I began teaching first-year chemistry at UTM in 2019. Since then, I’ve been giving lecture-style tutorial and laboratory sessions for CHM110 and CHM120 (Chemical Principles I and II).

I also teach CHM242 and CHM243 (Organic Chemistry I and II), guiding students through more advanced concepts in my most beloved area of chemistry, and their practical applications.

I also teach APS1012 (Innovation in Engineering), a graduate-level course where I combine academic and industry expertise to inspire creative problem-solving in future engineers.

In addition to my ongoing teaching roles, I work as a laboratory coordinator in the department of chemical and physical sciences at UTM, managing the behind-the-scenes operations to ensure labs run smoothly. This includes setting up experiments and developing new experimental designs to enhance the student experience.

My research in chemistry has focused on solving practical challenges in chemistry through innovative approaches:

• Protein Production Optimization: Experimentalists often faced bottlenecks due to the time-consuming preparation of purified, fluorescently labeled proteins. I developed a technique that reduced production times from one week to a single day while dramatically increasing yields. This breakthrough was achieved by combining simple principles in chemical biology with an inventive application of synthetic biology.

• Novel Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): I co-designed photosensitizers that are based on molecular rotors for enhanced selectivity. These novel therapeutics demonstrated three times higher selectivity for targeting harmful cells over healthy ones, significantly reducing side effects. This innovation was rooted in the principles of photochemistry.

During my Master of Engineering program, I contributed to innovative projects at the intersection of materials science and engineering:

• Additive Manufacturing with Eco-Friendly Materials: I worked on developing new scaffolds and designs for 3D printing using sustainable materials. This research aimed to create customizable and environmentally friendly solutions for materials engineering applications.

• Polystyrene Nanoparticles for Medical Imaging: I helped design nanoparticles incorporating upconversion particles to improve medical imaging techniques. These nanoparticles offered enhanced cell penetration and imaging contrast while minimizing biological side effects. My work involved extensive use of advanced techniques like Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to optimize particle properties.

At Sunnybrook Research Institute, in collaboration with Novartis and other pharma start-ups, I worked in early-phase drug discovery.

I led high-throughput screening efforts for cancer treatment candidate molecules. Over the course of this role, I tested more than 10,000 molecules for their potential as cancer treatments using automated laboratory robotics and sophisticated experimental designs. I worked closely with other scientists, business development colleagues, as well as high-level managers and founders in the pharma industry to develop new treatments.

I currently work at LGC, a global leader with over a century of excellence and a billion-dollar footprint in the chemical industry.

As an analytical chemist, I am responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of molecular products through advanced analytical techniques. My role includes designing and executing complex assays to assess purity, potency, and stability, as well as troubleshooting organic synthesis processes to optimize yield and product consistency.

Leveraging instrumentation such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, I support research and development teams as by providing independent critical data that drives decision-making and innovation within the company.