Chemistry students broaden academic horizons in China

Three Chemistry undergrads are the first University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) students to take part in an academic exchange in mainland China.

Over three summer months at Nanjing University (NJU), Faculty of Science students Charlene Fernandez, James Regush and Mason Sullivan conducted research under the guidance of leading NJU academics. They also took four intensive Chemistry courses with Canadian and American professors visiting NJU, including UOIT Faculty of Science Associate Professor Jean-Paul Desaulniers, PhD (Chemical Biology).

“The Nanjing University exchange was an incredible opportunity that gave me a better idea of what I want to pursue in terms of a career in chemistry,” says Fernandez. “I learned different lab techniques in the rapidly growing organic chemistry field of carboranes (unique class of molecules containing carbon, boron and hydrogen atoms). I encourage anyone to take part future exchanges.”

“This learning experience was astounding,” says Sullivan. “All of the chemistry courses encouraged us to think as teams and challenge each other’s ideas. It was fantastic to gain knowledge from so many leading global authorities in chemistry.”

Academics participating in the 2017 Nanjing University exchange:

• Jean-Paul Desaulniers, PhD, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• Brian Coppola, PhD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• John Hennsler, PhD, New York University, New York City
• Edmund Palermo, PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York

“The opportunity for our students to take these courses at Nanjing University gave them access to some specialized coursework outside of what’s available at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology,” says Dr. Desaulniers. “As our university expands its international exposure, we look forward to expanding this exchange program with Nanjing University.”

The Ontario-Jiangsu Scholarship (OJS) and NJU provided funding for this student exchange. The University of Ontario Institute of Technology is a member of the OJS funding consortium.