STUDENT SUPERVISION

  • Yan (Helena) Xing, Mount Saint Vincent University’s IBIS (International, Black, and International Students) Programme – Undergraduate Research Assistant (2022-2023) co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (Summer 2022): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs).
  • Ailish Sullivan, NSERC-USRA Undergraduate Research Assistant, (Summer 2023): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs).
  • Ailish Sullivan, Undergraduate Research Assistant, co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (Summer 2022): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs).
  • Carson Cameron, Jeanne Sauvé Award Scholar ($6,500) – Research Assistant, (Summer 2022): Mitochondrial Biophysics.
  • Austin Bray, Directed Reading Summer Student, co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (Summer 2022): Spectroscopy of Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs).
  • Emily Smith, Graduate Research Assistant, co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (Summer 2022): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) Correlations.
  • Tiffany Fields, Research Associate (Summer 2021, summer 2022): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) Project.
  • Fraser Smith, Graduate Research Assistant, co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (Summer 2021): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) Correlations.
  • Emily Smith, Jeanne Sauvé Award Scholar ($6,500) – Research Assistant, co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (Summer 2021): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) Correlations.
  • Lahcene Azzouz (Winter Semester 2019), Visiting Graduate (senior PhD) Student from Université de Laghouat (Algeria). (Field: Physics of materials).
  • Lázaro Andrés Monteserín Castanedo (1 July – 31 October 2016), Visiting Graduate Student on a Wood-Whelan Research Fellowship Award ($4,900) from the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (on visit from the Dept. of Biology, University of Havana).
  • Lázaro Andrés Monteserín Castanedo (1 Feb. – 1 July 2017), Visiting Graduate Student on an Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program Award ($9,700) from the Canadian Bureau for International Education (on visit from the Dept. of Biology, University of Havana).
  • Andrea Perrault (Summers of 2016 and 2017), Research Assistant (co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott.
  • Leanne Ingram (Summer, 2014), Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University.
  • Mathew Timm (Summer, 2014), Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University.
  • Mathew Timm (Summer, 2013), NSERC-USRA undergraduate research summer student, Mount Saint Vincent University.
  • Martin Sichinga (2010-2011), Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University.
  • Leigh Herman David (summer semester, 2009), Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University.
  • Daniel MacKeigan (summer semester, 2009), Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University.
  • Alya A. Arabi (2006-2009), Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University.

 

THESES SUPERVISION

PhD Theses

  • Marianne Kerleaux (started in January 2024), PhD Thesis, Dept. of Chemistry, Laval University. (Co-supervised with Prof. Paul Johnson).
  • Peyman Koohsari (2019-2024), PhD Thesis, Dept. of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan (Zanjan, Iran). Ice Nanoconfinement Phase Transition. (Co-supervised with Prof. Muhammad Shadman Lakmehshari).
  • Lázaro Andrés Monteserín Castanedo (2019-2024), PhD (Saint Mary’s University): Computational Biochemical Study of the Prebiotic Selection of Present-Day Nucleic Acids.
  • Peyman Fahimi (2019-2023), PhD, Dept. of Chemistry, Laval University. Theoretical Investigations in Mitochondrial Biophysics. (Co-supervised with Prof. T. Tung Nguyen-Dang).
  • Alya A. Arabi, PhD (Dalhousie University, 2008-2012): Density Functional Theory: Dispersion Interactions & Biological Applications. (Co-supervised with Professor Axel D. Becke).
  • Hugo Bohórquez, PhD Thesis (Dalhousie University, 2007-2011): Local Quantum Chemistry. (Co-supervised with Professor Russell J. Boyd).

Visiting PhD Students

  • Halis Yenis Seuret Hernández, Visiting PhD Student, PhD Candidate at Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM) (Cuernavaca, Mexico) – Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) Scholar (Government of Canada) – (1 Sept. 2023 – 29 Feb. 2024).
  • Mal Hedrick (September 2022-August 2023), Visiting PhD Student, Saint Mary’s University.
  • Cyrus Ahmadi Toussi (January-December 2019), Visiting PhD student, Biomedical Engineering (Bioelectrics), Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran. (Co-supervised with Prof. J. Haddadnia, Hakim Sabzevari University).
  • Luiz Alberto Terrabuio, PhD Thesis (São Paulo University, 2016). (Co-supervised by Prof. R. L. Haiduke, Sao Paolo University, Brazil).

