Quinn Halldorson is a 2022 Canada Student Merit Award winner. He achieved this award for obtaining the highest standing of his class in the fourth and final year of his degree. Here is a brief biography of the winner.
"My name is Quinn Halldorson, and I was born in Peace River, Alberta, but was mostly raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta. I enrolled in the University of Alberta Honors Chemistry program for the fall of 2017. I quickly fell in love with introductory organic chemistry in my second semester of university, and this encouraged me to continue with my chemistry education.
"I worked as a student intern at Defence Research and Development Canada, located in Suffield, Alberta, during the summer of 2018, where I got valuable laboratory experience synthesising organic compounds. During the summer of 2019, I participated in the Inorganic Chemistry Exchange program (ICE), which revolved around research at the University of British Columbia as part of the Curtis P Berlinguette research group, where I worked on creating adhesive moulds and testing their tensile properties.
"During my third year of university, I took a variety of chemistry courses, including two advanced organic chemistry courses. Furthermore, I also took a course called “Introduction to Industrial Chemistry – Chem 300” with Dr. Michael Serpe, where we gained insight through presentations from professional chemists from a variety of industries, as well as participated in a mock interview with members of Gilead Sciences in Edmonton. This mock interview encouraged me to apply to work at Gilead Sciences for a one-year term, and I was accepted for this internship.
"I gained valuable laboratory experience in the areas of process chemistry and analytical chemistry. In my final year of university, I participated in research in Dr. Gabriel Hanna’s research group, where I investigated the binding of small molecules in MOF frameworks.
"I was awarded the Gold Medal in Chemistry upon convocation, for the highest average for courses credited towards the degree. I am now currently working full time at Gilead Sciences, in the process chemistry department."
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