The Department of Chemistry is celebrating with two graduate students who have been named Vanier Scholars for their work at the U of T.
Named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the first francophone Governor General of Canada, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program considers academic potential, research potential and leadership when evaluating candidates.
“These researchers aren’t just imagining the future—they’re building it,” The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, said in remarks made at the research awards announcement. "Their work covers topics such as pandemic readiness and cutting-edge technology, and it reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to driving innovation, strengthening the economy and tackling the challenges that matter most to Canadians.”
Mikhail Andreevich Nazarov is a member of Professor Gilbert Walker’s lab group, where he works on improving electrolyte composition and cycling rate of lithium-ion batteries by varying cathode materials to form a better anode solid electrolyte interface: conductivity and mechanical analysis using a novel microscopy.
“Mikhail is an amazing innovator of new techniques in scanned probe microscopy and rational design of materials interfaces for energy applications,” said Walker. “He already has a deep record of publications and is a truly exceptional teacher in the classroom and in lab.”
Anita Hu received support for her research in optimizing peptoids for stable drug delivery, work carried out with Professor Helen Tran.
Prof. Tran said that, like many UofT graduate students, Hu is exceptional. "What makes her stand out is her bright enthusiasm for diving deep into new research questions without hesitation. I was particularly impressed by her publication record, which highlights her ability to conduct independent research at a high caliber, as well as her dedication to service to the scientific community.”
Chemistry Stories caught up with both of our new Vanier Scholars recently, looking for the inside track on their research, academic journey and perspective on a researcher's life at the university.
Mikhail Andreevich Nazarov
I am deeply honoured to receive the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. This recognition means a great deal to me—not only as a validation of the years I’ve spent immersed in research, but as a chance to fully focus on building scientific tools and uncovering hidden structure in materials. The award provides motivation to continue working hard—and it opens new doors for my future in academia.
My work in Prof. Gilbert Walker’s lab focuses on Pulsed Force Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (PF-KPFM), an advanced technique for mapping nanoscale electrical and mechanical properties. With Vanier’s support, I will apply this method to study the solid–electrolyte interphase (SEI) in lithium-ion batteries—a critical but understudied component for battery safety and efficiency. I’m also working on modernizing the technique itself, with the aim of patenting an improved setup.
I joined U of T after graduating with honours from Lomonosov Moscow State University. The decision to leave Russia was shaped by both scientific and personal reasons—including my commitment to academic freedom and democratic values. I’m grateful to now be part of a research community that supports open inquiry and international collaboration. Recently, I co-authored a PF-KPFM tutorial in Langmuir and a biosensing paper with the Thompson Group in Biosensors. I am also completing a review on PF-KPFM applications and finalizing a study on conductive block copolymers.
This award would not have been possible without the support of many people. I am especially grateful to Prof. Gilbert Walker, whose mentorship has been transformative—his guidance, trust, and vision have shaped both my science and my development as a scholar. I also want to thank my wife, Elizaveta Gusarova, a fellow PhD student at U of T, for her constant support and encouragement. I deeply thank my parents and sister, whose care, help, and faith in me sustained me through every step. I am also sincerely grateful to the faculty, administration, application consultants, and all of my referees in Canada, Russia, and France—your efforts were instrumental in this achievement.
Anita Hu
I am incredibly honoured to have received the 2025 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship award. I’m still learning each day how to be a better student and scientist, and this acknowledgement of my learning and growth means very much to me.
Joining Chemistry at UofT and Prof. Helen Tran’s lab, I aim to study the role of sequence-defined, peptide-mimicking structures, known as peptoids, as stabilizing coatings for drug delivery nanostructures--namely, DNA origami. I will be working alongside collaborators in Prof. Leo Chou’s lab in Biomedical Engineering to study the coating effects.
I hope that my bio-inspired polymer research can positively contribute to current innovations in drug delivery while also building a foundation for my future career in which I hope to bridge gaps between science and medicine. As a student in the MD-PhD program at UofT, I am constantly thinking about how current standards of patient care can inform scientific studies—and vice versa.
I am thankful that this award can support my research journey and realize the potential that this work can have in the future. I am forever grateful for my community of peers, mentors, friends, and family who inspire and push me to be as creative, thoughtful, and determined as I can be.