As the 2025 Awards Ceremony at the Department of Chemistry approaches, we asked recipients of a newly created scholarship to share a little about themselves and their educational journeys.
The Marlene and Erich G. Polzin Scholarship in Chemistry is awarded to one or more Black or Indigenous (Aboriginal, First Nations, Inuit and Métis) students in the Department of Chemistry, on the basis of academic merit and/or financial need. The award is for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Marlene and Erich G. Polzin came from Germany to Toronto, where Erich attended the U of T and received an undergraduate degree from the Department of Chemistry. He went on to have a long career as a research chemist with Gulf Oil. A bequest in memory of the couple was made from Marlene Polzin’s estate to Chemistry’s Departmental Trust, and the first recipients of the awards are Maryama Mohamed and Anastasia Charlery in the graduate category, and Iman Sadiku and Bebe Simelane in the undergraduate category.
The students will receive the Marlene and Erich G. Polzin Scholarship in Chemistry at the Chemistry Department Awards Ceremony on May 27th, 2025. Here's what three of the recipients had to say about school, U of T, and their experiences at Chemistry:
Hello, my name is Maryama Mohamed. I am currently a third-year PhD student in the Department of Chemistry in the area of biological chemistry. I am honored to have been selected as a recipient of the Marlene and Erich G. Polzin Scholarship in Chemistry.
Which research group are you in? What are you working on?
I am a graduate student in the Houry group, which focuses on investigating the principles of protein homeostasis within cells. My research focuses on unraveling the functional role of a molecular chaperone complex known as R2TP. R2TP is essential in processes including transcription and DNA repair, and has direct implications in diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
What unique perspectives do you bring to UofT and chemistry as a recipient of this scholarship?
My research sits at the intersection of medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, and cell biology and experiences in these subdisciplines allow me to approach scientific problems from multiple angles. Additionally, my involvement in community outreach in STEM research has allowed me to inspire others and bridge fundamental science to practical applications.
Do you think receiving this scholarship will impact your academic and/or professional goals? How?
Receiving this scholarship will allow me to fully focus on my research. Additionally, it will support my commitment to continue to strive to contribute to disease relevant research and accelerate my progress.
What motivates you to continue striving for excellence in your studies and research?
I am motivated to continue striving for excellence in my studies and research since my research can one day have meaningful implications in people's lives. Support from my family, peers, and supervisor continues to push me and inspires me to aim higher.
My involvement in community outreach in STEM research has allowed me to inspire others and bridge fundamental science to practical applications --Maryama Mohamed.
Hi! My name is Iman Sadiku. I’m in my second year as a double major in Chemistry and Philosophy. I’ve just finished up my semester abroad at King’s College London, and am excited to return to work on my independent project funded by the Undergraduate Research Fund, focusing on epistemic bubbles in medical education. Outside of my studies, I love baking, pottery, and traveling with friends.
Home Campus: St George
College: New College
Year: 2nd, Area of Chemistry: General Chemistry Major
What inspired you to study chemistry?
This might sound a bit silly, but my initial interest in chemistry came from watching tv shows where the main character would make these giant colorful explosions in chemistry class. I just remember thinking “That is so cool, I would love to do that as a job”. I later realized that most chemists aren’t making elephant toothpaste in the lab, but my passion for chemistry stuck. I’d say that the area of chemistry i’m most interested in at the moment is physical chemistry. I find it very versatile and applicable in so many areas of life. Everything from food science, to cosmetics production can be explained through fascinating webs of chemical reactions and interactions.
What unique perspectives do you bring to UofT and chemistry as a recipient of this scholarship?
As a student majoring in both Chemistry and Philosophy, I have a unique perspective on my approach to scientific learning. I want to find and share the intersections between the social and natural sciences. I also approach my learning in chemistry with a very application-focused mindset. A lot of my philosophy courses focus on knowledge and how it can be used to bridge barriers between people and improve lives. Chemistry underpins so much of the development in medicine, technology, and industry. Focusing chemistry research on the people and communities that are in most need is so vital.
Do you think receiving this scholarship will impact your academic and/or professional goals?
Receiving this scholarship will definitely reduce my financial strain, allowing me to engage more actively in my education and take advantage of the many opportunities that UofT has to offer. I’m most excited to apply for the various summer research programs available within the chemistry department. I also hope receiving this scholarship will allow me to make further connections in the UofT chemistry community, particularly with other POC students and faculty.
What motivates you to continue striving for excellence in your studies and research?
As a Black muslim student, and the child of Nigerian immigrants, I know that I represent a minority in most spaces at UofT. I hope that my successes help to inspire and uplift others in my community, and show that no matter where you come from, there will always be a place for you in academia. I want to be the positive representation in this field that I didn’t see much growing up.
