Chemistry Stories interviewed Gabrielle Boyer this week as part of our Elements of Success series, which profiles undergraduates studying in the department. Gabrielle Boyer isn't your typical UofT undergraduate. She is a student at the Imperial College of London in the UK, and came to the U of T Chemistry Department on an exchange this summer, working as an environmental chemist in the Murphy Research Group.
Bio: Hello, I am Gabrielle, coming all the way from London (UK) to spend my summer in Toronto. Although I’ve lived my whole life in London, I’m actually French. I was nominated by my department at my home university, Imperial College London, to take part in an exchange program with the University of Toronto, which gave me the incredible opportunity to spend the summer conducting research in environmental chemistry in Canada. I am truly passionate about chemistry, and in particular environmental chemistry, so I was thrilled to combine research with the chance to explore a country I’ve always wanted to visit. When I get back to London, I will start my fourth and final year of my Chemistry with Molecular Physics degree, and I hope to continue with a PhD in environmental chemistry, in the UK or abroad, we will see!
My time at the University of Toronto has been one of the best experiences in my life, allowing me to gain many skills in and outside the lab. It has greatly increased my confidence, helping me become a more sociable and outgoing person.
How did you come to participate in the exchange with the University of Toronto?
This exchange was advertised within the Chemistry department at my home university in London, and even though the whole experience felt intimidating and overwhelming, I still applied as it would allow me to work in a subject I am passionate about in a country I have always wanted to visit to visit, so I felt like I had to give it try.
At first, I hesitated to apply to the exchange program as it felt very daunting, but I still did because it felt like an opportunity I couldn’t refuse, and I haven’t regretted this decision a single time. So if you are also offered an opportunity that pushes you outside your comfort zone, I encourage you to go for it. It might challenge you in unexpected ways, but it could also lead to one of the best experiences in your life.
After I was selected, I was asked to nominate supervisors with whom I wanted to work, and I picked supervisors in environmental and analytical chemistry as these areas as those I am most interested in. This is how I came to work as part of the Murphy group over the summer!
Did coming to Canada pose any challenges, or surprise you in any way?
This trip to Canada was my first solo trip, and even though Imperial College provided great support and guidance to plan it, I still had to apply for the study permit and organise the trip by myself, which I had never done before. Thankfully, everything worked out great, which gives me more confidence to plan other solo trips in the future.
The most challenging part of the trip was definitely the first few days when I had to settle in. I had to find ways to navigate the city to buy household essentials without Internet as I didn’t have a Canadian sim card yet. I got lost a few times but always found my way home eventually. It also took me a few days to adapt to right-handed driving and taxes not being included in prices, but overall I adapted quite well and enjoyed getting to know this new environment.
What did you miss most while you were here?
One of the first things I noticed I missed was my weekly routine. Back in London, I was used to having quite a regular weekly routine, usually seeing my friends on Wednesdays and Fridays, having sport trainings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays… but this change encouraged me to find new ways to spend my evenings, which led me to joining student societies within UofT and to walking around the city quite a lot, discovering plenty of hidden gems and cute little shops.
I also missed my friends and my family, but I kept close contact with them, sending postcards regularly and calling when we could find the time, which was not always easy due to the time difference.
How did you first become interested in studying chemistry? Did this exchange change your focus at all?
I’ve always had an interest in science in general, but I became really passionate about chemistry when I started doing lab experiments in year 11 (15-16 years old). When I realised that doing chemical experiments could be my job, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I loved how experiments allowed me to learn more on a system or a process without seeing what was happening at the molecular scale. I felt like chemistry allowed me to elucidate the mystery around the secret lives of molecules, and I loved that aspect of the science.
Doing research in environmental chemistry over the summer confirmed that I want to a PhD in environmental chemistry and pursue a career in research in this area. This project showed me how fascinating and interesting chemistry in the environment is, and I want to learn more about the processes occurring around us.
You participated in the recent Chemistry Department poster session. What was your topic?
My poster covered what I had been working on during my placement. The aim of the project at first was to determine the rate constant of oxidation of an amine to compare our result to results in literature. Amines in atmosphere influence particle and aerosol formation, which impact human health, the climate and the environment, therefore understanding their behaviour in the environment better is important. However this project revealed to be more complex than we first anticipated, so we took a different direction halfway through my placement. We then tried to find ways to increase the rate of amine oxidation, to be able to run experiments quicker. We got successful results for this second part, using a new method allowing to run the reactions close to six times quicker. Further research on this method is still necessary, but it is promising!
What’s next for your educational journey?
I will start my fourth and final year in October, therefore hoping to graduate with a master’s in Chemistry with Molecular Physics in a year. I will be doing my master’s research project on ultrafast spectroscopy of electron dynamics in electronic organic devices, so not environmental chemistry, but more on the analytical and physical side of chemistry. I am planning to do a PhD in environmental chemistry after I finish my degree, in the UK or maybe abroad depending on the opportunities I get.
What would you tell your fellow ICL students considering this travel program?
Go for it! I had a great time doing this project abroad, and I gained numerous new skills, in and out of the lab. This experience has helped me gain more confidence. I felt I was much more out-going and sociable by the end of the exchange. It is also an amazing way to discover Canada, and Toronto is a lovely multicultural and vibrant city, a great place to spend a summer. This exchange program is much more than just studying in a different country, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. The skills you will gain go far beyond the lab, and if this doesn't convince you, I hope the lifetime memories of all the great experiences you’ll live and friends you’ll make will.
If you are also offered an opportunity that pushes you outside your comfort zone, I encourage you to go for it. It might challenge you in unexpected ways, but it could also lead to one of the best experiences in your life. -Gabrielle Boyer