Analytical-Environmental research at McGill entails a wide range of very exciting fundamental and applied research with focus on state-of-the-art instrumental development in spectroscopy imaging (Burns, Power), chemometric and analytical bio-spectroscopy (Burns), artificial intelligence (Salin), ultra trace sampling (Ariya, Burns, Salin), state-of-the-art atmospheric kinetics and photochemistry (Ariya), thermochemical, box and cloud modeling (Ariya), as well as the development and application of state-of-the-art numerical models of the chemistry of the regional and global atmosphere (Bourqui). Our collective research has direct implications in fields such as materials, environmental, and biomedical chemistry. Students in our division come from a wide variety of backgrounds and may end up in a range of different environments. The key to our successful graduate program is a solidly developed system for graduate education and evaluation targeted at setting the highest standards, while allowing a high degree of flexibility. In short, students are assigned the courses that will aid them in their research. These courses may be within the Chemistry Department, elsewhere in the University or at other universities, as needed. The division will assign graduate evaluation committees to all graduate students. The committee expertise is tailored to the specific research project, and the role of these committees is to provide strong advisory-mentoring support for the student's graduate career.

1. EVALUATION

Students are evaluated, monitored and guided by a committee set up during their first term in the department. The committee is set up by the division and consists of 3 or more people. The only fixed member of the committee will be the student's research director. All other persons will be selected to provide the mentoring needed for that particular student and project. This committee will monitor the Research Proposal and the annual presentations (CHEM-688 and CHEM-701) that are required of every student. This committee is also expected to provide the nucleus for the student's PhD evaluation committee.

2. COURSES

A typical plan for an Instrument Design/Analytical Program based on previous students is presented below:

Ph.D.:
CHEM-547 Laboratory Automation
CHEM-567 Chemometrics: Data Analysis
CHEM-597 Analytical Spectroscopy
CHEM-631D1 Selected Topics in Analytical Chemistry
CHEM-631D2 Selected Topics in Analytical Chemistry

M.Sc.:
CHEM-547 Laboratory Automation
CHEM-567 Chemometrics: Data Analysis
CHEM-597 Analytical Spectroscopy

An Environmental PhD (with an MSc) candidate typically takes 4 courses from the following list:

CHEM/ATOC-619 Advances in the chemistry of atmosphere
CHEM-575 Chemical Kinetics
EPSC-542 Chemical Oceanography
CHEM-597 Analytical Spectroscopy
ATOC-620 Physical Meteorology
ATOC-558 Numerical Methods and Laboratory
CHEM-631D1 Selected Topics in Analytical Chemistry
CHEM-631D2 Selected Topics in Analytical Chemistry

An Environmental MSc student would usually take:
CHEM/ATOC-619 Advances in the chemistry of atmosphere
CHEM-575 Chemical Kinetics

and one course from the following list:
EPSC-542 Chemical Oceanography
CHEM-597 Analytical Spectroscopy
ATOC-620 Physical Meteorology
ATOC-558 Numerical Methods and Laboratory

In addition, all chemistry students in their first year must take:
CHEM-650 Seminars in Chemistry 1
CHEM-651 Seminars in Chemistry 2