This is a seminar course that includes a wide range of disciplines including polymer chemistry, polymer physics, materials chemistry, nanomaterials, physical chemistry, engineering, analytical chemistry, biomaterials, and so on. The series comprises the largest number of research groups of all departmental seminars since we have the largest number of cross-appointed faculty within our community. This presents several opportunities and challenges regarding the colloquia of invited speakers and seminars of your peers that you will attend, as well as seminar you will prepare! To help you gain skills, a tutorial led by the course coordinator and guests will provide guidelines and examples.

This is the core course for new graduate students in environmental chemistry, and provides an introduction/refresher to concepts from physical, analytical and organic chemistry and their application to the environment. It also provides you with the background to better understand the research of your peers and colleagues. Topics include: Introduction to the physical environment and relevant timescales, chemical kinetics, photochemistry, gas and aqueous phase reaction mechanisms, chemical thermodynamics, phase partitioning, sorption of organic contaminants to soils and sediments, analytical methods of characterization.

To encourage students to consider how they can utilize traditional and emerging analytical techniques synergistically and design new analytical approaches to address the role of complex systems in the environment. Emphasis will be place on NMR spectroscopy and hyphenated NMR spectroscopy. It will introduce the environmental applications of NMR spectroscopy, hyphenated NMR, imaging and related computation techniques (prediction,simulation, elucidation), such that students have a basic grasp of the subjects, and can relate the potential of the approaches to their own research. The emphasis will be on environmental and biological applications. Theory will be explained such that students can fully grasp cutting edge applications. However, the course will place emphasis on accessibility such that students without a strong NMR background are comfortable in the class. The class will include a full recap of NMR practice and theory to give everyone an equal footing.

This course seeks to produce analysts with a basic conceptual understanding of a broad range of modern analytical equipment and data analysis strategies relevant to trace environmental analysis. The lab component is designed to provide practical knowledge of sample collection and analysis, as well as data interpretation and visualization involved in environmental analysis.

This course considers the processes that control the chemical composition of the atmosphere. We focus on the basic chemistry of stratospheric ozone depletion, tropospheric oxidation processes, urban air pollution, and acid rain, and then move into more advanced topics such as chemistry-climate coupling, aerosol chemistry, and the role of the biosphere. Emphasis will be given to new research findings, by discussing recent papers from the literature and listening to research seminars.

This course will explore advanced topics in the structure and environmental reactivity of soils and sediments. Students will gain an appreciation for application of thermodynamic principals to open, natural systems. The structure, characterization, and analytical research methods for the mineral and non-living organic fractions in soils and sediments will be covered in detail.

This course will give an introduction to quantitative approaches to describing the behaviour of organic chemicals in the environment. Building upon a quantitative treatment of equilibrium partitioning and kinetically controlled transfer processes of organic compounds between gaseous, liquid and solid phases of environmental significance, it will be shown how to build, use, and evaluate simulation models of organic chemical fate in the environment. The course will provide hands-on experience with a variety of such models.

This is an advanced topics seminar course on atmospheric chemistry. We will cover different topics each week, including kinetics, cloud activation, experimental methods, partitioning, deposition, and meteorology. Through lectures, assigned readings and student-led discussions, this course will address several issues of current concern in atmospheric chemistry. The specific topics will vary by year and instructor, but could include heterogeneous chemistry, unimolecular and 3-body reactions, particle formation and growth, chemistry-climate interactions and inclusion of chemistry in atmospheric dynamical models.

The aim of this course is to introduce a variety of areas of mathematics and their applications in Physical Chemistry. The course will be at a level appropriate to a beginning graduate student in chemistry who has taken two years of undergraduate mathematics courses. The course will develop fundamental concepts taken from complex variables, methods for the solution of ordinary differential equations, and partial differential equations. Throughout the course, we illustrate utility of the concepts to various spectroscopies, including electronic and optical. An introduction to the required physical concepts in electronics and optics will be developed as needed.

Elements of group theory and its applications to quantum mechanics, potential scattering, formal scattering theory, and second quantization.

Selected topics of current research interest in Chemical Physics not covered in the core curriculum.

