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Research Team

Graduate Students

Christele Ladores

Christele Ladores

MSc Candidate

  • BSc Biomedical Sciences, Toronto Metropolitan University (2023)

Christele previously did her undergraduate thesis on reproducing sulfonamide-based quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) on cotton, which complemented Liam's project. Under Dr. Hausner's co-supervision, she will expand her horizons by finding evidence that QACs degrade and fragment bacterial genetic material. Her master's project aims to investigate three research foci: biocidal persistence for effective biofilm reduction, horizontal gene transfer mitigation, and the potential for it to be a universal antimicrobial - wouldn't that be the dream? In her free time, Christele enjoys watching action movies and listening to podcasts.

christele.ladores@torontomu.ca

Garabed Baboghli

Garabed Baboghli

MSc Candidate

  • BSc Chemistry Co-op, Toronto Metropolitan University (2024)

Garry graduated from the chemistry co-op program at Toronto Metropolitan University and completed 1 year of co-op work at LANXESS. For his master's studies, he will be working towards synthesizing novel TPED derivatives with different functional groups to use as initiators in epoxy resin applications under the co-supervision of Dr. Heyd. Garry can speak 4 languages.

garabed.baboghli@torontomu.ca

Wilson Digby

Wilson Digby

MSc Candidate

  • BSc Chemistry Co-op, Toronto Metropolitan University (2025)

Wilson first joined the Foucher group in early 2024 to synthesize polyferrocenylsilanes. Since then he has continued working with the group as an undergraduate thesis student and is now a masters student working on the synthesis of novel pincer ligands for polystannanes. Outside of the lab, Wilson likes to engage in hobbies such as creative writing, pondering philosophy, or finding new ways to use his creative abilities.

wilson.digby@torontomu.ca

Hamza Malik

Hamza Malik

MSc Candidate

  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2025)
Hamza was a former undergraduate thesis student co-supervised with Dr. Foucher and Dr. Sacripante, where his work involved the methylation and acetylation of alginic acid to improve its mechanical properties to use in plastic food packaging. As a masters student, he will expand upon this work by tailoring various alginates for vitrimer systems. In his free time, you can find Hamza working out or playing video games.

hamza.malik@torontomu.ca

Aidan Piatelli

Aidan Piattelli

MSc Candidate

  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2025)

Aidan first worked with the Foucher and Sacripante groups on chitosan-based bioplastics for film packaging. He expanded his chemistry knowledge by working as a research assistant with the Heyd group on optimizing epoxy formulations. As a master's student, he will now be working on synthesizing vitrimers for medical applications in collaboration with Dr. Bougherara. Aidan can fix anything you give him.

aidan.piattelli@torontomu.ca

Undergraduate Thesis Students

Findlay Murray
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2026)

Findlay is an undergraduate thesis student working towards synthesizing a silane compound containing pincer ligands as an analogue to Wilson's stannane pincer complex. Findlay is on the wrestling team.

george.murray@torontomu.ca

Principal Investigator

Dr. Daniel Foucher

Dr. Daniel Foucher

Professor

  • PhD Chemistry, University of Toronto (1994)
  • MSc Chemistry, Queen's University (1990)
  • BSc Chemistry, Queen's University (1987) 

Awards: 2018 Dean's Service Award (Department of Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science)

  • 75+ Publications
  • 51+ Issued US Patents
  • 15+ US Patent Applications

Daniel Foucher completed his undergraduate degree at Queen's University in 1987 and joined the Macartney group later that same year as a masters student. His master’s thesis, completed in 1990, focused on the ligand substitution and electron transfer reactions of pentacyanoferrate-ligand complexes. He joined Ian Manners at the University of Toronto that same year for doctoral studies, and his PhD dissertation involved two research foci: the first was the preparation and polymerization behaviour of novel strained borasiloxane monomers, and the second was the synthesis and thermal polymerization behaviour of strained ferrocenylsilanes and ferrocenylgermane systems. The latter project was the first example of electrochemically active, tuneable, soluble high molecular weight film forming organometallic polymers. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1994 and spent an additional year of postdoctoral studies with the Manners group before joining the Xerox Research Centre of Canada in 1995 as a research scientist. At Xerox, he worked on water dispersible sulphonated polyester resins for emulsion aggregation toners, low cost polyester resins, and photopolymerizable polymers as masks for inkjet printheads. After leaving Xerox in 2001, he joined the Yazaki Technical Centre in California, working on matched refractive index UV curable coatings for fiber optic networks. He returned to Canada in 2003, taking the position as an R&D and Quality Control Manager at Chemque, a specialty urethane manufacturer. In late 2007, he returned to academia as an assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and was tenured in 2010. His current research is focused on the preparation of light and moisture stable polystannanes as well as self-assembled quaternary ammonium and phosphonium materials as antimicrobial agents. 

