Many of our faculty are active members of the interdisciplinary Centre for Biotechnology. The Department of Chemistry is a vibrant collection of researchers with expertise in every field of chemistry. Our programs stress chemical principles and practice through research in organic, inorganic, analytical, physical and theoretical chemistry, with a strong emphasis on the interdisciplinary fields of
bio-inorganic and bio-organic chemistry and chemical biophysics. Research interests of the department include development of new chiral ligands, organometallic reagents, and methods for asymmetric synthesis, green chemistry including bacterial dioxygenase-mediated degradation of aromatics, new approaches in natural product synthesis emphasizing morphine alkaloids, design and synthesis of fluorinated inhalation anesthetic agents and unnatural oligo-saccharide conjugates, ligand design and crystal engineering aimed at self-assembly of novel molecule-based materials, organic electrochemistry, energetics of photosynthesis studied by time-resolved electron spin resonance of short-lived paramagnetic intermediates, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, organometallic mass spectrometry, quantum and computational chemistry, pesticide and trace element analysis, protein affinity labelling and protein-lipid interactions, silicon chemistry and the chemistry of silicones and silicone-modified materials, and structure-activity correlations of anticancer pharmaceuticals. The Department of Chemistry is dedicated to being on the cutting edge of research and many of our faculty are active members of the interdisciplinary Centre for Biotechnology. Biotechnology has been used for centuries in fermentation and the making of bread and cheese, but today involves new scientific tools like genetic and protein engineering, cell fusion and production of monoclonal antibodies. Biotechnology is a strategic technology and an important economic component of industrialized nations. The Centre for Biotechnology at Brock is a joint effort between the Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, with courses drawn from both departments plus courses designed specifically for the program. Brock Chemistry – Finding Solutions Today for the Challenges of Tomorrow
