Hello and thank you for your interest in graduate studies in the Urquhart research group.
I am unable to respond to every graduate student applicant. I prioritize responding to applicants who address the eligibility criteria outlined in this note.
I supervise graduate students in chemistry and physics graduate programs, for M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees. To be successful in a graduate degree programs, applicants should have an undergraduate degree in the same discipline, e.g. an honours chemistry B.Sc. for a graduate degree in Chemistry. I make exceptions in exceptional circumstances.
Proficiency in the English language is essential for success as a graduate student. Applicants must meet the proficiency standards established by the University of Saskatchewan College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Research. See https://grad.usask.ca/admissions/admission-requirements.php#Englishlanguageproficiencyrequirements
I prioritize applicants who have background and experience in the following areas:
- Spectroscopy and quantum mechanics. Successful students approach spectroscopy from the perspective of fundamental processes and instrumentation, rather than as a ‘black box’ technique.
- Experience with instrumentation, instrumental analysis, data analysis and computer programming
- Theoretical chemistry / physics and computational methods.
- Research experience. This can be an undergraduate course project, summer research work, or a graduate degree. A key characteristic of a research project is ‘addressing a question where the answer does not exist in a textbook or the literature’.
I will prioritize responding to applicants who address the following in their cover email:
- Provide scores from English language proficiency exams that meet the requirements for admission to USask; see https://grad.usask.ca/admissions/admission-requirements.php#Englishlanguageproficiencyrequirements
- Have an undergraduate degree in chemistry, physics or a closely related program, and seek admission to a chemistry or physics graduate degree. Please see the USask admission requirements here: https://grad.usask.ca/admissions/admission-requirements.php
- Outline and provide specific examples of their background and experience with the areas identified above (spectroscopy, quantum, instrumentation, etc).
Please feel free to bring up experiences from outside the classroom! Writing your own computer code to run a 3D printer or rebuilding a household appliance provide skills and experience that help in the research laboratory. I seek graduate students who show initiative and who are curious.
Stephen Urquhart
stephen.urquhart@usask.ca