The Hayes Group
Group Photo 2011
From left to right: Matt Hannon, Paul Hayes, Amin Moazeni, Hongsui (Hudson) Sun, Jamie Ritch, Alex Borisov, Craig Wheaton, Breanne Kamenz, Rachel Kwan, Kevin Johnson, Saif Zahir.
For more group photos, click here.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Hongsui (Hudson) Sun
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Hudson originated from China and received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science before joining the Coordination Chemistry Institute in Nanjing University. He has also worked in a number of other labs including Erik Larsen (KVL, Denmark), Ronald N. Warrener (Central Queensland University, Australia), Uwe Rosenthal (University of Rostock, Germany), William R. Cullen & Brian R. James (University of British Columbia, Canada) and Roland Roesler (University of Calgary, Canada). His research interests cover organic synthesis and organometallic chemistry. Hudson joined the Hayes group in 2010, and his project mainly focuses on chiral phosphine compounds and their coordination complexes, which are potential lactide polymerization catalysts.
Outside of the laboratory he enjoys playing badminton, listening to music, cooking and travelling.
Graduate Students
Alex Borisov (Ph.D.)
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Alex graduated from the State Technological University, St-Petersburg, Russia with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Technology of Polymers in 2005. After spending one year in the U.S. he entered the Masters program at the University of Lethbridge. His research mainly focuses on studies of phosphazene polymers using advanced techniques offered by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR), as well as syntheses of polymers in collaboration with the Hayes research group. This collaboration recently led to the submission of a manuscript for publication.
Outside of the lab Alex enjoys spending his spare time wandering around the city, reading, working out and snowboarding.
Kevin Johnson (Ph.D.)
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Kevin was born and raised in Victoria, BC and although he's now been transplanted into Alberta, he is still desperately trying to hang onto the so-called westcoast lifestyle. He received his B.Sc. degree in chemistry from the University of Victoria, and has worked in numerous labs across the country involved in such chemistry as performance enhancing drug analyses and pharmaceutical research & development. However, it was at UVic, during his 4th year project working in Dr. Dave Berg's lab, where he was first exposed to lanthanide organometallic chemistry. Resultantly, he decided to venture across the Rocky Mountains in an unspoken vehicle, where he found his home away from home as a grad student in the Hayes group. Kevin's project involves the complexation of tridentate pincer ligands with lanthanide and group 3 metals in order to develop methods for accessing low-valent species.
In his spare time, you'll find Kevin heading towards the slopes with his skis, creating music, running, playing tennis or drinking way too much fair-trade organic shade-grown coffee.
Breanne Kamenz (M.Sc.)
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Breanne was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but has lived in Southern Alberta for the majority of her life. She completed her honours B.Sc. degree in chemistry at the University of Lethbridge under the supervision of Dr. Paul Hayes. Breanne enjoyed working in the Hayes group so much she decided to continue her research as a graduate student, and is currently working on the synthesis of metallation resistant pincer ligands to support lanthanide and actinide complexes. As the Graduate Student Coordinator for the on campus Let's Talk Science program, Breanne likes planning new and exciting science activities for local high school students. Outside of school, her favourite past time is shopping, but she also enjoys going to the gym and cooking.
Amin Moazeni (M.Sc.)
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Amin was born in Shiraz, Fars, Iran (the land of Persians). He graduated from Isfahan University of Technology, Iran with a Masters degree in Inorganic Chemistry. Then he decided to travel to Canada to continue his education. His project involves synthesis of alkali earth metal complexes to investigate their reactivity as lactide polymerization catalysts. Outside of the lab he enjoys doing martial arts, hiking and camping.
Craig Wheaton (Ph.D.)
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Craig was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he moved around and grew up in various small towns across Nova Scotia (including Springfield, which should not be confused with the hometown of the Simpsons). He moved to Sackville, New Brunswick where he completed his honours B.Sc. degree at Mount Allison University under the supervision of Dr. Stacey Wetmore. He then moved further west, to London, Ontario, where he attended the University of Western Ontario to pursue his interest in inorganic chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Dick Puddephatt. During his Masters degree at Western, Craig investigated the self-assembly of polymeric complexes of gold(I) with chiral and racemic bridging ligands, and through this also developed an interest in X-ray crystallography. Craig then decided to continue traveling west, and moved to Lethbridge to start a Ph.D. degree in the Hayes group. Craig is investigating alkali earth metal complexes for the development of lactide polymerization catalysts.
In his spare time (although it is limited...), Craig enjoys playing the guitar, listening to music, cooking, critiquing movies, reading, spending time with his wife, and enjoying the new landscapes of Western Canada.
Undergraduate Students
Matt Hannon
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Matt was born in Atlantic Canada, moved out to Alberta 12 years ago and has called Lethbridge home ever since. He is a 4th year undergrad joining the Hayes group to investigate the synthesis and organometallic chemistry of rare earth complexes supported by a novel bis(phosphinimine)pyrrole ligand. In his spare time, Matt likes to mess around on his street bike, in addition to playing golf and tennis.
Saif Zahir
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Saif (rhymes with "knife") was born and raised in Lethbridge, and is currently in his third year of an undergraduate degree in biochemistry. He joined the group in the summer of 2011, having previously spent three years performing research in neuroscience. When not investigating the synthesis of novel ligand-supported metal complexes for use in catalytic lactide polymerization, he can likely be found in the company of a good book, a badminton racket, a piano, and on occasion a Rubik's cube, though rarely simultaneously. If he is not using his quick wit and disarming charm to be sarcastic and amusing, he is likely being modest and nonchalant about it.
Volunteers
Rachel Kwan
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Rachel has long been interested in science and its wonders, which caused her to seek research lab experience after high school. She has job shadowed and volunteered in the Hayes lab once a week for several months to synthesize a precursor to be used for other experiments. Rachel is grateful for all the valuable experience and assistance she has been given. She enjoys learning about how the glove box, rotovap, NMR, and other pieces of lab equipment work. Outside of her stint at the university, she works at Big John's Books and Kumon Learning Centre. Although she thinks that these are good jobs for the time being, she sees herself focusing more on science in her career. She still has much to learn in the scientific field, but she hopes that she will be able to contribute more in the future. Other activities that Rachel enjoys include reading and playing the clarinet or piano.