This course will be a comprehensive introduction to the emerging new field of quantum information processing, with particular emphasis on quantum computation and the theory of quantum information. The course will be at a level appropriate to an advanced graduate student in chemistry or physics who has taken graduate level quantum mechanics. Topics to be covered include superdense coding and teleportation, the abstract properties of quantum computers (qubits, universal computation), quantum algorithms (factoring, database search, simulating physical systems), physical realizations of quantum computers (trapped ions, NMR, quantum dots, cavity QED, trapped atoms), the theory of open quantum systems (decoherence, Lindblad equation), quantum error correction (stabilizer codes, decoherence-free subspaces, symmetrization), formal aspects of quantum information theory (measures of entanglement, quantum communication complexity).

An introduction to mathematical modelling of complex biological systems. The primary focus will be on sets of chemical reactions arising in biological contexts (for example, in gene regulation). Such sets of coupled reactions give rise to mathematical models that display nonlinear and stochastic behaviour. The course will provide a survey and practical introduction to the mathematical techniques used in modelling, simulating, and analyzing such systems, including nonlinear dynamics as well as Monte Carlo and other simulation techniques for stochastic systems. Although examples will be drawn mainly from biochemical systems, the techniques discussed will be applicable to many systems in physics, chemistry, and biology. The course will be presented in a self-contained and pragmatic manner aimed at providing an applied introduction to these mathematical techniques to a potentially interdisciplinary audience.

This is an advanced, continuously updated research-oriented course for students with interests in computational and theoretical chemistry/physics/materials. Prerequisites include undergraduate knowledge in terms of: statistical mechanics, computer programming, quantum mechanics, applied math (linear algebra, differential equations), and atomistic simulation.

This course provides an introduction to scan probe microscopy (SPM). Scanning tunneling microscopy, molecular (atomic) force and near-field scanning optical microscopy will be covered. The course will cover a broad range of topics, including theory behind tunneling from metals and through organic layers, contact mechanics, the molecular basis of adhesion, single molecule mechanics, basic principles of nanophotonics, experimental considerations in implementing and using SPM, and applications to imaging and spectroscopy. Applications to both synthetic and biological materials will be considered.

The goal of this course is to introduce the basics of computational quantum chemistry, specifically the density functional theory (DFT), and high-performance computing to students with primarily experimental background. It aims to provide students with the necessary computational background and hands-on experience in running DFT calculations to complement their ongoing lab-based research projects. The course will cover organic molecules and periodic inorganic systems, calculations for geometry relaxation, formation energies, and electronic structure, and will cover the tools to run and analyze the results. It will discuss the main numerical methods used, as well as the capabilities and limitations of DFT.

Fundamentals of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy including classical and quantum descriptions, NMR parameters and relaxation times, product operators, multi-dimensional NMR, and solid-state techniques. On successful completion of the course, students will be able to: 1) Understand fundamental concepts in NMR spectroscopy. 2) Describe spin dynamics using both classical and quantum descriptions. 3) Gain experience in data processing and analysis using software packages. 4) Understand theoretical and practical aspects of multidimensional NMR. 5) Describe fundamentals mechanisms of spin relaxation and molecular dynamics. 6) Appreciate and describe modern methods and applications of NMR spectroscopy.

This course covers the basic principles involved in simulating chemical and physical systems in the condensed phase. Simulations are a means to evaluate equilibrium properties such free energies as well as dynamical properties such as transport coefficients and reaction rates. In addition, simulations allow one to gain insight into molecular mechanisms. After presenting the theoretical basis of Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations, particular attention is given to recent developments in this field. These include the hybrid Monte Carlo method, parallel tempering, and symplectic and other integration schemes for rigid, constrained, and unconstrained systems. Time permitting, techniques for simulating quantum systems and mixed quantum-classical systems are also discussed.

This core course in Quantum Mechanics covers the basic Hilbert space formulation of Quantum Mechanics as well as operator algebra, representations, the Heisenberg and Schrodinger pictures, and the von-Neumann equation for density matrix. The list of other topics is as follows. Basic formalism of quantum mechanics: time-independent and time-dependent pictures; variational, perturbational, and semi-classical approaches; symmetry, representation theory; identical particles, second quantization; different boundary conditions: open and periodic systems.

Equilibrium statistical mechanics with applications to molecular dynamics; an introduction to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Knowledge of the foundations of statistical mechanics and its application to gas phase and liquid phase; familiarity with computer molecular dynamics simulations; understanding the integration of statistical mechanics with classical thermodynamics and quantum mechanics; communication of scientific ideas and results; basic scientific programming.

