McMaster University will continue to host undergraduate academic activities remotely for the Spring/Summer/Intersession term with only a few exceptions for courses that need student access to specialized equipment.
At McMaster, a broad range of interests guides our researchers in their pursuit to understand the make-up of the world around us. Physical chemistry bridges the gap between the theories and techniques of modern-day physics and our understanding of chemical systems. Using advanced characterization and computational methods, physical and theoretical chemists work to unravel the phenomena that govern all aspects of the physical world. Physical chemists apply and develop advanced characterization techniques to a diverse range of topics – energy storage materials for electric vehicles, biologically relevant proteins to understand degenerative diseases, complex surface properties and photo-induced molecular transformations. Theoretical chemists work to establish quantum mechanical methods to improve our understanding of all aspects of chemistry right down to the nature of chemical bonding. McMaster’s state-of-the-art facilities enable the design and discovery of both experimental and computational methods to advance knowledge across all branches of chemistry. Areas of specialty include:
Mathematical methods, conceptual tools, and computational software for molecular modelling; New electronic structure theory methods; Concepts in quantum chemistry; Machine learning for chemical property prediction
Quantum and semiclassical molecular dynamics; simulation of NMR spectra
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging of Materials for Alternative Energy Storage & Conversion; Lithium Ion Batteries & Fuel Cells
Materials analysis by synchrotron based soft X-ray microscopy, instrumentation, fuel cells, in situ methods, electrochemistry, magnetotactic bacteria, 4D imaging
Surfaces, interface and low-dimensional materials; their electronic and chemical properties; doping, mobility and pattern formation; applications in corrosion inhibitors and water quality sensors
Pre-clinical molecular pharmacology of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer; intrinsically unstructured amyloidogenic proteins: protein kinases & signaling; functional protein dynamics and allosteric regulation; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
Sol-gel chemistry; self-assembly; photonics and photo-induced transformations