Chérif F. Matta, PhD, HDR, FSRA, FRSB, FInstP, FRSC (UK), FCIC, FAAS, FAAAS

Professor

Dept. of Chemistry & Physics

Office: Evaristus C208
Lab: Evaristus 140
Phone: +1 (902) 457-6142
Research website: http://www.cmatta.ca/

Broad Research Interests:
Theoretical, quantum, and computational (bio)chemistry.

Specific Research Topics:

My Research Group’s work is in theoretical and computational chemistry and theoretical biophysics. This group uses the tools of quantum chemistry to solve problems in biology and in material science. We developed the concept of the electron localization-delocalization matrices (LDMs) and use it as a tool in understanding chemical properties and reactivity. We seek to deepen our understanding of molecules in strong external (static) electric fields and in intense time-dependent laser pulses and the theory underlying chemical reactivity in such external fields. We are also very interested in the theoretical aspects of the operation of the mitochondrion, the “powerhouse” of all living eukaryotic cells, with a special focus on mitochondrial ATP synthase. Please visit: http://www.cmatta.ca/

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Languages: Arabic, French, English, Spanish.

Education

Degrees

2009 Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR)
Université de Lorraine (Formerly, Henri-Poincaré) (France)
(HDR Dissertation Advisor: Prof. Claude Lecomte)

2002 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
McMaster University (Canada)
(PhD Supervisor: Prof. Richard F. W. Bader)

1987 Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences (5 years Hon. Degree)
Alexandria University (Egypt)

Postdoctoral Training

2004-2006 Izaak Walton Killam Postdoctoral Fellow
Dalhousie University (Canada)
(PDF Supervisor: Prof. Russell J. Boyd)

2002-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Toronto (Canada)
(PDF Supervisor: Prof. John Polanyi, Nobel Laureate)

Graduate Diploma in Management
1994 Graduate Diploma in Health Services & Hospital Administration (Two years)
Sadat Academy, National Institute for Higher Management (Egypt)

Noteable/Recent Publications (full list available)

Books

Matta, C. F.; Ayers, P. W.; Cook, R. (2024). Electron Localization-Delocalization Matrices, Lecture Notes in Chemistry 112, Springer, Berlin. (239 pages). (Link)

Matta, C. F.; Huang, L.; Massa, L. (2023). Quantum Crystallography, De Gruyter. (215 pages). (Link)

Matta, C. F., (Ed.) (2010). Quantum Biochemistry: Electronic Structure and Biological Activity (Vol. 1 and 2), Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. (978 pages). (Link)

Matta, C. F. and Boyd, R. J., Eds. (2007). The Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules: From Solid State to DNA and Drug Design, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, (567 pages). (Link)

Book Chapters

Matta, C. F. (2024). Sur la transdisciplinarité de la théorie des graphes et des réseaux [Trans : On the transdisciplinarity of graph and network theory], in: Transdisciplinarité et évolution des savoirs: une introduction, Proceedings of a Symposium « Transdisciplinarité et évolution des savoirs : fondements et pratiques » as part of the 90th ACFAS Congress, Montréal 2023, Vadean, M.T.; Zaiane-Ghalia, S.; Scarpulla, M. (Eds.), Université Saint-Paul, Ottawa. (Link).

Matta, C. F. (2023). Electron localization-delocalization matrices (LDMs), in: Comprehensive Computational Chemistry Volume 2, Boyd, R. J.; Yáñez (Eds.), Elsevier, The Netherlands. (pp. 82-94). (Link).

Anderson, J. S. M.; Mortera-Carbonell, A. d.-J.; Matta, C. F. (2023). Non-nuclear maxima in the molecular electron density, Chapter 14 in: Advances in Quantum Chemical Topology Beyond QTAIM, Anderson, J. S. M.; Cortés-Guzmán, F.; Rodríguez, J. I. (Eds.), Elsevier, The Netherlands. (pp. 375-388).

Massa, L.; Castanedo, L. A. M.; Fahimi, P.; Matta, C. F. (2023). Applications of in-silico quantum chemical calculations to large systems: The kernel energy method, Chapter 7 in: In-silico Approaches to Macromolecular Chemistry, Thomas, M. E.; Thomas, J.; Thomas, S.; Kornweitz, H. (Eds.), Elsevier, The Netherlands. (pp. 199-215).

Massa, L.; Fahimi, P.; Castanedo, L. A. M.; Matta, C. F. (2023) “In silico approaches and challenges for quantum chemical calculations on macromolecules”, Chapter 6 in: In-silico Approaches to Macromolecular Chemistry, Thomas, M. E.; Thomas, J.; Thomas, S.; Kornweitz, H. (Eds.), Elsevier, The Netherlands. (pp. 185-197).

Lombardi, O.; Matta, C. F. (2022). Coarse-graining and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, Chapter 10 in: Philosophical Perspectives on Quantum Chemistry, Lombardi, O.; Martínez González J. C.; Fortin, S. (Eds.), Springer Nature Switzerland AG (pp. 217-241).

