Group Alumni

Post-Doctoral Fellows

• Satyavani Kaliamurthi, Concordia Horizon Post-Doctoral Fellow (PhD, Annamalai University), “Computational design, modelling, and pre-clinical evaluation of hybrid peptide vaccines against coronaviruses”, 2021-2023.
• Mohamed Aboelnga, Concordia Horizon Post-Doctoral Fellow (PhD, University of Windsor), “Modeling and Linking Peroxide Sensing and Heme Mobilization” (co-supervision with Ann English), 2019-2022.
• Ritu Arora, Concordia Horizon Post-Doctoral Fellow (PhD, University of Delhi, India), “Modeling Comparative Enzyme Inhibition” (co-supervision with Ann English), 2019-2022.
• Esam Orabi (PhD, Concordia University), “Computational Investigation of Nitric Oxide Chemistry in GAPDH” (co-supervision with Ann English), 2017-2018. Present position: Research Officer, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
• Anirban Bhattacharjee (PhD, University of Innsbruck, Austria), “Theoretical Investigation of Mercury Chemistry Kinetics”, 2015. Subsequent position: College Lecturer, India.
• Chun Chi Mak (PhD, Concordia University), “Computational Characterization of the Structure of Novel Zirconium Nitride Materials”, 2015. Present position: Lecturer, Vanier College, Montreal, QC.
• Maria Shadrina (PhD, Moscow State University), “Computational Investigation of Nitric Oxide Chemistry in Hemoglobin” (co-supervision with Ann English), 2009-2014. Present position: Bioinformatician, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Bloomfield, NJ, United States.
• Soran Jahangiri (PhD, Concordia University), “Computational Investigation of Small-Molecule Collision-Induced Dissociation”, 20013-2014. Present position: Quantum Chemist Developer, Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc., Toronto, ON.
• Pradeep Varadwaj, PBEEE Québec Merit Scholarship Fellow (PhD, Saha Institute for Nuclear Physics), “Computational Investigation of Metal-Ligand and Molecular Complexes”, 2010-2012. Present position: Research Professor, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
• Samir Mushrif (PhD, McGill University), “Molecular Modeling of Metal-Doped Carbon Fibers”, 2009-2010. Present position: Professor, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
• Bilkiss Issack (PhD, University of Alberta), “Computer Simulations of Small-Molecule Diffusion in Lipid Bilayer Model Membranes”, 2007-2009. Present position: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, MA.
• Denise Koch (PhD, Concordia University), “Theoretical Studies of Solvation Thermodynamics and Dynamics”, 2008. Present position: Quantum Computing Analyst, Calcul Québec, Montreal, QC.
• Lisandro Hernández de la Peña (PhD, Dalhousie University), “Quantum Effects in Cluster and Liquid Simulations”, 2006-2008. Present position: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kettering University, MI, United States.
• Grigoriy Dolgonos, NATO Science Fellow (PhD, Polish Academy of Science, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Poland), “Theoretical Investigations of Collision-Induced Reactions in Novel Fullerene Materials”, 2004-2006. Subsequent position: Research Associate, University of Graz, Austria.
• Robert Mawhinney (PhD, University of Guelph), “Theoretical Studies of Reactive Intermediates” (co-supervision with Heidi Muchall), 2003-2006. Present position: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON.
• Etienne Paradis (PhD, University of Ottawa), “Theoretical Studies of the Solvation Structure and Thermodynamics of Molecular Ions”, 2004-2005. Subsequent position: Research Professional, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC.
• Sichuan Xu (PhD, Chinese Academy of Science, University of Beijing, China), “Theoretical Investigation of the Prebiotic Synthesis of Glycine in the Interstellar Medium” (co-supervision with Casey Hynes), 2002-2005. Present position: Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Yunnan, Kunming, China.
• Mouna Sbata (PhD, Université de Lille, France), “Quantum Monte Carlo Simulations of Ionic Clusters”, 2002-2003. Subsequent position: Media and Information Technology Specialist, Sherbrooke, QC.
• Pascal Larrégaray (PhD, Université de Bordeaux, France), “Theoretical Investigations of Collision-Induced Cluster Fragmentation”, 2002. Present position: Senior Scientist (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and Deputy Director, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, Bordeaux, France.
• Céline Toubin (PhD, Université de Franche-Comté, France), “QM/MM Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Chemical Reactions at Surfaces and in Solution”, 2001-2002. Present position: Professor, Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers, Atomes et Molécules, Université de Lille, France.
• Mohamed Fares (PhD, Université de Nancy, France), “Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Chemical Reactions in Condensed Phases”, 2000. Subsequent position: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Graduate Students – PhD

