The drover group
 WESTERN UNIVERSITY, London, ON

GROUP - SUMMER 2023

The FRENCH BULLDOGS


Merlot is a black-masked fawn French Bulldog who is from St. John's, Newfoundland (Canada). For some time, she was on the Canadian dog show scene, but quickly outgrew it. When not "resting", she enjoys being walked or fed. She also loves going for car rides, chewing "cheesy bones", and eating fruitables. She is excited to engage with new students joining the lab!



​Cookie is our latest addition - a brindle French Bulldog who was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada). Simply put, Cookie is wild - when not running or zooming about, she enjoys eating, walking, and sleeping (what a great life!). She is also excited to engage with new students joining the lab!

Postdoctoral RESEARCHERS
​

Dr. Kurt Hoffmann
PhD, Freie Universität Berlin 
Kurt.Hoffmann@uwo.ca

Hey! My name is Kurt and I’m a post-doctoral associate in the Drover group at Western University. I moved to London from Berlin, Germany. I have obtained my B. Sc., M. Sc. and Dr. rer. nat. (the German equivalent for a Ph.D.) at the Freie Universität Berlin, which is one of the big three universities this town has to offer for studying chemistry. I conducted the research for my Ph.D. in the group of Prof. Hasenstab-Riedel, where I was working in the fields of fluorine and main-group chemistry. More specifically, I was concerned with studying and applying novel Lewis superacids for the synthesis and isolation of exotic molecules to further investigate their exciting properties. In the Drover group, I now want to delve into organometallic chemistry and apply my skillset to the development of novel molecular systems for the cooperative activation of strong bonds. If I’m not in the lab, I enjoy being outdoors cycling/hiking/climbing, or visiting live music shows.

GRADUATE TEAM memberS:
​

Joseph Zurakowski (G3)
BSc Hons. Carleton University
jzurako@uwo.ca
Twitter: @jzurakowski1
Linkedin:  Joseph Zurakowski 
Ph.D. Student 
NSERC Vanier Scholar
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Recipient 
NSERC CGS-M/CGS-D Recipient
New Energy Research Prize Awardee

I started in the Drover lab in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being Marcus’ first graduate student, I have had the unique opportunity to see the Drover lab research program grow and flourish into where we are today. Originally from Ottawa, I completed my B.Sc. (Hons.) at Carleton University, where I got my first taste of organometallic chemistry. Here in the Drover lab for my Ph.D., I am focusing on appending boranes into the secondary coordination sphere of Fe and Ni complexes. My aim is to induce productive and interesting reactivity at the metal center as a result of including the boranes in the secondary coordination sphere. Recently, we also reported the synthesis and reactivity of an iron diphosphine tucked-in complex, which showed metal-ligand cooperativity between Fe and the pentamethylcyclopentadienide ligand. I am now also pursuing the reactivity of this tucked-in complex further, hoping to eventually use it for catalysis. There is always so much chemistry to do! Feel free to reach out to me if you’d like to chat about research or graduate school!
Brady Austen (G2)
BSc Hons. University of Windsor
bausten@uwo.ca
Twitter: @AustenBrady
Ph.D. Student
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Recipient 
CIC AURIC Award Winner
NSERC PGS-D3 Recipient
​New Energy Research Prize Awardee

I started my research journey with the Drover lab in September 2020 right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was in the early stages of the Drover lab, and it has been such a great experience seeing this group grow and thrive. Originally, I’m from a small town called Tottenham, I came to Windsor to do my undergrad and getting my B.Sc. (Hons.). This is where my interest in organometallic chemistry began. During my Ph.D. here in the Drover lab I am perusing interesting Ni and Co metal complexes with incorporation of a Lewis acidic periphery. My goal is to elicit metal-ligand cooperativity as an aim towards small molecule activation, and to observe differences in reactivity with and without this Lewis acidic secondary coordination sphere. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions regarding our chemistry or graduate school!  
Mitchell Demchuk (G2)
BSc Hons. University of Windsor
mdemchu2@uwo.ca
Twitter: @DemchukMitchell
M.Sc. Student ​
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Recipient
NSERC CGS-M Recipient 

