MSc Research and Thesis
Theoretical and/or experimental research. An external examiner will participate in the evaluation of the student's performance in this course.
Scientific Writing
The organizational and stylistic skills of writing and referencing a scientific document. Examples from the various literature forms such as primary journals, reviews, reports, and theses, as well as presentations and seminars. Database use and reference citation, and use of figures and graphs to illustrate data.
Quantum Chemistry: Theory
(also offered as PHYS 5P00)
Self-consistent-field (SCF) method; configuration interaction; basis functions; electron correlation; physical properties of atoms, diatomic and polyatomic molecules.
Quantum Chemistry: Applications
Application of ab initio molecular orbital theories to problems in atomic and molecular structure, to intermolecular forces and to chemical reactivity.
Advanced Topics in Photobiology
(also offered as BIOL 5P03)
A graduate seminar/lecture course covering topics in photobiology. A series of lectures designed to introduce some of the major research areas in photobiology will be followed by student seminars on selective topics (usually two or three papers on one subject).
Note: course taught in conjunction with BIOL/BCHM 4P03.
Special Topics in Physical Chemistry
Topics may include aspects of chemical dynamics, molecular spectroscopy, statistical mechanics and quantum theory.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
An introduction to the theory and application of modern EPR spectroscopy. Theoretical treatment of coupled spin systems; the Bloch equations; the density matrix and pulsed EPR; waveguide components; resonant cavities.
Computational Chemistry: Applications in Biotechnology
(also offered as BTEC 5P14)
Structure-based drug design; molecular modelling; conformational search techniques; secondary and tertiary protein structure prediction; quantitative structure-activity relationships; bioinformatics.
Organic Reaction Mechanisms
The critical study of papers of mechanistic and/or synthetic interest in the recent literature drawing attention to the ways in which mechanisms are established and applied as well as to the mechanisms themselves.
Special Topics in Organic Chemistry
Topics may include organic photochemistry, biotransformation, free radical chemistry, symmetry and stereochemistry and a further study of mechanistic or synthetic organic chemistry.
Advanced Organic Synthesis
Strategies in the design of organic syntheses; examples from the current literature will be used to illustrate new trends in synthetic methodology and approaches to the synthesis of complex or organic molecules and natural products; new reagents in organic synthesis including an examination of organometallics and enzymes.
Special Topics in Chemical Biology
(also offered as BTEC 5P22)
Focuses on the chemical-biology of select biologically active compounds of current interest in the literature. The occurrence, biosynthesis and biological activity, including structure-activity correlations, will be studied. Strategies toward the chemical synthesis of these important compounds will also be investigated.
Stereoselective Synthesis
A survey of the methodology and reagents currently used in stereoselective synthetic organic chemistry. Details concerning methods for achieving absolute and relative stereo-control are discussed, including chiral catalysis and asymmetric induction via substrate- and reagent-based strategies. Applications of the methods to the synthesis of chosen molecules in the literature are provided to illustrate aspects of selectivity.
Natural Products Chemistry
(also offered as BTEC 5P24)
A study of the structural features, synthesis and biosynthesis of natural products selected from the acetogenin, alkaloid, steroid and terpenoid groups, and other areas.
Medicinal Chemistry
(also offered as BTEC 5P25)
Structure and activity of biologically active organic compounds; introduction to pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and receptor theory as a background for a more detailed study of chemistry of drugs such as enzyme inhibitors and receptor antagonists; rational drug design, combinatorial libraries, screening and general routes of metabolism.
Note: a background in organic chemistry at the third-year undergraduate level will be assumed.
Advanced Enzyme and Co-enzyme Mechanisms
(also offered as BTEC 5P27)
Hydrolytic and other processes catalyzed by enzymes lacking non-protein prosthetic groups reactions involving the co-enzymes biotin, pyridoxal phosphate, thiamine pyrophosphate, folic acid and cobalamin; oxidation mechanisms involving pyridine nucleotides, flavoenzymes, hydroperoxidases and oxygenases.
Note: a background in this material, taken at the undergraduate level, will be assumed.
Bioorganic Chemistry: Carbohydrates and Nucleic Acids
(also offered as BTEC 5P28)
Mono- and oligosaccharides; preparative carbohydrate chemistry; neoglycoconjugates; immunochemistry of carbohydrates; nucleosides and nucleotides; oligonucleotide synthesis; medicinal chemistry of oligonucleotide; amino acids; protein structures; peptide chemistry; post-translational modification.
Special Topics in Inorganic Chemistry
A directed reading course in advanced inorganic chemistry based on a critical approach to the original literature. Topics are to be arranged between the student and instructor.
Advanced Methods for Materials Characterization
The theory and practice of common characterization methods used for the structural elucidation of inorganic compounds. Techniques mayinclude, IR, UV-Vis, EPR, mass spectroscopy, cyclic voltammery, X-ray crystallography, and magnetic measurements.
Supramolecular Chemistry
An examination of non-covalent interactions and their impact in biology and chemistry. Topics will include self-assembly, molecular recognition, polymer organization, dendrimers, crystallization and applications of the above for the design and synthesis of nanostructured materials.
Advanced Spectroscopy
The theory and practice of common spectroscopic techniques used for structural identification of chemical compounds and analysis of their properties, emphasizing mainly nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry.
Special Topics in Analytical Chemistry
The course will include topics such as pesticide and residue analysis, advanced chromatographic techniques, chemical analysis applied to environmental and agricultural problems, preconcentration techniques and new analytical techniques.
Directed Readings in Chemistry
An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary chemistry.
Note: approval of the departmental graduate studies committee is required prior to registration. The instructor(s) for this course must be different from those in the following "Special Topics" courses, in which the student has, or will have, credit: 5P11, 5P20, 5P31, or 5P41.
Atomic Spectrometry
Arcs, sparks, ICP, DCP, AA, will be investigated. Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of excitation sources and sample introduction techniques. Particular concentration in this course will be the sample and how it is analyzed and some discussion will centre on sample preparation, matrix elimination or minimization. Solid sampling methods such as laser ablation and glow discharge will be reviewed.
Biophysical Techniques
(also offered as BIOL 5P67 and BTEC 5P67)
An advanced seminar/lecture course on experimental techniques in biophysics. The focus is on understanding the theory, applications and limitations of a variety of techniques students will encounter during their graduate studies. Techniques will range from advanced spectroscopy (absorption, fluorescence, NMR, X-ray diffraction) to molecular biochemistry.
Note: course taught in conjunction with BIOL/CHEM/BCHM 4P67.
Graduate Seminar
A forty minute presentation of one research seminar on a topic approved by the student's supervisor in a public forum followed by ten minutes for questions and discussion. A minimum mark of 70% in the seminar component must be attained to obtain a credit grade in the course. Students should attend all presentations given in this course and by invitees to the Departmental seminar series, but attendance is required at a minimum of ten such seminars accumulated over two consecutive offerings of the course. during the student's graduate program.
Note: This course will be evaluated as Credit/No-Credit
PhD Research and Thesis
Original theoretical and/or experimental research and thesis. An external examiner will participate in the evaluation of the student's performance in this course.
Graduate Seminar II
A forty minute presentation of one research seminar in a public forum followed by ten minutes for questions and discussion on a topic approved by the student's supervisor. A minimum mark of 70% in the seminar component must be attained to obtain a credit grade in the course.. Students should attend all presentations given in this course and by invitees to the Departmental seminar series, but attendance is required at a minimum of ten such seminars accumulated over two consecutive offerings of the course.
Prerequisite(s): Enrolment in PhD program or permission of the instructor and CHEM 5P95.
Note: This course will be evaluated as Credit/No-Credit.