• Kevin Arango Daravina (Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program Scholar), “Design and Synthesis of Third Generation Drugs against Chronic Myeloid Leukemia”, PhD (Chemistry), Universidad del Valle, Columbia (visiting student), 2024.
• Sina Pourebrahimi, “Covalent Organic Frameworks for Molecular Gas Uptake”, PhD (Chemical and Materials Engineering), Concordia University (co-supervision with Alex De Visscher), 2021-2023.
• Hang Hu, “Quantum Chemical Simulation of Solid-State Phase Transition under High-Pressure and Temperature Conditions”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2017-2023. Present position: Research Officer, NRC Fields Mathematical Sciences Collaboration Centre, Toronto, ON.
• Vinod Parmar, “Computational Investigations of the Reactions of NO Donors with GAPDH”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University (co-supervision with Ann English), 2012-2018. Present position: Lead Computational Chemist, Terramera, Vancouver, BC.
• Xijun Wang, “Theoretical Investigation of the Vibrational Spectroscopic Signatures of Ion-water Clusters and Peptide-water Clusters”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2009-2016. Present position: Software Developer, DeepVisual Inc, Vancouver, BC.
• Anthony Noce, “Long-Term Economic Growth: Modeling the Race between Energy and Technology and the Stratospheric Effects of Hydrogen as a General Purpose Energy Source”, PhD (Special Individualized Program – Economics & Chemistry), Concordia University (co-supervision with Tatyana Koreshkova), 2012-2015. Present position: Lecturer, Department of Economics, Concordia University, Montreal, QC.
• Chun Chi Mak (NSERC Scholar), “Theoretical Studies of Photochemistry in Solvent Clusters”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2009-2014. Present position: Lecturer, Vanier College, Montreal, QC.
• Soran Jahangiri (Concordia Arts & Science Scholar), “Theoretical Investigation of Ion Hydration in Clusters and Solutions”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2008-2013. Present position: Quantum Chemist Developer, Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc., Toronto, ON.
• Lei Zhang, “Spectroscopy of Phenol and Phenoxy Radicals”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University (co-supervision with Heidi Muchall), 2002-2012. Degree not completed.
• Samir Mushrif (NSERC Scholar), “Multiscale Computational Modeling of Activated Carbon Microfibers with Applications to Hydrogen Storage”, PhD (Chemical Engineering), McGill University (informal co-supervision with Alejandro Rey, McGill University), 2007-2009. Present position: Professor, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
• Sean R. Hughes (FCAR Fellow), “A Theoretical Investigation of the Microsolvation of Multivalent Ions in Clusters”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University (co-supervision with John Capobianco), 1999-2006. Present position: Lecturer, John Abbott College, Montreal, QC.
• Qadir K. Timerghazin (Concordia Scholar), “Theoretical Studies of the Structure and Photochemistry of Ionic Clusters”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2000-2006. Present position: Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States.
• Denise M. Koch (Concordia, FCAR, NSERC, Canada Graduate Scholar), “Theoretical Studies of the Structure, Thermodynamics and Photochemistry of Seeded Water Clusters”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2000-2005. Present position: Quantum Computing Analyst, Calcul Québec, Montreal, QC.
• Tao-Nhan V. Nguyen (Concordia Shuffle Scholar), “Theoretical Studies of Solvation and Catalysis: Clusters as Nano-Reactors”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 1999-2005. Subsequent position: self-employed, Investment Modeler and Consultant, Montréal, QC
• Paul G. Loncke, “Theoretical Studies of Intramolecular Rearrangements of Siloxycarbenes”, PhD (Chemistry), Concordia University, 1998-2003. Subsequent position: R&D Chemist, private sector, United States.

Graduate Students – Masters

• Ojike Wosu, “Computational Investigation of Loop Motion and Ligand Binding in GAPDH”, MSc (Chemistry, part-time), Concordia University, 2015-2024.
• Niki Kermanian, “Atomistic Simulations of Next-generation Durable Aerospace Materials: A Comparison between Nickel and Cobalt Oxides”, MASc (Mechanical Engineering), Concordia University (co-supervision with Pantcho Stoyanov), 2022-2024.
• Olajide Adeniyi, “Computational Investigation of Aqueous Droplets Containing Environmentally-Relevant Molecules”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2018-2022.
• Jurgens de Lange (Africa Initiative Scholar), “Computational and Experimental Studies of the Protonation Sites and Mechanisms of Polyamines”, MSc (Chemistry), University of Pretoria, South Africa (exchange student supervised by Ignacy Cukrowski), 2012.
• Sima Mehrpajouh, “Generation and Characterization of Nitrilimines”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University (co-supervision with Heidi Muchall), 2009-2012. Subsequent position: University Lecturer, Iran.
• Alexandre Foisy-Geoffroy, “Computational Studies of Zeolite-based Nanobox Catalysts”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2008-2010. Degree not completed.
• Svetlana Popenova, “Computational Studies of Substituted Zirconocenium Catalysts for Olefin Polymerization”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2002-2009. Subsequent position: Polymer Chemist, Montreal, QC.
• Sacha Zlatkova, “Theoretical Studies of Ground and Excited-State Acid Ionization in Clusters”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2003-2006. Subsequent position: Information Systems Manager, Mansfield, MA, United States.
• Yin Wei, “Computational Studies of the Structure of Vanadium Oxide Clusters and their Reactions with Halocarbons”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University, 2002-2005. Subsequent position: Research Associate, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, China.
• Hasnain Jaffer, “Molecular-Level Interactions Between Homopolypeptides and Guanadinium Salts and Protein Unfolding Through Spectroscopy and Molecular Modeling”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University (co-supervision with Ann English), 2000-2004. Subsequent position: Information Technology Representative, Montreal, QC
• David H.-Y. Yeung (FCAR Fellow), “Probing the Structure of Calbindin D_28K Using Intramolecular Cross-Links and Molecular Modeling”, MSc (Chemistry), Concordia University (co-supervision with Ann English), 2001-2004. Subsequent position: Research Associate, Amgen, CA, United States.