The proposed collaboration project between the Richeson and Journaux groups has a primary purpose of identifying new magnetic phenomena derived from common, inexpensive transition metals. The focus is on compounds containing cobalt and iron metal centers since these metals have larger than usual magnetic anisotropies. In order to design these compounds, specific chemical groups will […]

Universal NanoSensor Technologies (UNS-Tech) develops and commercializes microfabricated conductivity detectors. In this MITACS project, UNS-Tech will partner with Prof. Cynthia to explore new detector architectures based on nano-particle and nano-shell films. The results will be analyzed and the findings will be published in scientific journals. The intern participating in this cluster will benefit from this […]

It is estimated that 1 in 2/3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is a genetic disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells. While treatments are available for many cancers, remission of the disease, side-effects of the medication, and the onset of resistance by the cancer to the drugs being […]

The gram negative bacteria Coxicella burnetii and Francisella tularensis are the causative agents of Q fever and tularaemia, respectively. Infection by either organism can result in high mortality rates, especially in immuno-compromised individuals; in addition, there are very limited options for detection of both C. burnetii and F. tularensis. Recent evidence shows that both bacteria […]

The goal of this research project is to develop new methodologies that will enable the synthesis of functionalised and optically active building-blocks through unprecedented organocatalysed pericyclic processes. The main transformations to be studied are: sigmatropic rearrangements, electrocyclic rearrangements, cheleotropic additions, and ene reactions. In all cases, the proposed methodology will enable the formation of multiple […]

Introduction. Fibroblast activation protein-? (FAP), an enzyme of the S9 protein family, was identified as a major player in the activation of the stroma required for tumor growth and proliferation and progression of cancer cells. In parallel, prolyl oligopeptidase (POP), an enzyme of the same family, has been found to be responsible for the production […]

Pfizer/Université de Sherbrooke Industrial Chair on PAT in pharmaceutical engineering The internship will be offered in the framework of the Pfizer/Université de Sherbrooke industrial chair on process analytical technology (PAT) in pharmaceutical engineering. Led by Professors Nicolas Abatzoglou and Ryan Gosselin, this chair has the following objectives: ? Develop knowledge of: 1) the physical and […]

The objective of this particular project is the synthesis and characterisation of novel bimetallic photocatalysts which are able to produce hydrogen gas from water using sunlight. Currently, hydrogen is made through steam reforming, which produces carbon dioxide as a side-product, or by electrolysis, which uses more energy to produce hydrogen than you get from its […]

Overall project: Human activities can profoundly alter aquatic ecosystems and create major challenges for the provision of safe drinking water. For example, high nutrient loads can dramatically increase algal productivity. This in turn can alter lake chemistry and ecology, which can have significant effects on water treatment processes. Ecological changes can include the occurrence of […]

Beta-lactoglobulin (?-LG) is a major whey protein found in the milk of many ruminant species. As a lipocalin, it is suspected to be involved in the transport of small hydrophobic molecules, and some evidence suggests that it can bind to vitamin A. ?-LG is an antigen in milk, causing allergic reactions in some individuals. This […]

A certain number of key challenges exist for the rational design of bio-hybrids, which limit their innovative potential. More specifically: (1) bio-conjugation approaches for grafting synthetic molecules to proteins are limited and can be inefficient; (2) a poor physical-chemical understanding of how synthetic molecules can alter the bio-activity of proteins exists; and methods for controlling […]