MSc Theses

  • Islam K. Matar, MSc Thesis (Saint Mary’s University, started in Sept. 2023, in progress): (Tentative) Bioinformatics Study of Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics.
  • Lázaro Andrés Monteserín Castanedo, MSc Thesis (Saint Mary’s University, started in 2019, in progress): Some Applications of the Topographical Analysis of the Electron Density in Quantum Biochemistry.
  • Youji Cheng, MSc Thesis (Saint Mary’s University, 2017-2019): A Computational Investigation of the Intrinsic Field of ATP Synthase.
  • Ismat Sumar, MSc Thesis (Saint Mary’s University, 2013-2016): Localization-Delocalization Matrices: Theory and Applications. (Co-supervised with Professor Paul W. Ayers).
  • Shahin Sowlati Hashjin, MSc Thesis (Saint Mary’s University, 2011-2013): Computational Investigations of Some Molecular Properties, their Perturbation by External Electric Fields, and their use in Quantitative Structure-to-Activity Relationships.

Honors Theses

  • Ailish D. Sullivan, Honors Thesis (Dept. of Chemistry & Physics – Mount Saint Vincent University), co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (2023-2024): Computational Investigation of the Chemical Source of Diffuse Interstellar Bands.
  • Emily Smith, Honors Thesis (Dept. of Mathematics – Mount Saint Vincent University), co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott (2021-2022): Reddening of Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) and the Thickness of Interstellar Dust Clouds.
  • Fraser Smith, Honors Thesis (Dept. of Mathematics – Mount Saint Vincent University), co-supervised with Prof. Tina Harriott and Prof. Daniel Majaess (2020-2021): Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) Correlations as a Means to Identify new Molecular Carriers.
  • Mohamed Ahmed Nasr El-Deen, Honors Thesis (Zewail City of Science and Technology, 2018-2019): DNA-Histone Interaction, a Computational Study.
  • Hebatallah Emam, Honors Thesis (Zewail City of Science and Technology, 2018-2019): Effects of the Electric Field across the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane on some Molecules and Reactions of the Electron Transport Chain (ETC).
  • Mennatallah Emam, Honors Thesis (Zewail City of Science and Technology, 2018-2019): Molecular Fingerprinting in Quantitative Structure-to-Activity Relationships (QSARs) as Tool in Drug Design.
  • Mathew Timm, Honors Thesis (Joint Dalhousie University – Mount Saint Vincent University Honors Programme, 2013-2014): What Happens to the Chemical Bond if a Bonded Atom Undergoes a Nuclear Transformation? A Computational Study.
  • Alya A. Arabi, Honors Thesis (Joint Dalhousie University – Mount Saint Vincent University Honors Programme, 2007-2008): Atomic Partitioning of the Energy of Reaction: The Hydrolysis of a Fuel Biological Molecule, Adenosine 5’-Triphosphate.

MEMBER IN THESES COMMITTEES AND/OR EXTERNAL EXAMINER

D.Sc. Dissertation

  • D.Sc. External Referee/Evaluator – Dr. Ol’ha Brovarets’, Microstructural Mechanisms of the Origin of the Spontaneous Point Mutations, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine) – (Defense: 29 Dec. 2015).

