Q & A with new chemistry faculty Dr. Jennifer Murphy

Can you tell us about your career path up until this point?

I completed my BSc and PhD at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). I worked in a green chemistry research group where they use mild reaction conditions and focus on improving economic viability of industrial processes. The skills and mindset I developed during my time there is something I continue to promote in my research lab. My PhD thesis centered on the valorization of waste from mussel aquaculture with the support of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association and Innovate NL. I had a really great time during my PhD because I had a lot of freedom to explore different experiments and I made new calcium carbonate materials out of waste shells that the World had never seen. During my PhD I went to Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and worked for five months on a research project that saw my calcium carbonate materials go into electrochemical devices for cleaner energy. After graduating with my PhD in 2019, I went to the University of Windsor for a postdoctoral position where I made crystalline inorganic materials for drug delivery systems. During this time I was able to grow my synthetic skills and learn a lot about the pharmaceutical industry. My work from the University of Windsor resulted in patented technology for controlled pharmaceutical release, which can substantially improve patient care. From Windsor I went to the University of California (UC) Berkeley where I held an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship. I would describe the College of Chemistry at UC Berkeley as a playground for scientists. When I was there, I made carbon capture materials that can be used to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. This work is very meaningful in the fight against climate change and inspired parts of my research program here at the University of Guelph.
 

What will your focus of research be here at the University of Guelph

My research here at the University of Guelph focuses on generating new materials that fall under two categories; carbon capture and drug delivery. In principle, both categories of materials will require similar criteria; we want them to be made using green and environmentally friendly techniques, be inexpensive, and be incredible at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (carbon capture) or be able to target and destroy tumors without impacting healthy cells (drug delivery).
 

Why do you think it’s important to recruit women to STEM?

I think it is important to recruit women to STEM because there is gender inequity, especially at the faculty level. I know there are many women who pursue undergraduate and graduate in STEM disciplines, but we lose them when it comes to further academic endeavors. I know change has been in motion for many years now; more and more women are being hired for academic positions and chemistry departments are aware of the unevenness within their departments and wanting to make efforts to create a more equitable work environment. For me personally, having female chemistry professors empowered me to keep going on my academic path, and it is likely that may be similar for other students.
 

How can you help young girls and women pursue STEM?

I think the best way I can help young girls and women to pursue careers in STEM is by helping them get to where they want to be, by sharing (some of) my experiences with them, and encouraging them to talk to other women in STEM about their journeys. For me personally, (women in chemistry in Canada will know, because I asked a lot of them) I would ask female faculty if they had children and ask them to share their story of how old they were (because waiting for tenure is a thing!) and asking how their department supported them. In this vein, it is important to tell women it is essential to have other interests and hobbies to maintain a strong work-life balance. You can be a scientist, a mom, a photographer, a marathon runner, a little league coach, an entrepreneur. You are not defined as a scientist; you can be all the things!

We need perspective in scientific research from all genders. In my position, I can be a compelling mentor for women in STEM by not only empowering them through revealing (some of) my experiences, but also by conveying the importance of chasing a career that you truly enjoy and the genuine satisfaction that comes with that.
 

Can you explain to us the real-world impacts of your research?

I think many of us in Canada have experienced some form of climate change. That could be unanticipated drought or flooding in your region, unseasonably warm or cool temperatures, wildfires, or one that is very relevant for me being from the east coast of Canada - the lack of snow this winter. As a team, 196 parties created a legally binding international treaty on climate call the Paris Agreement. A large part of the agreement is to limit the increase of global atmospheric temperatures to 2 degrees above preindustrial levels, that is before the industrial revolution. So how do we do that? It starts by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, many of which come from the burning of fossil fuels like gasoline. We can reduce carbon dioxide by switching to renewable energy and driving electric cars, but will it be enough? Unfortunately, no. There is too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the best way to limit the global temperature increases is to remove the carbon dioxide from atmosphere by creating new technologies that fundamentally clean the air. In our lab we create new molecules and materials that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help to work towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. We hope that the materials and technologies we develop will create job opportunities for Canadians in addition to battling climate change.

The other branch of materials we are developing are those that seek a tumor in the body and destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells. If you have known someone that has suffered from cancer, you know how devastating chemotherapy is. It can make the patient very ill, most times much sicker than the cancer has already made them. This is because chemotherapy is very toxic to healthy cells in addition to cancer cells and is typically administered in ‘rounds’ to allow the patients healthy cells to regenerate before the next round. In our lab we are creating materials that are ‘stealthy’ - they will not be detected by healthy cells and only destroy cancer cells. These drug delivery materials can change chemotherapy as we know it and significantly impact a patients cancer journey.
 

What is a recent research project/initiative that you are especially excited about?

The lab is just being established; we are just getting equipment sorted so that we can start doing chemistry. Once we are up and running, I am most excited to start developing new carbon capture materials with my MSc student, Gabriele Wehrle. We are busy getting our chemicals ordered and our space organized right now, but we are expecting a very busy and exciting summer of capturing heaps of carbon dioxide!
 

In the next 5 years, what do you hope to achieve?

First, I hope to create an inclusive and dynamic working environment for my research lab. One that is a positive space for scientists to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas, and for them to take the initiative to pursue them. I want our lab to foster personal and professional growth. I think through this, we will generate meaningful scientific works (i.e., publications, book chapters, editorials) and have a significant impact on the growth of carbon capture materials and drug delivery systems in Canada. My dream is to have some of our materials produced commercially someday and influence global infrastructure for carbon capture.

In addition to being successful from a research standpoint, I would like to gain a reputation for being a good chemistry teacher. I want to develop exciting curriculum delivery methods to keep students engaged so that they will want to take a course because I am the one teaching it.
 

Will you be looking for undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral students in the near future?

Yes! I am looking to recruit a graduate student who can start in May, and I am currently working on a job posting to hire an undergraduate student to work in our lab this summer.