Hello, I'm Mitchell Demchuk, a second-year M.Sc. student in the Drover Lab at Western University. I embarked on my journey with Dr. Drover's research group as a third-year undergraduate at UWindsor, before proceeding to undertake a fourth-year honours thesis project. My research there focused on Iridium diphosphine complexes featuring a Lewis-acidic secondary coordination sphere. The stimulating atmosphere of our lab and my passion for synthetic organometallic chemistry prompted me join for a master's degree. I am currently engaged with research involving Iridium diphosphine complexes, among other exciting projects. In my free time, I enjoy in reading books, working out, watching shows, and contemplating life's intricacies. ​
Gabriel Jobin (G2)
BSc Hons. Wilfrid Laurier University
gjobin2@uwo.ca 
Twitter: @gabe_jobin
M.Sc. Student ​
CSC Silver Medal (Honours Chemistry and Math)
​
Hello! My name is Gabe, I moved to Windsor to start in the Drover lab in September 2022 and recently relocated to Western! I received my bachelor’s degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in Chemistry and Mathematics. I did my undergraduate research on coordination chemistry and crystallography under Dr. Louise Dawe. It was such an enjoyable experience, I decided to continue my educational journey. Outside of school, my interests include, movies, sports, and going for walks.
A. Dina Dilinaer (G1)
BSc Hons. University of Windsor 
adilinae@uwo.ca
Twitter: @DinaGheyret
Ph.D. Student
CSC Silver Medal (Honours Chemistry and Math)
Board of Governors Medal in Chemistry & Biochemistry
Going Above and Beyond in Research Award
Canadian Society for Chemistry Prize
Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Studentship
Outstanding Scholars Scholarship
 ​
Hi! My name is Dina and I am a first year PhD student in the Drover Group. I have completed my B.Sc. in Honours Chemistry with Thesis at the University of Windsor, and I was an organic chemist for 5 years. But, it’s never too late to try something new, so now I’m in the transition to become an inorganic/organometallic chemist! On my spare time I enjoy cooking, visual art, and trying new things/exploring.
Paola Noriega (RA)
BSc Hons. University of Windsor 
rnorieg@uwo.ca
Chemistry Research Associate

Hi, I’m Paola! I am the Drover Group’s first student, having reached out in 2019. Due to the pandemic, I took a break from online classes to expand my skills at Johnson & Johnson (Canada) for an 8-month co-op between 2021 and 2022. Upon returning to Windsor, I re-joined the now well-established lab, eager to complete my 4th year thesis with the group. I graduated with a B.Sc. Hons. in Biochemistry from the University of Windsor (2023). Given my time with the lab, I developed a great love and interest for organometallic chemistry. So, I followed my passion to Western University where I now work as a Research Assistant focused on functionalizing charged, borane secondary coordination spheres on different metal centres. If you can’t find me in the lab, I’m either taking NMR or out with friends.

UNDERGRADUATE TEAM members:

Connor Durfy (U4)
kdurfy@uwo.ca
Twitter: @ConnorDurfy
Chem 4491 Student

Hello! My name is Connor and I’m an honours thesis student in the Drover group as I complete the final year of my BSc. Hons. in Integrated Sciences with Chemistry at Western. I previously worked with the Drover group at the University of Windsor in the summer of 2022 thanks to the Inorganic Chemistry Exchange program. During the 2022-2023 academic year I completed a year-long internship at McCormick Canada. I hope to continue my organometallic pursuits into graduate school following the completion of my bachelor’s degree! When I’m not in the lab you’ll find me organizing events with chem club, hitting the library (for fun), or seeking out live music.
Kristen Perry (U4)
kperry33@uwo.ca
Twitter: @kristenzlp
Chem 4491 Student
​
Hi, I’m Kristen! I’m an honours thesis student in the Drover Group for the last year of my BSc Honours Specialization in Integrated Science with Chemistry. Between third and fourth year, I was completing two internships: eight months at Nortera Foods as a QA, then eight months at Sanofi Pasteur as part of the technical writing team. I’m very excited to be getting back into research and trying out organometallic chemistry for the first time! Outside of the lab, I love to binge TV shows, have paint nights with friends, and bake (it’s my stress relief hobby).

