Three students from the University of Waterloo recently earned top honours for their research at the 54th Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference held in March 2026 at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
The conference featured 177 project submissions from across the province, with 25 students from the Waterloo chemistry department presenting their independent work. Percy Luk, Grace DelMistro, and Daniel Wang were recognized with oral presentation awards for their contributions to diverse fields of chemistry.
Grace DelMistro, a biochemistry student, received an award for her work developing a tool to capture cell wall components in bacteria, which could help identify new targets for antibiotics to combat drug resistance. Fellow biochemistry student Percy Luk was honoured for his research on the synthesis of Kawaguchipeptin A, a cyclic peptide being investigated for its antibacterial properties. Meanwhile, materials and nanosciences student Daniel Wang was recognized for his development of an energy-efficient catalyst designed to improve the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide.
The success of these students highlights the emphasis on research training within the university. The Faculty of Science supports a wide range of academic pathways, including 17 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs, while bringing in approximately $50 million in annual research funding.
John Corrigan, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, and Chris Houser, the Dean of Science, oversee a department that includes more than forty faculty members and 150 graduate students. The department focuses on various core areas, including biochemistry, materials, nanotechnology, and analytical chemistry.
