Fall 2024 Melanie O'Neill Undergraduate Research Award Winners

The Chemistry Department would like to congratulate Alistair Bevan, Robby Williams-Sekiguchi and Tyler Govett on being awarded the Melanie O'Neill Award this term.

Many worthy candidates were considered for the award this term but Alistair, Tyler and Robby were selected as recipients of the award based on their stand-out research achievements in the department. We are pleased to be able to share more information about their research projects.

Alistair Bevan

"Organic electrochemical devices, such as biosensors and electrochromic displays, rely on the movement of ions within π-conjugated materials. My research with the Kaake group has focussed on examining the effect of applied electric fields on the transport of ions in organic conducting and semiconducting polymers. Using thin films of two common mixed ion-electron transporting polymers, PEDOT:PSS and ProDOT, I collected and fit scan rate dependent cyclic voltammograms where the position of the electrical contact to the film was varied. The dynamics indicate that the ion transport is governed by diffusion, modelled by Fick’s law, rather than drift under an applied field. Additionally, I collected UV-Vis spectroelectrochemistry data which I analyzed using multivariate curve resolution (MCR) to show consistency with the extracted electronic density of states.

I am deeply honoured to receive the Melanie O'Neill Undergraduate Research Award. This recognition of my efforts is incredibly meaningful, and I am very grateful for the financial support it provides as I continue my studies. I would like to thank the SFU Chemistry department for their dedication to excellent teaching and for maintaining an engaging research and learning environment, from which I have benefited greatly. I am especially grateful to Dr. Loren Kaake and the members of the Kaake group for their invaluable mentorship, hands-on guidance, and encouragement, which have provided me with an exceptional research experience and skills that will continue to support my future endeavours."

Robby Williams-Sekiguchi

I had the precious opportunity to conduct research as an undergraduate in Prof. Daniel Leznoff’s lab. I primarily investigated Au(III) aurophilic interactions found in anions of cationic lanthanide complexes and thermal expansion behaviour observed in the family of ZnHgSCN compounds, which have possible applications in the production of solar cells and other solid-state materials. Furthermore, through Danny’s support and connections, I was able to conduct research for Prof. Kiyoshi Fujisawa at Ibaraki University investigating Co(II) based catalysts for CO2 detection and capture. I am honoured to receive the Melanie O’Neill Undergraduate Research Award, and it has allowed me to reflect on my accomplishments and all the individuals who have helped me along my path. Specifically, I cannot thank Danny and the Leznoff group enough for their boundless support and encouragement. They started as my supervisors in the laboratory, and now as my lifelong guides towards future career avenues as I continue my journey in inorganic chemistry in graduate studies. I recommend becoming involved in research to everyone, regardless of one’s skill set, as it can be the catalyst for self-discovery and countless connections.

Tyler Govett

"This past summer, I had the privilege of working with the Vocadlo group under a USRA. As a joint honours student in chemistry and MBB, this opportunity was an ideal match for my interdisciplinary interests, as the research group integrates both fields in its work. My project focused on developing a novel substrate to quantify the activity of MYORG, a glycosidase linked to neurological disorders. The work involved two main stages: first, the chemical synthesis of the substrate, and second, testing the new substate through in vitro assays to assess its activity with the recombinant MYORG enzyme. I am deeply honoured to be a recipient of the Melanie O’Neill Undergraduate Research Award. I am incredibly grateful to the department of Chemistry, my instructors, and especially to Prof. Vocadlo, Nicholas See, and everyone in the Vocadlo group for their mentorship and ceaseless support throughout my undergraduate research journey. This award inspires me to further pursue my research interests and to embrace the challenges that lie ahead."