FORMER TEAM members:
​

Postdoctoral Researchers:
  • Dr. Moulika Bhattacharyya, 2020-2021​ (Publications: IC 2021 and DT 2021)
  • Dr. Pawan Kumar, 2022-2023
  • Dr. Suman Debnath, 2022-2023
  • Dr. Marissa Clapson, 2022-2024

Graduate Students:
  • Dante Conflitti, MSc Student, 2022​ Presently: UWindsor Engineering

Visiting Graduate Students:
  • Leah Webster, Imperial College (Chadwick Group), Summer 2022, MITACS UKRI Scholar

Research Associates:
  • Devon Facchinato, BSc Cornell,  2021-2022 Presently: UofT Medicine

Undergraduate Thesis Students:
  • Brady Austen, 2020 (Publications: DT 2021)
  • Mitchell Demchuk, 2021  (Publications: CC 2022 and EurJIC 2022)
  • Harvey Sharma, 2022 (Publications: OM 2022 and CEJ 2023)
  • Paola Noriega, 2022 (Publications: CEJ 2020)

Inorganic Chemistry Exchange Students:
  • Connor Durfy, 2022, Western University
  • Trisha Lanaque, 2023, University of Calgary
  • ​Connor White, 2023, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 

MITACS Globallink Students:
  • Salomé Luce, 2022, ESPCI
  • Nilarun Koley, 2023, IIT Bombay

Undergraduate Students:
  • Maeve Dufour, IGNITE Scholar, 2020-2021 (Publications: CEJ 2021, DT 2020, DT 2021, CEJ 2021) - Presently: Graduate Student, Western
  • Lindsay Lesperance-Nantau, IGNITE Scholar, 2020-2021 (Publications: CEJ 2020 and DT 2020) - Presently: Graduate Student in Carmichael Laboratory
  • Kyle Pearcy, Volunteer 2020 - Presently: Environmental Technician 
  • Paola Noriega, Volunteer 2019-2020 - Presently: RA Drover group (Publications: CEJ 2020)
  • Kasey Brown, Outstanding Scholar, 2019-2020 - Presently: B.Ed. Student (Publications:CC 2022 and IC 2023)
  • Connor Durfy (U4), Inorganic Chemistry Exchange Student, Summer 2022 Presently: Western 4491
  • ​Emily Addison, Summer Researcher 2023 - Presently: 4th Year Honours Student UWindsor w/ Tricia Carmichael
  • Harvey Sharma, 2021-2023 - Presently: Medical Researcher at Wayne State University 

POSITIONS

We are interested in working with driven and excited co-workers who have an interest in synthesis, including organic and inorganic chemistry. Individual projects will be tailored to the interests of students, but will involve the use of organotransition metal or main-group chemistry to develop molecules, whose properties can be leveraged for exciting and new science!

Please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail: marcus.drover@uwo.ca (for more information, please see my contact page). 


​Graduate students

We are always looking for interested graduate students at the M.Sc. or Ph.D. level of study. Candidates with research experience will be preferred. If interested, please e-mail Marcus a copy of your CV (including the names of 2 potential referees), a transcript (unofficial is OK), and a brief summary about yourself including interests. ​
NSERC (Canadian): http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/index_eng.asp
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS): http://www.uwindsor.ca/education/scholarships-awards/ogs
Mitacs (All): https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/accelerate
Mitacs (International): https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/globalink/globalink-graduate-fellowship
Vanier (All): http://www.vanier.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html
Fullbright (American): http://www.fulbright.ca/programs/american-students.html

​
​underGraduate students

NSERC USRA: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/UG-PC/USRA-BRPC_eng.asp
Windsor: Undergraduate Summer Research Scholarship: https://grad.uwo.ca/finances/external_funding/ogs.html​
ICE Program: https://www.ryerson.ca/ice/
RISE Program: http://www.risecanada.ca


​POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

Currently, we do not have funds to support PDFs. With that said, there are numerous opportunities for external funding. For appropriately credentialled individuals, Marcus would be happy to lend support for application development. Available avenues include:
NSERC PDF: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PD-NP/PDF-BP_eng.asp
Banting: http://banting.fellowships-bourses.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html
Mitacs (All): https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/accelerate#postdoc
Fullbright (American): http://www.fulbright.ca/programs/american-scholars.html