A tailored course for advanced students with an interest in Experimental Physical Chemistry here in the department. To support your broader research ambitions, we will jointly pursue three aims: 1) develop and demonstrate your knowledge of the fundamentals of optics and light-matter interactions; 2) build, or extend, your familiarity with scientific writing and computational data analysis; 3) introduce you to selected topics in nonlinear, near-field, ultrafast, and quantum optics as they relate to experimental spectroscopy.

Selected topics of current research interest in Chemical Physics not covered in the core curriculum.

This course will provide a hands-on introduction to this subject using a combined guided and open-ended approach. In particular, the course will: 1) discuss important fundamental principles and techniques commonly used in experimental physical chemistry/chemical physics; 2) provide practice exercises (take-home kits with fundamental electro-optical components, an Arduino microcontroller, and an introduction to programming and data acquisition); and 3) provide guidance and an opportunity to design and conduct your own experiment. The course content will be split 50:50 between electronics and optics/experimental design, combining physical principles and experimental methods and apparatus to solve interesting and useful problems.

This seminar series provides graduate students with the opportunity to learn about contemporary research in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and hone their skills as scientific communicators. It also serves as a forum for MSc students to present their exit seminar, and for PhD students to present their research (typically in Years 2 and 4 of their program). Seminars will also be given by experts in the field on a range of associated topics. Students are also expected to attend Departmental Colloquia sponsored by faculty in Physical Chemistry or Chemical Physics. Relevant seminars and colloquia from other chemistry disciplines may occasionally be recommended. Training in the preparation and delivery of a research seminar will be provided.

This seminar series provides graduate students with the opportunity to learn about contemporary research in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and hone their skills as scientific communicators. It also serves as a forum for MSc students to present their exit seminar, and for PhD students to present their research (typically in Years 2 and 4 of their program). Seminars will also be given by experts in the field on a range of associated topics. Students are also expected to attend Departmental Colloquia sponsored by faculty in Physical Chemistry or Chemical Physics. Relevant seminars and colloquia from other chemistry disciplines may occasionally be recommended. Training in the preparation and delivery of a research seminar will be provided.

The seminar series offers an opportunity for graduate students to practice their presentation skills in a more formal setting, as well as providing a venue to learn from more senior speakers who are experts in various aspects of environmental chemistry. MSc students will present their exit seminar (typically in Year 2 of their program) and PhD students will present their research proposal as part of the breadth requirement (typically in Year 2 of their program). Students are also expected to attend environmental chemistry-themed Departmental Colloquia as part of this course.

The seminar series offers an opportunity for graduate students to practice their presentation skills in a more formal setting, as well as providing a venue to learn from more senior speakers who are experts in various aspects of environmental chemistry. MSc students will present their exit seminar (typically in Year 2 of their program) and PhD students will present their research proposal as part of the breadth requirement (typically in year 2 of their program). Students are also expected to attend environmental chemistry-themed Departmental Colloquia as part of this course.

The purpose is to call attention to a student's performance in research to the same extent that course work is reported on a transcript. The grade will have significant impact and supervisors are recommended to discuss the grade assigned with the student. The grade does not replace the required annual meeting and report of the advisory committee for PhD students. The grade should reflect the degree of progress and quality of performance with regard to the stage of the program of the student. Students in the program are graded twice a year. Students in the first year are generally evaluated at the end of their 8th month of registration and semi-annually after that.

The purpose is to call attention to a student's performance in research to the same extent that coursework is reported on a transcript. The grade will have significant impact and supervisors are recommended to discuss the grade assigned with the student. The grade does not replace the required annual meeting and report of the advisory committee for PhD students. The grade should reflect the degree of progress and quality of performance with regard to the stage of the program of the student. Students in the program are graded twice a year. Students in the first year are generally evaluated at the end of their 8th month of registration and semi-annually after that.

The purpose is to call attention to a student's performance in research to the same extent that coursework is reported on a transcript. The grade will have significant impact and supervisors are recommended to discuss the grade assigned with the student. The grade does not replace the required annual meeting and report of the advisory committee for PhD students. The grade should reflect the degree of progress and quality of performance with regard to the stage of the program of the student. Students in the program are graded twice a year. Students in the first year are generally evaluated at the end of their 8th month of registration and semi-annually after that.