Email: daniel.foucher@torontomu.ca

Foucher Group Alumni

Graduate

Rachele Carafa

Rachele Carafa

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Graduate
  • PhD Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2025)*
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2021)**
  • BSc Chemistry Co-op, Toronto Metropolitan University (2019)

*Co-supervised with Dr. Guerino Sacripante

**Co-supervised with Dr. Andrew McWilliams

rachele.carafa@torontomu.ca

 

Anthony Fasulo

Anthony Fasulo

Master of Science Graduate

  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2025)*
  • BSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Trent University (2021)

anthony.fasulo@torontomu.ca

*Co-supervised with Dr. Guerino Sacripante

Liam Brennan

Liam Brennan

Master of Science Graduate

  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2025)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2022)

liam.brennan@torontomu.ca

Pierre Rouanet

Pierre Rouanet

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2024)*
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2022)

prouanet@torontomu.ca

*Co-supervised with Dr. Stephen Wylie

Nicola Piccolo

Nicola Piccolo

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2023)*
  • BSc Chemistry, Queen's University (2020)

nicola.piccolo@torontomu.ca

*Co-supervised with Dr. Guerino Sacripante

Gloria D'Amaral

Gloria D'Amaral

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2021)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2018)

gloria.damaral@torontomu.ca

Joseph Bedard

Joseph Bedard

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2020)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2017)

joseph.bedard@torontomu.ca

Jeffrey Pau

Jeffrey Pau

Doctor of Philosophy Graduate
  • PhD Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2020)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2015)

j2pau@torontomu.ca

Rachel Shum

Rachel Shum

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2019)
  • BSc Chemistry Co-op, McMaster University (2017)

rshum@torontomu.ca

Julie Loungxay

Julie Loungxay

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2019)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2016)

jloungxa@torontomu.ca

Alexander Caschera

Alexander Caschera

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2018)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2015)

alexander.caschera@torontomu.ca

Desiree Bender

Desiree Bender

Master of Science Graduate
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2018)*
  • BSc Chemistry, Western University (2016)

desiree.bender@torontomu.ca

*Co-supervised with Dr. Robert Gossage

Kamlesh Mistry

Master of Science Graduate

  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2016)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2011)

kamlesh.mistry@torontomu.ca

Shane Harrypersad

Master of Science Graduate

  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2015)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2013)

shane.harrypersad@torontomu.ca

Dariush Firouzi

Doctor of Philosophy Graduate

  • PhD Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University (2014)*
  • MSc Mechanical Engineering, Eastern Mediterranean University (2007)
  • BSc Materials Engineering, Shiraz University (2005)

*Co-supervised with Dr. Habiba Bougherara

Justin Kosalka

Master of Applied Science Graduate

  • MASc Environmental Applied Science and Management, Toronto Metropolitan University (2014)*
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2011)

jkosalka@torontomu.ca

*Co-supervised with Dr. Robert Gossage

Yee-Yue Grace Luk

Master of Science Graduate

  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2014)*
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2011)

y4luk@torontomu.ca

*Co-supervised with Dr. Robert Gossage

Aman Khan

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Graduate

  • PhD Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2014)
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2010)*

aman.khan@torontomu.ca

*Co-supervised with Dr. Robert Gossage

Lukasz Porosa

Doctor of Philosophy Graduate

  • PhD Environmental Applied Science and Management, Toronto Metropolitan University (2014)*
  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2008)
  • BSc Applied Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University (2006)

lporosa8@gmail.com

*Co-supervised with Dr. Gideon Wolfaardt

Jonathan Ward

Master of Science Graduate

  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2013)
  • BSc Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University (2010)

jonward1234@gmail.com

Damion Miles

Master of Science Graduate

  • MSc Molecular Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2010)
  • BSc Applied Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University (2008)

