As our retreat planning unfolds, we are happy to begin introducing the talented individuals who will join us for this engaging 2-day program.

Our first panelist is an award winning Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory Director – Dr. Hayley Wan from the University of Alberta. Dr. Wan began her chemistry career at Manchester Metropolitan University, England, where she completed a B.Sc. in chemistry and biology. Discovering she favoured chemistry, she pursued a Master of Philosophy at the University of Manchester in the area of organic chemistry. This was followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in the group of Professor Andy Whiting at the University of Durham, where she studied water tolerant asymmetric catalysis of Diels-Alder reactions.

Upon graduation, she joined the group of Professor Fred West at the University of Alberta, Canada where she completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship. She then took a position with the National Research Council of Canada as a Technical Officer before returning to academia as a Research Associate in the area of lipid chemistry and bio-based materials.

In 2009, Dr. Wan joined the University of Alberta Chemistry Department as the Director of Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratories. Since then, her inspirational mentoring has affected thousands of undergraduate students and graduate teaching assistants. Her efforts have been recognized with several awards, including the Faculty of Science Service Award at the 2015 Celebration of Excellence in Teaching and Research and the Instructor of the Month award in April 2017.

In her spare time, Dr. Wan can be found in her art studio, embarking on various outdoor adventures, or taking off in her single engine fixed-wing aircraft.

Join us to hear more about her path to a career in chemistry on May 26 & 27, 2018!