Chair's Message
Welcome to the Winter 2026 edition of Chemistry Matters
Inside this issue
News
Waterloo breaks ground on cutting-edge laser facility
The Infrared Free Electron Laser user facility is the first of its kind in North America and will support a broad range of research applications from health to the environment.
The University of Waterloo has broken ground on WaterFEL, the Infrared Free Electron Laser (IR-FEL) facility scheduled to open in 2028. The new facility will be the only one of its kind in North America and will revolutionize research with its capabilities to address global challenges, from understanding and treating complex health conditions to creating pathways for a healthier environment.
Green labs bring Science into the twenty-first century
Renovations to the third floor of the Earth Sciences and Chemistry building bring the university closer to its net-zero carbon goals while meeting the evolving needs of science today.
If you’ve passed through the Earth Sciences and Chemistry building (ESC) in the last two years, you may have noticed the work being done on the third-floor labs. What you may not realize is that this renovation is bringing the university a step closer to its net-zero carbon goals while ushering Science at Waterloo into the twenty-first century.
Faculty and researcher spotlight
Chemistry welcomes Jung-Ho Yu
Chemistry is pleased to welcome Professor Jung-Ho Yu to the department! Yu joins us from the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford University (MIPS) where he was a research scientist.
Meet Professor Conrard G. Tetsassi Fuegmo
Professor Conrard G. Tetsassi Feugmo joined the department of Chemistry in 2022. His research involves machine learning and multiscale modeling to provide insight into the use and efficiency of advanced energy materials.
From fundamental research to applied science
As a postdoctoral researcher at Waterloo, Tao Bo found a new perspective on the interconnection between fundamental and applied sciences that helped shape his career journey. Hear more about his experience in his own words.
Student stories
Not a D-rop wasted
At the University of Waterloo, researchers are addressing complex challenges to solve real-world problems. Fifth-year chemistry student Allysa Greidanus is working in Dr. Graham Murphy’s chemistry lab on a project to develop purification methods that make recycling wastewater possible.
Powering the future
Cameron Dean, a PhD candidate in the Chemistry department, is all about power – battery power, that is. His research into solid-state batteries has earned him a Vanier Graduate Scholarship. This prestigious award recognizes academic excellence, research potential, and leadership ability.
Student experiences for ExCELing after graduation
The Externship and Career Experiential Learning (ExCEL) initiative was launched this term with a series of externships, bringing students on tours of science-focused companies in the community.
Alumni profile
Following her passion and curiosity to make a difference
In the ten short years since graduating from the University of Waterloo, Dr. Cicely Shillingford, BSc ’15 (Biochemistry), has successfully merged her passion for pursuing personally relevant science with her commitment to advocating for equity and inclusion.
Awards
Linda Nazar awarded prestigious Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship
Nazar will accelerate research on new and potentially disruptive battery technologies, aligning it with the NRC's Critical Battery Materials Initiative.
Distinguished researcher Dr. Linda Nazar was awarded the inaugural Killam NRC Paul Corkum Fellowship for 2025. Nazar, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials, is a pioneer in battery technology research, including lithium-sulfur and solid-state batteries.
Subha Kalyaanamoorthy receives Ontario Early Researcher Award
Chemistry professor Subha Kalyaanamoorthy has been awarded $140,000 from the Government of Ontario’s Early Researcher Awards program to further her research in pressing environmental issues.
Clubs corner
The Biochemistry Students Association
The Biochemistry Students Association (BSA) is a student-run club at Waterloo that aims to build community, encourage student involvement, and provide academic support for students in biochemistry and related programs.
Chemistry Graduate Student Society
The Chemistry Graduate Student Society (CGSS) is a student group representing all Chemistry graduate students, led by a team of volunteer graduate student executives. The goal of CGSS is to advocate for the well-being of chemistry graduate students and to provide opportunities for community building within the Department and Faculty.
Meet the MNS Society
Where Nano Ideas Spark Big Impact
MNS Society is the official departmental club for all Materials and Nanosciences students. As a voting member of the Science Society (SciSoc) Board of Directors, we represent and advocate for our student body. From networking and social to lab events, we aim to enrich the student experience.
Chem Club
The Chemistry Club (ChemClub) has been serving not just chemistry students but all science undergrads at the University of Waterloo for over 34 years with events, community, and academic support.
ChemX Camp: Mixing curiosity and discovery!
We are launching an exciting new initiative: ChemX Summer Camp! It's a hands-on summer program designed to introduce Grade 11 and 12 students to chemistry at the university level. Participants will spend four days (Aug 3-8, 2026) in our labs exploring real experiments, expanding their scientific curiosity, examining chemical phenomena up close, and experiencing what it feels like to be part of a vibrant scientific community. Know someone who might be interested in the camp? They can find more information on the ChemX website.
High school chemistry contests engage nearly 7,000 students worldwide
In May 2025, the Department of Chemistry continued its longstanding tradition of engaging high school students and teachers through our annual chemistry contests.
This year, the Avogadro Exam for Grade 11 students saw 4,981 participants, including 1,573 students from outside North America.
The CHEM 13 News Exam for Grade 12 students welcomed 1,962 participants, with 1,629 students from Canada and the US and 333 international participants.