Faculty of Arts & Science
Chemistry & Biochemistry

Faculty members are happy to involve undergraduate students in their research projects, using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. Our faculty members often collaborate with other departments, community members and employers on research projects—giving you the opportunity to get additional hands-on experience.

You may also have the opportunity to participate in research exchanges or gain experience with agencies like the Animal Diseases Research Institute and Natural Resources Canada, as well as companies like NOVA Chemicals, Husky Energy, Syncrude or Nexen Inc.

The faculty members in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and their research areas are:

Post-Doc

• Dr. Kevin Johnson
• Dr. Tracey Roemmele
• Dr. Tobias Schuemmer
• Dr. Purushotam Sharma
• Dr. Paul Sidhu

Biochemistry

• Dr. Ute Kothe - Molecular mechanisms of small ribonucleoproteins: biochemical and biophysical investigations on function and structure of RNA-protein complexes.
• Dr. Steven Mosimann - Structure and Function of RNA Processing
• Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden - Study functional and structural dynamics of protein biosynthesis in E-coli; focusing on two aspects of translation machinery - Kinetics and structural dynamics; Ribosomal proteins

Computational and Theoretical Chemistry

• Dr. Marc Roussel - Work is at the interface between chemistry, biology and mathematics. He uses a combination of mathematical reasoning and computer simulation to try to understand a variety of phenomena, with emphasis on biological and chemical systems.
• Dr. Stacey Wetmore (CRC Chair) - Her research uses computer calculations to understand chemical systems.
  Her focus is on understanding DNA damage and repair pathways, as well as the properties of modified DNA components used for numerous biochemical and medicinal applications.

Inorganic Chemistry

• Dr. René Boeré - Main group inorganic scientist; topics include a) inorganic ring systems; b) imide, amidines, guanidines and related nitrogen ligans; c) bio-inorganic chemistry; d) preparation of highly reactive molecules containing oxygen and carbon.
• Dr. Michael Gerken - Inorganic fluorine chemist; preparation and characterization of new highly reactive fluorine compounds of main-group and transition-metal elements and multi-nuclear solid-state NMR characterization of reactive inorganic fluorides.

Organic Chemistry

• Dr. Peter Dibble - Synthetic organic chemist; He specializes in methods of generating a class of highly reactive organic molecules know as isobenzofurans.

Organometallic Chemistry

• Dr. Paul Hayes - Organometallic complexes for application in new chemical transformations and catalysis.

Physical Chemistry

• Dr. Andrew Hakin - Experimental thermodynamicist; His research lies within the field of experimental thermodynamics. He specializes in utilizing the techniques of calorimetry and densimetry to probe the thermodynamic properties of aqueous electrolyte systems and aqueous systems of biochemical interest.
• Dr. Paul Hazendonk - Nuclear Magnetic Spectroscopy (NMR) in both solid and solution state. His focus is on fluorine-containing materials such as fluoropolymers, inorganic polymers and inorganic fluorides.

Some current faculty research areas include:

• Synthesis and properties of ring compounds and free radicals of the main group elements
• Thermodynamics of peptides and proteins
• Structure and function of RNA processing enzymes and complexes
• Molecular mechanisms of small RNA-protein complexes
• Synthesis and characterization of highly reactive inorganic fluorine compounds
• Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy of inorganic fluorides
• Modelling of chemical and biochemical systems
• Development of edible oils with designed properties and performance
• Structural and functional dynamics of protein synthesis
• Computer modeling of DNA damage and repair pathways
• Organometallic complexes for application in new chemcial transformations and catalysis
• Antibiotics and Bio-Nanomachines

Faculty at the University of Lethbridge find themselves in a unique position to:

• access excellent undergraduate students who can provide research assistance;
• collaborate with faculty outside of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on joint projects and research areas;
• access exceptionally well-equipped facilities both on and off campus;
• work with community members and local industry on various projects and initiatives;
• work with exceptional graduate students on research programmes of international reputation;
• collaborate with colleagues in a closeknit, diverse department.