THE GROUP
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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. DECLAN ROSHEA (McKEARNEY)
Simon Fraser University, B.Sc., 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.  Photodynamic Inactivating Phthalocyanines

DR. JEFFERSON PELLS
University of Calgary, B.Sc.(Hon), Simon Fraser University, Ph.D.

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

DOCTORAL (Ph.D.) STUDENTS

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.Research Interests: Investigation into the paramagnetic and electronic properties of substituted and unsubstituted metallophthalocyanines and their oxidized forms.  Jointly supervised by Prof. J. Warren (SFU Chemistry).

THOMAS KARPIUK
Simon Fraser University, B.Sc.(Hon)

​Research Interests: The structures, thermal expansion, and luminescence of lanthanide cyanometallate coordination polymers. Also enjoys board games, playing guitar, and frequenting the cafes, restaurants, and breweries of Vancouver.
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LEANNA KARN
Laurentian University, B.Sc.

​Research Interests: Luminescent platinum-based coordination polymers for materials applications. In her spare time, she enjoys watching anime, playing cello, and hanging out with her dog and two cats.
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SANTIAGO GALLO
Trinity Western University, B.Sc.

Research Interests: Coordination polymers with unusual optical and thermal expansion properties

RACHEL SAILER
University of the Fraser Valley, B.Sc.

Research Interests: F-block metallophthalocyanines and actinide chemistry

AFSANEH AKAR
Sharif University of Technology, B.Sc.; University of Victoria, M.Sc.

Research Interests: Supramolecular aurophilic chemistry, soft and stimuli-responsive materials. Jointly supervised by Prof. Vance Williams (SFU Chemistry)

ROBBY YOSHIRO WILLIAMS-SEKIGUCHI
Simon Fraser University, B.Sc.

Research Interests: Coordination polymers with unusual properties

MICHAEL EDWIN
Western Washington University, B.Sc.

Research Interests: Phthalocyanines and their use in electrocatalysis. Jointly supervised by Prof. Jeffrey Warren (SFU Chemistry)

MASTERS STUDENTS

MEGAN LEE
University of Toronto, B.Sc.

Research Interests: Metallophthalocyanines, redox-active ligands and coordination polymers.  Jointly supervised by Prof. Tim Storr (SFU Chemistry).

KEQIANG YANG
Simon Fraser University, B.Sc.

Research Interests: F-block Coordination Polymers

TAKAHIRO NISHIMORI
University of British Columbia, B.Sc.

Research Interests: Metallophthalocyanines

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

STACEY WINTERMAN

Research Interests: F-block coordination polymers with cyanometallate linkers and their emission and thermal expansion properties

REIGN GUAZON

Research Interests: Stimuli-responsive metallophilic coordination polymers
CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS: 

Ilan Cepele
Rajdeep Dhillon
Navreen Judge

CURRENT VISITING SCHOLARS: 
Osviel Alan Cruz Lopez (Univ. Guanajuato, Mexico)

LEZNOFF GROUP ALUMNI

Post-doctoral Fellows
  • Dr. Mohammadreza Moharamzadeh
  • Dr. Ryan Roberts
  • Dr. Yumeela Ganga-Sah
  • Dr. Wen Zhou - Univ. Calgary, X-ray Crystallography Manager
  • 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
  • Alex Donald (2025)
  • Khuong Ho (2024)
  • Shubhra Srivastava (2024)
  • Scheryn Lawson (2023)
  • 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
  • Arij Tlili (B.Sc. Univ. Tunis, Tunisia; MITACS Fellow)
  • Dewni Ramanayake (M.Sc., Univ. Calgary)
  • Neelabhro Mukherjee (B.Sc./M.Sc.pgm IISER-Bhopal; MITACS Fellow)
  • Priyam Chakraborty (B.Sc./M.Sc. pgm IISER-Kolkata; MITACS Fellow)
  • Jean Joseph (Ph.D. Univ. Strasbourg, France)
  • Elena Kuzmina (Ph.D., Moscow State Univ., Russia)
  • Prof. Taniyuki Furuyama (Kanazawa Univ., Japan)
  • Khaydarali Sayfidinov (B.Sc., Univ. Ankara, Turkey; MITACS Fellow)
  • 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. Jefferson Pells (2025)
  • Dr. Yumeela Ganga-Sah (2023)
  • Dr. Declan Roshea (McKearney) (2022)
  • 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
  • Sylvain St. Louis
  • Lily Klynsoon                                 Jacqueline Choi
  • Nathan Unruh                               Mehak Sidana
  • Vandad Hazrati                             Casie Huang
  • Landy Liu                                      Hannah Martinelli
  • William Ho                                    Robby Yoshiro Williams-Sekiguchi
  • Madeline Smith                             Adlih Britton
  • Manzula Eijsberg                           Carys Kenny-Howell
  • Brayden Rose                                Janet Wang
  • Maya Honda-Granirer                    Tse Him Markku Mak
  • 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