Catalyzing Chemistry interviewed materials chemist Alex Tomut about joining U of T Chemistry, the perils of specializing in simulations rather than hands-on experiments, and his experiences in the Voznyy group.
Alex Tomut
Area of Study: Polymers/Materials Chemistry
Campus: UTSC
Research Group: Clean Energy Lab (Voznyy Group)
Bio: I'll be specializing in Polymers & Materials, by joining the group of Prof. Voznyy. Being a theoretician, I closely collaborated with experimentalists in numerous projects. Because of this, I was always faced with a fairly common bump, which is that people who do simulations sometimes don’t understand the reason behind experiments (setup and outcome) as well as someone who has actually done them.
Therefore, I would like to bridge this gap, by designing and doing my own experiments, and running complementary simulations to aid with explanations to my findings. Developing and doing research in this group is exactly what I need, because the group specializes both in theory and experimental applications in the world of materials.
Joining U of T has been one of my greatest opportunities in my life, not only because it is an institution which gives me access to state-of-the-art equipment but also allows me to work on projects which are of high importance to the globe, learning directly from top scientist in their fields. Besides achieving my research goals during my PhD, I am also looking forward to forming bonds with like-minded people, in and out of my group, through the highly interdisciplinary environment that the GSAS is offering me.
What makes your sub-branch of chemistry most extraordinary or exciting?
Materials chemistry is especially incredible to me due to its multitude of applications around our lives. I am especially interested in heterogeneous catalysis, due to being one of the most applied techniques at large industrial scales. Think about the Haber-Bosch process, and how it allows us to synthesize more than 150 million metric tons of ammonia per year, which is essential to make fertilizers that make plants grow and feed the people. This is due to the use of metallic catalysts, together with the appropriate thermodynamic conditions, that allows us to make this unusual reaction (3H2 + N2 = 2NH3) happen. I would like to develop similar materials with applications in CO2 recovery and reutilization.
What is your favorite depiction of scientists or chemistry in a movie, book, or TV show? (Or one that was so wrong you cringed, if you have one!) What did they get right... or wrong?
I think the show that I cringed the most at due to its portrayal of scientists would have to be “The Big Bang Theory”. Although, it seems at first sight that it contains every type of scientists that can be found today in the labs, it really exaggerates these stereotypes, to make the series more funny. This in turn makes it more approachable to the general audience, but also at the same time it might make the show feel unrealistic for other scientists watching.
In the end, people have to remember that scientists are in almost every case ordinary humans, with average IQs and good social skills, that love to puzzle and discover new aspects of life and nature. Nevertheless, I loved that show and I can recommend it to anybody wanting to have a good laugh.
Joining UofT has been one of my greatest opportunities in my life, not only because it is an institution which gives me access to state-of-the-art equipment but also allows me to work on projects which are of high importance to the globe, learning directly from top scientist in their fields. --Alex Tomut