Grad Students
Andrew Hainer
Andrew was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1995. He is currently in his 4th year of a B.Sc. program at the University of Ottawa. During this past summer, Andrew conducted research with the aid of the RISE program and NSERC at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Prof. Glen Loppnow researching UV damage kinetics in DNA. He is now currently volunteering in this group aiding in the synthesis and characterisation of nano-particles with the potential of catalysing the production of H2.
contact information
ahain055@uottawa.ca
Ayda Elhage (Ali)
Ayda was born in Lebanon. She completed her BSc in Chemistry at the Faculty of Sciences at the Lebanese University in Beirut, Lebanon, under the supervision of Dr Mohamed Baker, studying the synthesis of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) from the Lysergic Acid Monohydrate (LAM). After completing the high school teaching certificate from the Faculty of Education at the Lebanese University, she taught Chemistry to high school students in public & private schools. Ayda joined Scaiano Group in September 2014 at the University of Ottawa to begin her graduate studies. Her research proposal is focused on engaging inactivated alkyl, alkenyl and aryl iodides in visible-light-mediated to generate free radicals by using Gold nanoparticles supported on TiO2 (AuNP/TiO2).
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Filipe Lima
Filipe was born in Curitiba, Brazil, in 1991. He began studying Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology – Parana in 2009, and in 2013 moved to Canada to study at the University of Ottawa. Studying under Professor Dr. Tito Scaiano, and with Dr. Charles O’Neil-Crites, he worked on applications of Niobium-based catalysts for protection-deprotection reactions in Organic Chemistry. Filipe returned to Brazil in 2014, and obtained his Bachelors in Chemistry in 2015, with an Honours project on the application of hydrothermal synthesis to obtain TiO2 nanotubes, and attempting to use the same methodology to obtain Nb2O5 nanotubes. He then began a one-year research project with SENAI Innovation Institute of Electrochemistry, on the development of anti-microbial ceramic materials for hospital environments, creating glazed coatings with imbued active nanoparticles. After this, he entered a Master’s in Physical Chemistry at the Federal University of Parana, under Dr. Marcio Vidotti Myiata, and during the first year, he won a full sponsorship from CAPES (a Brazilian governmental agency) to continue his graduate studies at the University of Ottawa, once again joining the Scaiano Research group. His current research is in heterogeneous photocatalysis using different supported metallic nanoparticles. He is interested in the application of photocatalysis in alternative fuel technologies.
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Amanda Bard
Born and raised in Luskville, Quebec Amanda obtained her DEC in science at Cegep Heritage College and continued on to obtain her BSc in Chemistry at the University of Ottawa in 2016. She is currently pursuing her graduate studies with the Scaiano group with a main focus on understanding the nature of gold sulfur bonding in gold nanoparticles, as well as, its potential applications in nanotechnologies.
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B. Sc. Honours in Chemistry, Trent University 2013. Greg was born in Whitby, ON in 1986. He obtained his bachelor’s degree at Trent University under the supervision of Prof. Matthew Thompson and Prof. Andrew Vreugdenhil, with a thesis on the use of silver nanoparticles and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to develop a sensing device for the detection of aqueous environmental contaminants. Greg joined the Scaiano group in June 2013. His research is focused on the development of nanomaterials for heterogeneous catalytic and photocatalytic systems, incorporating single molecule fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy into the design process. Techniques such as Total Internal Reflectance Fluorescence Microscopy, Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy can provide a valuable link to bench scale observations and can provide insights into the mechanism and mode(s) of catalysis at work. Current examples of Greg’s research include the synthesis and application of supported and unsupported samarium oxide, palladium and nickel nanoparticles. These materials may prove useful as heterogeneous catalysts for the production of biofuels, fluorescent dyes and valuable organic feedstock molecules.
Contact information
ghodg050@uottawa.caGreg's publications
Growing up in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, Kelsey graduated from Cegep Heritage College before continuing her studies in science at the University of Ottawa. She received her HBSc in Biomedical Sciences in the Fall of 2015. Kelsey joined the Scaiano group in 2016 under the Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) - Greens Jobs Initiative, working on the synthesis of lignin modified nanostructures for the use in health care and cosmetic products. She is pursuing her graduate studies with the Scaiano group, and continuing her work on the characterization and synthesis of lignin coated nanoparticles.
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I was born in Damascus, Syria. I got my BSc in Chemistry in 2015 from the University of Ottawa under the supervision of Professor André M. Beauchemin working on Azadipeptide Synthesis using Blocked Amino Isocyanates. I have joined the Scaiano group in October 2015 as a graduate student. My work is oriented to the application of supported and colloidal nanoparticles in catalysis mediated by plasmon excitation.
contact information
nancymarina90@gmail.com
Rebeca was born in Mérida, Venezuela, where she obtained her Lic. Chemistry degree in 2008 at Los Andes University (ULA). The same year, she started a PhD in Analytical Chemistry with the Molecular Spectroscopy group at ULA. Before finishing it, she moved to Caracas, Venezuela, in early 2011 and started working for an instrument distributor as an application specialist.
In early 2014, she moved to Brazil and started working with elementar, a producer of analytical instruments where she worked until late 2015, after which she joined the Scaiano group as a graduate student. Her work is orientated to single molecular analysis and use of the new AFM-Raman instrumentation.contact information
rrondonb@uottawa.ca
Sven was born in North Bay, ON in 1994. He was awarded his B. Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry at the University of Ottawa in 2016 under the supervision of Juan C. Scaiano while working on niobium oxide supported photocatalysts. With an interest in photoredox catalysis, Sven is now continuing his studies in the same group, pursuing an M. Sc. in Chemistry exploring the catalytic activity of selective heterogeneous catalysts and transition metal-free alternatives to compete with current Ru (II) systems.
contact information
sbour085@uottawa.ca