PhD Theses

  • PhD Thesis External Examiner – Mostafa Javaheri Moghadam, Incorporating Quantum Correlation in Extended Molecular Systems Using Advanced Electronic Structure Methods in Quantum Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, The University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada. (Defense: 7 March 2026).
  • PhD Thesis External Examiner – Halis Yenis Seuret Hernández, Estudio Teórico de la Estructura Electrónica y Propiedades Ópticas de Cúmulos de Metales Nobles (In Spanish) [Trans: Theoretical Study of the Electronic Structure and Optical Properties of Noble Metal Clusters], Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. (Defense: 6 June 2025).
  • PhD Thesis External Examiner – Toka Abdelrahman Ahmed Osman, The Impact of Type-2 Diabetic Microenvironment on The Regenerative Capacity of Human Adipose Tissue- Derived Pericytes, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. (Defense: Fall 2024).
  • PhD Thesis External Examiner – Salima Hennani, Simulation numérique des processus d’excitation et d’ionisation des systèmes moléculaires à plusieurs électrons en champ laser intense [Trans.: Numerical simulation of the excitation and ionization processes of multi-electron molecular systems in an intense laser field], Départment de Chimie, Université Laval, Québec, QC (Canada). (Defense: Fall 2023).
  • PhD Thesis External Examiner – G. Pandimuthu, Synthesis, Characterization, Biological Activity and Corrosion Inhibition Performance of Some Schiff Bases, Department of Chemistry, Kandaswami Kandar’s College, Periyar University, Velur, Tamilnadu, India. (Defense: Fall 2022).
  • PhD Thesis Referee and External Examiner – Stuart Raymond Colenzo von Berg, Bonding Interactions in Congested Molecules: A Study of the Interatomic Forces and the Molecular Electrostatic Potential, Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. (Defense: May 2022).
  • External Examiner: PhD Comprehensive Exam (Examen de Candidatura) – Yoshio Alan Torres Barrera, Chemical Reactivity Descriptors: One-Parameter, Two-Parameters, and Dual Descriptors, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, (Exam held on: 25 June 2021).
  • PhD Thesis Assessor and External Examiner – Florian Kleemiss, Development of Quantum-Crystallographic Methods for Chemical and Biochemical Applications, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Bern University, Berne, Switzerland. (Defense: Dec. 2020).
  • PhD External Referee – Prakash Loknaeh Verma, Exploring Noncovalent Interactions in Ionic Liquids from Theory, Dept. of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India. (Defense: Oct. 2019).
  • PhD External Examiner – François Dion, Dynamique de systèmes polyatomiques et polyélectroniques en champ laser intense (Dynamics of Polyatomic and Polyelectronic Systems in Intense Laser Fields), Dép. de chimie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. (Defense: April 2018).
  • Member of PhD Committee and Examiner – Walter Polkosnik, Fast Geometry Optimizations of Large Systems with the Kernel Energy Method (KEM), Dept. of Chemistry, Hunter College, The City University of New York (CUNY), USA. (Defense: April 2018).
  • PhD External Examiner – P. Tamilselvi, Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Aniline and its Substituents Catalysed by Iron(III) Phthalocyanine Chloride, Anna University, Chennai, India. (Defense: March 2018).
  • PhD External Examiner – Pinaki Saha, Application of Electron Density-Based Analysis in the Study of Nanoclusters and Biomolecular Interactions, Dept. of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, India. (Defense: Dec. 2017).
  • PhD External Examiner – Hadieh Monajemi, Proton tunnelling in some proton transfer reactions, Institute of Graduate Studies, University of Malaya, Malaysia. (Defense: Aug. 2017).
  • PhD External Examiner – S. K. Periyasamy, Oxidation of Chalcones and Thioacids by Quinalidinium Fluorochromate, Dept. of Chemistry, National College (Autonomous) – Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. (Defense: August 2012).
  • PhD External Examiner – Andrea Millen, Properties of C-Linked C8-Phenoxyl Guanine DNA Adducts, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Canada. (Defense: Aug. 2011).
  • PhD External Examiner – James S. M. Anderson, From Wavefunctions to Chemical Reactions: New Mathematical Tools for Predicting the Reactivity of Atomic Sites from Quantum Mechanics, Dept. of Chemistry, McMaster University, Canada. (Defense: Nov. 2010).
  • PhD External Examiner – Jacob Sanford, Calculation of Static and Dynamic Effects on the Magnetic Tensors of Several Benchmark Radicals”, Dept. of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Canada. (Defense: March 2010).
  • PhD External Examiner – Po Yang, Indicator Functions and Their Applications in Fractional Factorial Designs, Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, McMaster University, Canada. (Defense: July 2004).

M.Sc. Theses

  • External Examiner – Pooya Afaghi, Microwave System for Biophysical Studies, Dept. of Physics, Mount Allison University, Canada. (Defense: Dec. 2018).
  • External Examiner – Alexander H. Morrison, Muon Radiation Chemistry Towards Applications in Modern Reactor Design, Dept. of Chemistry, Mount Allison University, Canada. (Defense: July 2018).
  • Member of MSc Thesis Committee & Examiner – Dijana Anželj, An Ab Initio Investigation of Lead (II) Complexes as Possible Corrosion Products in a CANDU Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR), Dept. of Chemistry, Saint Mary’s University, Canada. (Defense: April 2016).

B.Sc. Honors Theses Examiner (At Dalhousie University, in the capacity of Adjunct Professor at the Dept. of Chemistry)

  • Thomas Burns, A Computational Comparison of Dithiolene and Diselenolene Ligands for Use in Biomimetic Catalysis (2013).
  • Hilary Matthews, A Computational Study of the Selective Inhibition of Malaria-Causing Proteins in the Human Body (2013).
  • Tavia Raiche-Marsden, Site Directed Mutagenesis of Escherichia Coli Cytidine 5’-Triphosphate Synthase in Order to Reduce Steric Bulk in the Active Site and increase Synthetic Availability (2013).
  • Daniel M. Chevrier, Properties of Iron / Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and their Biomedical Applications (2011).
  • Wai-Ho Lo, Examining the Effect of Temperature on Self-discharge and Charge Redistribution in Carbon-based Electrical Capacitors (2011).
  • Elias Machaalani, A Model for Assessing Solvation Effects of Amino Acids (2010).
  • Daniel Veldhuijzen van Zanten, How to make Analogs of Carnosine, using AM1 and Molecular Mechanics, that better Chelate Ca2+ and Zn2+ Ions (2009).