80 Pages. 8 Months. 16,754 Words.
It is done.
The people mentioned on this page deserve more than a few typed words gesturing my thanks. They have been invaluable in my development as a student, a scientist, and a person. Without them this thesis project would not have been possible and I am truly grateful and humbled by their presence in my life.
First and foremost I would like to thank Dr. James W. Gauld for giving me the opportunity to research. It was his support and confidence in me that spurred my passion to excel despite my subpar undergraduate academic performance. It is his belief that a persons’ scientific ability is more than just their GPA, and because of this I have found, with certainty, what I want to do for the rest of my life as a career.
I wish to extend my gratitude to the Gauld group. To Dan and Erum for accompanying me on this journey. To Hisham for his ability to keep people on track when it gets too rowdy. To Bogdan for his expanded vocabulary and organizational skills. To Rami for his supreme knowledge of undergraduate textbooks. To Grant for his manliness and humour. And to Eric who has been my direct mentor and guide through the world of computational chemistry. I have never met someone so capable, so intelligent, and so willing to help others as Eric Bushnell. The entire group has never hesitated in helping me and for that I am grateful.
I would like to thank Dr. Charles Macdonald for devoting his valuable time to reading my thesis and Dr. Rob Schurko for his efforts in organizing the undergraduate seminars this year as well as his babysitting us at SOUSCC.
I would like to acknowledge my friends in chemistry: Paul, Hi, Hyder, Manar, Jake, Jess, Tina, and countless others. I am so grateful for meeting these people and I am astonished at how close we have all grown to become.
I would like to express thanks to my family. To my parents Art and Joy, who have sacrificed so much to provide a better life for my sister and me. It was their love and stern support that has shaped me into the person I am today. I would like to thank my girlfriend Olivia, she has kept me sane. It is her support and love that motivated me. Finally, I would like to dedicate the entirety of my work to my little sister Liana who I see as having so much potential to improve this world. I hope to be an example she can live up to and a brother she can be proud of.