We are strongly committed to collectively creating an inclusive and welcoming group culture. We recognize that different perspectives and knowledge processing modes, which are both influenced by identification with particular groups (such as socioeconomic status, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture), allow us to effectively solve new and complex problems.
PI: Helen TraN
email: tran@utoronto.ca
My mentors encouraged me to think imaginatively beyond traditional ideas and to explore my scientific curiosities. This has sent me on great scientific adventures and life experiences that have shaped my outlook on research and mentorship. I think it is critical to foster a welcoming environment with varied perspectives to better generate ideas and unconventional approaches for research. I deeply appreciate my mentors’ efforts and hope to similarly impart scientific excitement and scholarship to others as they have to me. My goal is to train the next generation of scientists/engineers to tackle challenges in our society through different sectors (policy, industry, media, consulting, academia).
CURRENT TEAM
ANGELA LIN
Chemistry graduate student
angelasm.lin*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2020
B.S. University of British Columbia
AZALEA UVA
Chemistry graduate student
azalea.uva*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2020
B.S. Concordia University
JON BABI
Chemistry graduate student
jon.babi*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2020
B.S. University of Toronto
ABIGAIL CLAPPERTON
Chemistry graduate student
abigail.clapperton*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2021
B.S. University of Toronto
NATHAN HSU
Chemistry graduate student
nathan.hsu*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2022
B.S. Western University
SHINE HUANG
Chemistry graduate student
shine.huang*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2022
B.S. University of British Columbia
ANNA WATSON
Chemistry graduate student
anna.watson*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2022
M.S. and B.S. Carnegie Mellon
STANLEY LO
Chemistry graduate student
stanley.lo*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2022, co-advised w/ Aspuru-Guzik
B.S. University of Toronto
SOFIA MICHAILOVICH
Chemistry graduate student
sofia.michailovich*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2023
B.S. University of Toronto
OLIVIA MANN-DELANY
Chemistry graduate student
olivia.manndelany*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2023, co-advised w/ Landon Edgar
B.S. McMaster University
ADNAN SHARIF
Chemical Engineering graduate student
adnan.sharif*mail.utoronto.ca
started 2023
B.S. University of Toronto
LUCIA HUANG
CHM 499 undergraduate
started 2023, co-advised w/ Caitlin Maikawa
CHRISTINE HOOD
Chemistry graduate student
started 2024
M.S. and B.S. University of Guelph
ANITA HU
Chemistry MD-PhD student
started 2024
B.S. University of Windsor
FRANCIS BUGUIS
Postdoctoral Fellow
started 2024
PhD Western University (Joe Gilroy)
ISHRATH IRSHADEEN
Postdoctoral Fellow
started 2024
PhD Queensland University of Technology (Christopher Barner-Kowollik)
ALUMNI
KATIE ZHU
2020-21 CHM 499 undergraduate
After Team Tran: UCLA Chemistry PhD program
ISABELLA VETTESE
2021 summer NSERC USRA 2021
After Team Tran: McGill undergraduate, UChicago PhD program
HANA EL-HADDAD
2020-22 CHM 399 undergraduate
After Team Tran: UofT Morris group, EPFL PhD program
ATANG PELOEWETSE
2022-22 CHM 299 undergraduate
After Team Tran: DAAD RISE Germany
JASEMINE HANDJAYA
2021-22 CHM 499 undergraduate
After Team Tran: UBC Chemistry PhD program
KATYA MARIN VERA
MITACS Globalink Research Intern summer 2022
After Team Tran: Korea internship, Univ. of Edinburgh Masters program
ELOISE BESNIER
2022-23 Chemistry undergraduate
After Team Tran: MITACS Globalink Scholar in Seoul University
RENZO THAREF ARIAS SANCHEZ
2023 Research Technician
After Team Tran: University of Southampton medical school
SHAWN WANG
2023 Research Technician
After Team Tran: UofT MechE PhD program
SUSANNA WHITLOCK
Summer undergraduate research visiting from Imperial University
started 2023
After Team Tran: Imperial undergraduate
JERRY GU
2023-24 CHM 499 undergraduate
After Team Tran: Princeton Chemical Engineering PhD program
HOW WE RUN
How is the lab digitally organized?
Team Tran uses Airtable as a management platform to streamline onboarding processes, house group documents/procedures/catalogs (like a wiki page), track PhD projects/process, organize our First Fridays (lab clean up, safety theater, etc), and more! Events (e.g. group meetings, individual development plan meetings, seminars) are detailed on our shared group calendars. We communicate via email and slack. Group files are on OneDrive.
How often do you meet Helen?
We hold group meetings once a week. We hold subgroup meetings every two weeks for each topic (e.g., peptoids, conjugated polymers). Students schedule a 1:1 meeting with Helen every month as part of First Friday. As part of onboarding, new graduate students will meet with Helen 1:1 every week for approximately one semester. Helen holds several student drop-in hours in each week; this is a “open door” policy for students to stop by at their convenience. Students are welcome to schedule 1:1 meetings with Helen anytime as well!
How does Helen make sure I am on track?
Twice a year, all students will complete an Individualized Development Plan and meet with Helen to discuss. Helen will also fill out a form as a parting point for discussion. You can download a copy of the form here to get an idea of what is discussed.
Projects are always evolving!
I am not 100% sure what you will work on until closer to your start date. Keep in mind that research directions will also change throughout your PhD.
What will I learn in Team Tran?
My main job is to train you as a scientist who can solve problems, communicate your science, and work in a team. As you progress in your research project, you will learn how to use a variety of instrumentation, such as a robotic synthesizer, automated column purification system, and thermal evaporator to fabricate devices. You will also learn how to use Adobe Illustrator to prepare figures and Python to graph data.
WANT TO JOIN?
Due to the high volume of email inquiries, Helen is unable to respond to all emails! Apologies! I will be accepting 1-3 graduate students every year (masters/PhD), and all interested students must apply to the Department of Chemistry or Chemical Engineering at U of T.
Postdoctoral scholars
Prospective postdoctoral scholars should email Helen with a 1-page cover letter, CV, and a 5-slide presentation that summarizes your previous research accomplishments. Also, include contact information for three references. I expect to see evidence of scientific excellence, mentorship, and leadership explicitly in your cover letter and CV. Refer to the Royal Society resume template, specifically modules 1-4, for detailed ideas.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
In the subject line of the email, include “[Full postdoc application for U of T Team Tran Molecular Architects]”
Graduate Students
Admitted graduate students to the University of Toronto should directly email Helen. Prospective graduate students should apply to the University of Toronto, Department of Chemistry or Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Sciences.
Inquiries by email must include “[Prospective PhD for U of T Team Tran Molecular Architects]” in the subject line to be reviewed.
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students at the University of Toronto seeking research in a supportive and dynamic environment should email Helen with a statement of interest and CV. We encourage sophomore undergraduates to apply!
If you are an undergraduate at Wellesley University, please contact Prof. Rebecca Belisle.