Matta, C. F.; Bandrauk, A. D. (2021) “An Introduction to laser-fields effects on chemical reactivity”, Chapter 11 in: Effects of Electric Fields on Structure and Reactivity: New Horizons in Chemistry, Shaik, S; and Stuyver, T. (Eds.), The Royal Society of Chemistry, London (pp. 394-419). (Link)

Journal Articles / Papers

M. Halit, M.; M. Sidoumou, M.; M. Bouchenafa, M.; S. Maabed, S.; Y.Bourourou, Y.; R.Arar, R.; F. Khemloul, F.; Matta, C. F. (2026). “A First-Principles Study on the Structural, Electronic, Elastic, Optical and Thermodynamic Properties of MgSc2X4 (X = S, Se)”, submitted.

Hô, M.; Matta, C. F. (2026). “Density Structural Torsion: Electron-Density-Derived Longitudinal and Transverse Fields”; Journal of Chemical Physics, to be submitted, in final stages of preparation.

Matta, C. F.; Massa, L. (2026). “Quantum crystallography: X-ray orbitals are Kohn-Sham orbitals”; International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, submitted, in review.

Harriott, T. A.; Matta, C. F. (2026) “On the Anticipation of Lunar Travel in the Early 20th Century: A Pedagogical Exercise”; Comptes rendus physique, submitted, in review. (PREPRINT: https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.12582).

Matta, C. F. (2026). “Essay: The Great Chicken-and-Egg of Chemistry: Bonding vs. Stability Revisited”; Chemical Science, submitted, in review. (PREPRINT: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2026arXiv260427222M/abstract)

Kerleaux, M.; Regnier, F. ; Matta, C. F. (2026). “Enzyme Catalysis via Substrate Ionization by Intrinsic Intense Electric Fields”; Journal of Physical Chemistry A, submitted, in review. (PREPRINT: https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.15002317/v1)

Matar, I. K.; Fahimi, P.; Vigneau, J.-N., Matta, C. F. (2025). “Intrinsic electrostatics of ATP synthase modulate the proton motive force across species”; Biophysical Journal, submitted, in review. [Preliminary archival version: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.14.711807v1 ; reviewed in Gist.Science: https://gist.science/paper/bio/10.64898/2026.03.14.711807).

Castanedo, L. A. M.; Matta, C. F. (2026). “Thermodynamic Constraints on Glycerol-Based Proto-Nucleotides: Phosphate versus Arsenate in Early Backbone Evolution”; Journal of Molecular Evolution, submitted, in review. (https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9195456/v1).

Fahimi, P.; Lynch, M., Matta, C. F. (2026). “Decoding the Hot-Mitochondrion Paradox”; BioEssays, submitted, in review. (PREPRINT: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2507.16824).

Majaess, D.; Morera-Boado, C.; Harriott, T. A.; Rahi, Q.; Seuret, H.; Massa, L.; Matta, C. F. (2026) “Benchmarking Astrochemistry Paradigms: Relative Absence of C6H5CN+ in the Diffuse ISM” Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (RMxAA), accepted, in press.

Matta, C. F. (2026) “EDITORIAL: Revisiting mitochondrial temperature: steady-state heat transfer or non-steady-state dynamics?”, Acta Physiologica, submitted.

Matta, C. F. (2026) “EDITORIAL: Electron localization and delocalization: from fundamentals to applications” Structural Chemistry in press (published on-line, awaiting article or page number(s)) [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11224-026-02777-7].

Vidales-Hurtado, M. A.; Matta, C. F.; Sánchez-Rosas, M. A.; Rodriguez, J. I. (2026). “Titanium butoxide sol-gel structures are stabilized through water and alcohol via weak interactions: A DFT-QTAIM study”; Journal of Molecular Modeling 32, Article # 93 (11 pages).

Fatima, G.; Mohamed, H.; Saida, B.; Said, M.; Hanifi, M.; Mohamed, B.; Matta, C. F. (2026). “First-principles study of ABSe₃ (A = Li, Na) Perselenoborates: A Promising Family of Nonlinear Optical Materials”, Chemical Physics 600, Article # 112886 (13 pages).

Matar, I. K.; Zaki, M. E. A.; Muhammad, Z. A.; Awwad, D. A.; Al-Hussain, S. A.; Matta, C. F.; Kassab, R. M. (2026). “Coumarin-Augmented Thiazole Hybrids as Dual Anticancer and Antibacterial Agents”; Chemical Biology & Drug Design 107, Article # e70261 (23 pages).

Koohsaria, P.; Shadman, M.; Davoodi, J.; Ahadi, Z.; Matta, C. F. (2026). “Elevated melting of hydrogen-disordered ice confined by MoS2 nanotubes: A molecular dynamics study of dual confinement geometries”; Surface Science 765, Article # 122876 (9 pages).

Recognition