damion.miles@hotmail.com

Undergraduate Thesis Students

BSc Thesis Student Year
Wilson Digby 2024-2025
Hamza Malik 2024-2025
Maya Mott 2024-2025
Angelica Treleven 2024-2025
Gabriel Velasco 2024-2025
Brigida Fernandes 2023-2024
Thomas Fernandes 2023-2024
Corradina Towie 2023-2024
Unnati Desai 2022-2023
Christele Ladores 2022-2023
Efijeni Zallota 2022-2023
Liam Brennan 2020-2021
Kaitlyn Silverthorne 2020-2021
Noah King 2019-2020
Mokhamed Ranne 2019-2020
Susanna Vu 2019-2020
Ashnie Badal 2018-2019
Jung-Won (David) Choi 2018-2019
Gloria D'Amaral 2017-2018
Kristy Halnan 2017-2018
Joseph Bedard 2016-2017
Jasveer Dhindsa 2016-2017
Julie Loungxay 2015-2016
William Scannell 2015-2016
Alexander Caschera 2014-2015
Brad Jacobs 2014-2015
Jeffrey Pau 2014-2015
Arash Shakeri 2013-2014
Tamara Al-Faouri 2012-2013
Hellen Deng 2012-2013
Shane Harrypersad 2012-2013
Aagam Patel 2012-2013
Amanda Mocella 2011-2012
Shayan Hamzehi 2010-2011
Laura Liao 2010-2011
Katie Lyashkevich 2010-2011
Kamlesh Mistry 2010-2011
Sarah Komejan 2009-2010
Patricia Stanescu 2009-2010
Jonathan Ward 2009-2010

RA's, Volunteers, & PDFs

Name Status Year
Wilson Digby Research Assistant S2025
Aidan Piatelli Research Assistant S2025
Owen Mahe Visiting Researcher S2025
Danya Alnakash Research Assistant S2024
Garabed Baboghli Research Assistant S2024
Miristhika Thanaraj Research Assistant S2024
Lucie Mouchiroud Visiting Researcher S2024
Clémence Rakoto Visiting Researcher S2024
Sara Thortveit Visiting Researcher S2024
Christele Ladores Research Assistant S2023
Nicola Piccolo Research Assistant S2023
Manon Peragut Visiting Researcher S2023
Clara Repiquet Visiting Researcher S2023
Christine Miller Volunteer F2022-W2023
Sidrah Rana Research Assistant S2022
Léna Fréry Visiting Researcher S2022
Liam Brennan Research Assistant F2021-S2022
Dr. Gregory Hodgson PDF S2021
Dr. Tarunpreet Virk PDF F2020-S2021
Alexander Caschera Research Assistant F2018-S2021
Kaitlyn Silverthorne Volunteer S2019-S2020
Jada Wright Volunteer S2019-F2019
Annaelle Venaud Visiting Researcher S2019
Siobhan Liu Volunteer W2019-W2020
Alston Co-op Student W2019
Katelyn Co-op Student F2018
Ashnie Badal Volunteer W2018
Sidra Sabagh Volunteer F2016-W2017
Jasveer Dhindsa Volunteer F2015-W2016
William Scannell Volunteer S2015
Malek El-Aooiti Volunteer W2015
Kathleen May Volunteer W2015
Dr. Aman Khan PDF S2014-W2015
A group photo of the Foucher group for the 2025-2026 year

2025-2026

Garry, Hamza, Wilson, Dr. Foucher, Aidan, Findlay, Khoi, Rachele, Jaeeun, & Kyla

Foucher Group 2024-2025

2024-2025

Back: Wilson, Hamza, Dr. Foucher, Rachele, Anthony, Maya, Liam, Sarah, Angelica, & Christele

Front: Gabriel & Garry

Foucher Group 2023-2024

2023-2024

Dr. Foucher, Thomas, Brigida, Christele, Anthony, Corri, Pierre, Liam, & Rachele

Foucher Group 2022-2023

2022-2023

Christele, Efijeni, Rachele, Pierre, Liam, Nicola, & Dr. Foucher

Foucher Group 2021-2022

2021-2022

Nicola, Alex, Dr. Foucher, Rachele, & Liam

Foucher Group 2020-2021

2020-2021

Tarun, Nicola, Rachele, Kaitlyn, Alex, & Liam

Foucher Group 2019-2020

2019-2020

Back: Dr. Foucher, Rachele, Alex, Noah, Mokha, & Joe

Front: Jeff, Jada, Kaitlyn, Gloria, & Susanna

Foucher Group 2018-2019

2018-2019

Back: Rachel, Alex, Dr. Foucher, Joe, & David

Front: Jeff, Gloria, & Ashnie

Foucher Group 2017-2018

2017-2018

Back: Lukasz, Joe, Alex, Kristy, Rachel, & Dr. Foucher

Front: Jeff, Julie, Gloria, & Des

Foucher Group 2015-2016

2015-2016

Back: Dr. Foucher, Jasveer, Shane, Alex, & Aman

Front: Julie & Jeff

Foucher Group 2013-2014

2013-2014

Back: Dr. Foucher, Arash, Alex, Aman, Kamlesh, & Shane

Front: Jeff & Dr. McWilliams