As a Black muslim student, and the child of Nigerian immigrants, I know that I represent a minority in most spaces at UofT. I hope that my successes help to inspire and uplift others in my community, and show that no matter where you come from, there will always be a place for you in academia. --Iman Sadiku
Hello there! My name is Belusi Simelane, though most call me Bebe. I am a South African/Swati international student entering my fourth year in the upcoming fall/winter session. As a Pharmaceutical Chemistry Specialist and Pharmacology major, I have pursued an interest in drug action and development at the intersection of chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and molecular biology. The past three years have given me the privilege of exploring chemistry (the loves and not-so-likes!) while being a young adult in a foreign country. Recently, I joined the Corson Lab group in the Winter semester of 2025, and I am currently continuing my research exploring therapeutic interventions for neovascular eye diseases as a USRP student in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Chemistry still finds me beyond the classroom. I find a source of joy interacting with people as reflected in my role as a Chemistry Second-year Learning Community Peer mentor for 2024-2025, participant in the 2025 Chemistry Scholar’s Day and being an active member of the New College community.
Home campus: St. George
College: New College
Year: Fourth year (completed Third year in past Fall/winter 2024-25 session)
Area of Chemistry: Pharmaceutical Chemistry, with a focus in Pharmacology and molecular-level mechanisms.
Is there a specific area of chemistry you are most passionate about?
Since high school, I have deeply respected the integrative nature of this science. What was once distilled as the pursuit of either physics, chemistry, or biology in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (where I only took chemistry!), being at this university has expanded my knowledge and understanding of the applications of this discipline and the pursuit of science. My purpose for joining this department has not only been fulfilled but exceeded: exploring the scope of chemistry. Having 8 different specialist programs along with the major, minor and focuses, I wanted to learn what branches of chemistry pertain to the medical sciences and particularly therapeutic interventions for autoimmune and immunocompromising diseases.
If asked, I would choose the Pharmaceutical Chemistry program all over again as it thoroughly demonstrates the role of chemistry and more, such as regulatory considerations, formulation science and increasing employment of technology, in the drug discovery and development pipeline. This past year has helped define where my passion lies and what that may mean in my future. Translational research is becoming more apparent in turning medical or research-related observations into potential interventions to improve patient life and expand the pharmaceutical landscape.
What can you tell us about the unique perspective you bring to UofT and Chemistry?
As a student from South Africa, my perspective is shaped by living within healthcare systems marked by both resilience and inequity. My immediate priority is contributing toward research and youth engagement across African countries - grounded in the belief that scientific innovation must increase its inclusion of the continent. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 revealed two things to me: first, that South Africa holds a meaningful voice in global scientific conversations; and second, that there remains an urgent need for a more robust and equitable healthcare system across the continent.
Coming from a region where public and private healthcare systems often exist in stark contrast, I’ve become aware of the social implications of science — particularly how chemistry and pharmaceutical research should be harnessed to drive stronger, more inclusive health outcomes that reach and reflect in underrepresented populations. I believe these fields should sit at the heart of building solutions that address our most pressing health challenges.
Studying in a country like Canada, I carry a sense of responsibility — not only to develop my technical expertise, but to also use that knowledge to encourage innovation and foster health equity in my home country and beyond. I hope to bring to UofT a globally-conscious mindset, shaped by both the resilience of African communities and a belief in chemistry’s potential to tackle diseases that lack definitive cures but continue to burden lives and global systems.
Do you think receiving this scholarship will impact your academic and/or professional goals?
The clear merit in receiving this scholarship is the support it has provided me to pursue research both currently and beyond graduation. However, for me more personally, this scholarship has reinforced the belief that I am capable of striving towards making tangible contributions towards scientific communities.
I am but one person, but to represent the quality of scholarship this department houses brings immeasurable pride in having chosen the University of Toronto and learning from the outstanding faculty and staff we have. By engaging in research, this scholarship is allowing me to recognise whether I belong on the bench, and even further, building curiosity towards what being a senior scientist and even clinician scientist could be (ask me in another 10 years!) at the intersection of chemistry, pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences.
What motivates you to continue striving for excellence?
Knowing that there will be future BIPOC students who will be in the same room and spaces as I have had the privilege to experience and learn from, while learning how to find confidence in claiming the identity of scientist – the ability to take up space in STEM as a whole. Excellence is only as bright as the path it luminates and the people who you can share it with, so I’ll continue to engage with those that I can learn from, grow with, and strive to create new learning opportunities and impact within the previous communities I’ve learnt from and those I am yet to enter.
As a student from South Africa, my perspective is shaped by living within healthcare systems marked by both resilience and inequity. My immediate priority is contributing toward research and youth engagement across African countries - grounded in the belief that scientific innovation must increase its inclusion of the continent. --Bebe Simelane