Solids exist as crystals, amorphous or subcooled liquids. The degree of crystallinity determines the long range order in a solid phase. Molecules when transferred from the solution to the solid phase may take many different crystal forms (polymorphs, solvates/hydrates, salts, co-crystals). Theoretically, there are 230 space groups describing the diversity of a crystalline material. About two thirds of pharmaceutical small molecules exist in more than one polymorphic solid form. Crystallization of polymorphs still has a touch of art.

Improving the quality of fuels, increasing the efficiency and also producing lower emissions is one of the main challenges of the 21st century. A Calgary company, Katal, is working on a hydrorefining process in order to produce diesel fuel with superior quality compared with the traditional fuel. The company, however, has limited scientific understanding of the current process and also needs to possess further insights to make the process more efficient. This project will help to better understand the hydrorefining process and improve the properties of diesel fuel.

Many patients who initially respond well to highly efficacious chemotherapy eventually develop resistance and relapse despite continued treatment. These cancers acquire drug resistance to current therapies through various mechanisms such as the acquisition of mutations for example. Furthermore, some promising targets that play a crucial role in the progression of cancer have been deemed undruggable using current methods.

Many new pharmaceuticals are based on large biomolecules like proteins. Even small differences in the protein structure can cause significant changes in the efficacy and safety of these drugs. Furthermore, these large molecules are difficult to characterize without advanced instrumentation and methods. Current technologies still struggle with robustness and reproducibility. This study aims to introduce new technology to improve the reliability of protein pharmaceutical characterization.

The measurement of toxins, such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead and chromium for example, in food, beverages, environmental samples, waters, etc. must be carried out to verify that there is no danger. This requires analyses of numerous samples each day using instruments that can measure the small amounts that may be present.

This project focuses on the development of new solvents, to replace those that are currently used in industrial processes. Currently, the majority of solvents used in industry are harmful to both people and the environment. These solvents are full of volatile organic compounds, which are released to the atmosphere and contribute to smog formation. Globally, smog is a major risk factor for human health, following only malnutrition, dietary risks, high blood pressure, and tobacco.

This project is geared towards the development of a cost-effective method to fabricate thin films of carbon materials, such as diamond. The idea is to use solution-based methods coupled to electrochemistry to produce the films. Avenues for the deposition of the film on surfaces of arbitrary shapes will also be explored.

The increasing use of engineered particulate matter in a variety of fields, including medicine, cosmetics and textiles, results in greater human exposure than in the past. As this matter may be swallowed or breathed in and penetrate the blood stream where it may reach organs and exert a toxic effect, techniques are needed that can quickly measure minute amounts of this matter in various media, such as the air that we breath, the water that we drink and the food that we eat.

A major contributor to smog formation is the release of volatile chemicals into the atmosphere which are emitted from many sources including automobile exhaust and consumer products such as paints. To combat the adverse effects smog has on air quality in North America, agencies such as Environment and Climate Change (Canada) and the Environmental Protection Agency (United States) enforce limits on the types and amounts of chemicals used in industrial applications and consumer products.