Hall of Fame

Our department takes a active interest in the professional development of our students and provides extensive support for a variety of career paths. Some of our students continue in careers in academia after graduating, pursuing careers as professors or researchers at universities. Other students pursue careers in industry, government, law, or medicine. The careers of some of our accomplished graduates are profiled here.

Careers of Former Students

Graduate Students

	Dr. Samuel Mugo Ph.D. Memorial University Associate Professor (Analytical Chemistry), MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada website	During my four-year PhD program (2003-2006), I was privileged to experience MUN’s perfect balance of academic rigor and a sense of community. This approach creates individuals thriving at all levels. Having been to other institutions as a MUN alumni, my experience of MUN’s academic culture of fostering well-being among her students still speaks to me. I sense that academic culture remains strong today.
	Negar Rajabi Ph.D. Memorial University Application Scientist SCIEX	As Travis Fridgen’s first PhD student at MUN, we shared a number of first-time experiences, such as an international collaboration in Paris. I received confidence to achieve excellence in research and invaluable advice that has led me to a career path that I absolutely love. Warm and friendly Newfoundlanders, colleagues, and peers at MUN combined with its diverse culture kept me from experiencing cultural shock. By presenting my research and networking at national and international conferences, I landed my next job as a postdoc at UBC with Don Douglas in beautiful Vancouver. After studying intact proteins at UBC, I accepted an HFSP Research Fellow position at the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology in Leeds, UK. Before returning to Canada, I was a Senior Staff Scientist in the Center for Proteomics at TGen followed by a Sr LCMS Filed Application scientist at Biocrates Life Sciences in US. Currently, I am an Application Scientist at SCIEX in Toronto. It feels great to be back in Canada and be part of a global leader in life science to find “Answers for Science. Knowledge for Life.” Doing a PhD at MUN was definitely one of the best choices I have made in my life, putting me on a very exciting life path.
	Ameneh Gholami Ph.D. Memorial University Software Verification Specialist SCIEX	"It was a distinctly unique chance of mine to have done my PhD in the chemistry department at MUN, and in Dr. Travis Fridgen’s lab. There with a knowledgeable and caring supervisor I gained the experience of working with world-class mass spectrometry instruments. I believe my graduate studies at MUN paved my way through the PDF positions and prestigious Mitacs Elevate fellowship that I received, which finally landed me on a fantastic R&D appointment at SCIEX. The SCIEX is a leading company that produces mass spectrometry hardware and software."
	E. Bradley Easton Ph.D. Memorial University, B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Ontario Institute of Technology Website	“As a graduate student in chemistry at Memorial I was able to learn from outstanding faculty on work on research problems of both fundamental and applied interest. This experience has been extremely valuable in my current role as a professor who collaborates with industrial partners”
	Raie Lene Kirby M.D. Memorial University M.Sc. Memorial University B.Sc. (Hons) Acadia University Memorial University Family Medicine Resident PGY1	"Completing my M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry at Memorial University was a great experience and something I am proud to have accomplished! The time I spent working with Dr. Sunil Pansare and team was challenging yet exciting and helped me learn many skills that have proven essential throughout medical school and into my first year of residency!"
	Bradley L. Merner Ph.D. Memorial University B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Assistant Professor, Auburn University Website	"My experience at Memorial has armed me with the tools necessary to publish high-impact scientific articles, become a co-inventor of two U.S. patent applications, to co-author an advanced level textbook on organic synthesis, and to pursue a career as an independent principle investigator. I am proud to be an alumnus of Memorial University and to contribute to a rich legacy of well-trained Ph.D. graduates from the Department of Chemistry who have gone on to push the frontiers of chemical science."
	Louise Dawe Ph.D. Memorial University B.Ed. (Int./Sec.), Memorial University, M.Sc. University of Utah B.Sc. (Hons.), Memorial University Associate Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University Website	"There are three highlights that stand out about of my time as a graduate student at Memorial University. First, the calibre of faculty, graduate supervision, and mentoring was phenomenal, and allowed me to develop as an independent researcher. Next, the instrument facilities and expert research staff greatly enabled the progress of my work. Finally, I had excellent opportunities to attend national and international conferences where I met collaborators that I continue to work with today."
	Josh Hollett Ph.D. Memorial University B. Sc. (Hons) Memorial University NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow (Australian National University, 2009-2012) Assistant Professor, University of Winnipeg Website
	Murray Park B.Sc. (Hons.), Memorial University, B.Ed., Mount Allison University, M.Sc., Memorial University Science Department Head / Chemistry Teacher O’Donel High School, Mount Pearl, NL	"I had an excellent start to my honours chemistry degree at Grenfell campus, and completed it at MUN. Faculty and staff in Chemistry played a major role in my success. As an MSc student, I demonstrated first year labs and realized that as much as I enjoyed research, teaching was even more fulfilling for myself. After almost 20 years teaching high school, I have enjoyed seeing my students become find successes - getting that perfect titration endpoint, passing the Public Exam and having their self-confidence grow, or continuing on to earn degree(s). MUN Chemistry paved the way to an extremely rewarding career."

