroll in an alternate course, MATH 1P20 , before continuing in the courses required for their program. As a result, the students may take more than four years to graduate. Students should contact an Academic Advisor for their program.
9. Students must complete 1.0 context credit in Humanities and 1.0 credit in Social Sciences. The year of context credit completion is interchangeable.
10. In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
    
    In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
    
    In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.