THE GROUP

The Leznoff research group family stretches across the globe.  We've had students, post-docs and visiting researchers from 20 countries and we are always happy to welcome more citizens of the world!  As well as enriching the lab environment and giving students the opportunity to make friends and contacts with roots around the world, it also makes for wonderful potluck parties, with a smorgasbord of delicious offerings from a wide range of cultures!

Globalization works in both directions:  Graduate students in the Leznoff group have funded opportunities to have both an international conference trip and an international research experience of several weeks to months if desired. 

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS / RESEARCH ASSOCIATES

DR. WEN ZHOU
University of British Columbia-Okanagan, B.Sc.(Hon), Ph.D.

Research Interests: Exploring the synthesis of non-innocent phthalocyanine metal complexes and their redox chemistry, and examining the chemistry of metallophthalocyanines with "non-traditional" metals for a range of applications

DR. RYAN ROBERTS
University of Waterloo, B.Sc.(Hon), Simon Fraser University, Ph.D.

Research Interests: Solvothermal metal recovery; Luminescent Au(I) Coordination Polymers for chemosensing materials; metallophthalocyanines

DOCTORAL (Ph.D.) STUDENTS

JEFFERSON PELLS
University of Calgary, B.Sc.(Hon)

​My research focuses on the study of metallophilic interactions and the synthesis of novel supramolecular species via modification of other well-known structural archetypes.  My interests outside of chemistry include history, weightlifting, table top games, model building, and Magic: The Gathering.

YUMEELA GANGA-SAH
University of Mauritius, B.Sc.(Hon); Simon Fraser University, M.Sc.

​Research Interests: Isolation of soluble early-transition metallophthalocyanine complexes and exploring their reactivity.

DECLAN MCKEARNEY
Simon Fraser University, B.Sc.

​Research Interests: Investigation into the paramagnetic and electronic properties of substituted and unsubstituted metallophthalocyanines and their oxidized forms.

MASTERS STUDENTS

SCHERYN LAWSON
Griffith University, B.Sc.

Research Interests: Electrochemistry of phthalocyanines and electrocatalysis, including reduction of CO2.  Jointly supervised by Prof. J. Warren (SFU Chemistry).  Also enjoys movie nights, playing tabletop RPGs and learning about astronomy.

STEVEN KIDD
Simon Fraser University, B.Sc.

Steven received his B.Sc. here at Simon Fraser University in 2021. He started in the Leznoff group as an undergraduate before transitioning into a M.Sc. program. His research is focused on the synthesis and applications of metallophthalocyanine complexes. In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, playing video games, and working part time as a veterinary assistant.

SHUBHRA SRIVASTAVA
Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, B. Tech.

Research Interests: Synthesis and characterization of coordination polymers.  Jointly supervised by Prof. J. Warren (SFU Chemistry)

KHUONG HO
University of the Fraser Valley, B.Sc.

Research Interests: Synthesis and characterization of stimulus-responsive, emissive gold(I)-containing coordination polymers and mesogens.  Jointly supervised by Prof. Vance Williams (SFU Chemistry).  More generally, I'm all over the place ranging from binging with some good story-rich videos to playing board games with my friends. Occasionally, we tend to hike or bike around the lovely city of Vancouver. 

THOMAS KARPIUK
Simon Fraser University University, B.Sc.

​Research Interests: F-block cyanometallate (especially Hg-containing) coordination polymers for materials applications
​

LEANNA KARN
Laurentian University, B.Sc.

​Research Interests: Emissive Pt-based coordination polymers for materials applications
​

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

CARYS KENNY-HOWELL

Research interests:  Novel main group phthalocyanines and their axial ligand chemistry

MANZULA EIJSBERG

Research interests:  Non-traditional traditional Metal Phthalocyanines

LEZNOFF GROUP ALUMNI

Post-doctoral Fellows

• Dr. Jeffrey Ovens - Univ. Ottawa, X-ray Facility Manager
  
• Dr. Zahra Lotfi
  
• Dr. Rachel Platel - Lecturer, Lancaster University
  
• Dr. Greg Cetnarowski
  
• Dr. Cameron Forde
  
• Dr. Taramatee Ramnial
  
• Dr. Anjan Das
  

M. Sc. Graduates

• Elahe Tajbakhsh (2021)
  
• David Guan (2021)
  