Undergraduate Students

	Tim Kelly Ph.D.University of British Columbia, B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Assistant Professor, Canada Research Chair Photovoltaics, University of Saskatchewan Website	"As an undergraduate student at Memorial, I had the opportunity to truly become part of the research process; the level of faculty-student mentorship was outstanding, and I was able to not just carry out experiments, but also attend conferences and contribute to papers. It was an excellent foundation for a career in academic research."
	Angela Crane Ph.D. University of British Columbia, B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Instructor, First Year Program Coordinator, Dalhousie University Website	"Being an undergraduate chemist at Memorial opened so many doors for me. Iwas able to have hands on laboratory training and research experiences thatI don't believe I would have gotten at any other school. It was theseexperiences that led me into graduate school and ultimately a career that I love. Also, the student body at Memorial was so collaborative and tight knitthat I always found support and encouragement through my peers. The peoplemake the Department, and Memorials staff, faculty and students are topnotch!"
	Dennis Gillingham Ph.D. Boston College, B. Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Prof. Dr., Department of Chemistry, University of Basel Website	"If you had asked me about Memorial's program while I was there I would have complained that it was too intense, requiring too many late nights...forcing my classmates and I into regular nights of commiseration at the Breezeway. On reflection I can say the effort was all worth it. The solid education in the fundamentals of chemistry I gained at MUN has put me in a privileged position wherever I've gone. Although not a small school, it had that feeling because the professors were fully engaged in the education of the students. This engagement was one of the program's great strengths and I hope that spirit still lives on."
	Dale Keefe Ph.D. University of Alberta, B.Sc. Memorial University Provost and Vice-President Academic, Acadia University	"After conducting research in computational chemistry as an undergraduate student, I knew that I wanted to be a professor. The research and academic foundation I received as an undergraduate at Memorial was second to none and prepared me extremely well for graduate studies and my career."
	Cory Pye Ph.D. Memorial University, B.Sc. Memorial University Associate Professor, St. Mary's University Website	"A collaboration between Raymond Poirier and Jean Burnell led to me being hired in my summer after two years at Grenfell where I carried out both organic synthesis and computational chemistry of Diels-Alder reactions."
	Lisa Rosenberg Ph.D. University of British Columbia, B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Associate Professor, University of Victoria Website	"I have always felt very fortunate to have done my undergrad in chemistry at MUN - solid education, wonderful research opportunities, great classmates and instructors and friends. And we always had the best bxxr bashes. Seriously, even students from the English Students' Society would come to our parties."
	Elliott Burnell Ph.D. Bristol University, M.Sc. Memorial University, B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Professor, University of British Columbia Website	"My first year at MUN was at the Parade Street campus, with evening chem labs which we always finished in time to make the second show at the Paramount Movie Theatre. The next year we moved to the new campus. The ambiance in the Chemistry Department was phenomenal -morning and afternoon coffee/tea was a gathering of all: full Professors, staff and any students (third year and above) who were majoring in Chemistry. The fantastic interactions of those times emphasized that chemistry is fun, exciting and collaborative. I was inspired by Eric Bullock (supervisor of my Honours and M.Sc. theses), and thank him for getting me excited about NMR."
	Amy Reckling M.Sc. University of Ottawa, B.Sc. (Hons) Memorial University Program Officer Natural Science and Entineering Research Council (NSERC)	"The fantastic and supportive faculty at MUN made sure that I graduated with the skills necessary to pursue any career in science. As an undergrad, I was encouraged to get involved with research, help run MUNCS events, mentor students, write papers, attend regional and national conferences, present in front of crowds and get involved with science outreach programs - all while juggling a challenging course load. These skills have proven invaluable in every job, both in and out of the lab, that I’ve held since graduating."