• Bryton Varju (2018)
• Yumeela Ganga-Sah (2017)
• Tara Connors (2016)
• Sebastian Temple (2012)
• Jasmine Korčok (2010) - Instructor, Okanagan College
• ​Andrew Geisheimer (2010)
• Liang Ouyang (2007)
• Farzad (Frank) Haftbaradaran (2006)
• Neil Draper (2004)
• Carolyn Shorrock (2003)

M. A. Sc.

• David Yin (co-sup. with G. Chapman, SFU Engineering; 2020)
• David Stevens (co-sup. with B. Gray, SFU Engineering; 2019)

Visiting Scholars

• Elena Kuzmina (Ph.D., Moscow State Univ., Russia)
• Prof. Taniyuki Furuyama (Kanazawa Univ., Japan)
• Khaydarali Sayfidinov (B.Sc., Univ. Ankara, Turkey)
• Birte Böker (Ph.D., Braunsweig Univ., Germany)
• Yui Morishita (M.Sc., Ibaraki Univ., Japan)
• Isaura Ospino (Ph.D., Univ. Zaragosa, Spain)
• Tochigi Yamaguchi (Ph.D., Kyushu Univ., Japan)
• Anne Auxire (M.Sc., ENS-Clermont-Ferrand, France)
• Mihir Mogre (B.Sc., IIT-Bombay, India)
• Masayuki Kobayashi (Ph.D., Kyushu Univ., Japan)
• Naoaki Hashimoto (M.Sc., Tohoku Univ., Japan)
• Osamu Matsushita (M.Sc., Tohoku Univ., Japan)
• Daisuke Takeuchi (M.Sc., Sophia Univ., Japan)
• Itsuki Sakai (M.Sc., Tokyo Science Univ., Japan)
• Purvi Bhatia (B.Sc., Univ. Bath, UK)
• Yumi Akahori (M.Sc., Meiji Univ., Japan)

Ph. D. Graduates

• Dr. Matthew Brown (2021)
  
• Dr. Khrystyna Herasymchuk (co-sup. with T. Storr, SFU; 2020)
  
• Dr. Ania Sergeenko (2019)
• Dr. Didier Savard (2018)
• Dr. Ryan Roberts (2017)
• Dr. John Thompson (co-sup. with V. Williams, SFU; 2017)
• Dr. Benson Jelier (co-sup. with C. Friesen, TWU; 2016)
• Dr. Zahri Lotfi (co-sup. with J. Sonier, Physics; 2015)
• Dr. Jeffrey Ovens (2014)
• Dr. Cassandra Hayes (2013)
• Dr. Zohreh Moatezedi (2013)
• Dr. Edwin Wong (2012)
• Dr. Michael Katz (2009) - Assoc. Professor, Memorial University
• Dr. Julie Lefebvre (2008) - Senior Instructor, Univ. Calgary
• Dr. Kimberly Jantunen (2006)
• Dr. Gurpreet (Garry) Mund (2004) - Senior Lecturer, SFU

Undergraduate Alumni

• Min Suk Kim                                   Thomas Karpiuk
  
• Jeffrey Cheung                               Steven Kidd
  
• Devon Mitchell                                Jefferson Pells
• Kyle MacDonald                              Fabian Ortiz
• Myles Scollon                                  Damir Paripovic
• David Guan                                     Sara Wollschlaeger
• Sean Laxton                                    Bryton Varju
• Kevin Goodman                              Gary Yu
• Declan McKearney                          Ian Johnston
• Debbie Le                                       Rupekanwal Chandi
• Dayle Gill                                        Kimberley Truong
• Rebecca Savoie                              Matthew Wright
• Connie Drewbrook                          Tye Lacey
• Reagen Belan                                 Jeffrey Ovens
• Kaoru Matsushita                           Ayesha Lakhani
• Danny Hickie                                  Michael Joyce
• Kyle Sue                                         Andrew Geisheimer
• Merhala Balasubramanian              Edwin Wong
• Karen Meek                                    Daniel Chartrand
• Samantha Fung                             Zohreh Moatazedi
• Wei Xiao                                        Leslie CHen
• Harini Kaluarachchi                       Angela Kuchison
• Nazanin Mobhran                          Alex Au
• Michael Katz                                  Angela Chekaluk
• Farzad (Frank) Haftbaradaran       Graham Taylor
• Howard Jong                                 Andrea Gabert
• Dragoslav Vidovic                          Kimberley Jantunen
• Carolyn Shorrock                          Jarret Babuin
• Heidi LeFaive                                Renaldy Kurniawan
• Neil Draper                                   Yasaman Nouhi
• Peter Kim                                     Richard Turley