Cathleen Crudden

Dr. Cathleen Crudden is the A.V. Douglas Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in metal organic chemistry at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She holds a Research Professorship at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) in Nagoya, Japan, where she runs a satellite laboratory. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) and an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Science.

Dr. Crudden has made a significant impact on diverse areas of science. She described one of the first cross-coupling reactions with chiral, enantiopure molecules that has made considerable impact on the preparation of pharmaceutical compounds. More recently, she has demonstrated the strength and versatility of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in materials science, showing these ligands to be viable and versatile alternatives to thiolates as ligands for planar metal surfaces, nanoparticles and nanoclusters. This work has been called "game changing", "elegant" and "the new gold standard" by experts in the field.

Crudden has served as President of the Canadian Society for Chemistry and Chair of the Chemical Institute of Canada. She is currently Scientific Director of the Carbon to Metal Coating Institute (C2MCI) at Queen's University and Editor-in-Chief for ACS Catalysis. She has won numerous awards including the 2023 John Polanyi Award, a 2019 Cope Scholar award of the American Chemical Society, the Montreal Medal (2019), and the 2018 Carol Taylor award from the International Precious Metals Institute.

Teaching Philosophy

Research

Upon entering my lab, students choose a research area among the three main areas, and then select a specific project or preferably two based on what is important at the time. I usually suggest that the student has two projects, or at least two aspects to a project, one relatively safe and one more risky. This allows the students to work on a truly exciting project and at the same time, be confident that they will leave my group with publications. Having multiple interests gives my students good exposure to different lab techniques, which broadens their areas of expertise.

In addition to interacting directly with me, students are part of a “sub-group” within the group as a whole. This sub-group is made up of students and PDFs working on related projects, so that we have critical mass on each project.

We run weekly group meetings where each sub group presents their work to the entire group. This is a great opportunity for brainstorming and generating ideas. In particular, I am always amazed by how many great ideas come from people external to a given sub group, and this format allows synthetic students to be exposed to materials chemistry and vice versa. Special presentations on safety or EDI issues are also part of this weekly group meeting.

Career Opportunities

The ultimate goal of research training is to move on to an independent research career that is exciting and fulfilling. I consider this type of training to be my primary responsibility, and focus on teach my students and PDFs a variety of skills, ranging from synthesis to catalysis to materials. Individual mentoring is critically important, for example working with students on identifying specific skills they need to develop and finding a way to do this. This could include setting up writing workshops or facilitating collaborations where needed to advance a specific area of expertise. In addition, I invite speakers from industry on a regular basis to provide input on what is involved in an industrial career or at an interview for an industrial position. When we have speakers visiting, I often ask students and PDFs to present their research so they have the opportunity to meet professors and industrial chemists, and gain the experience of presenting their research to others. Collaborations through the C2MCI with academic labs in Canada and internationally, and with industry partners in a range of areas dramatically improve students' job opportunities. In fact, the most recent three Crudden group graduates at the time of writing were offered jobs prior to completion of their PhDs! Crudden group grads have extremely high success in a range of careers from academics, to industry, to publishing and entrepreneurship. I see the diversity of research careers among my former group members as a testament to a successful and diverse education environment.

Conference Travel

Although publications are by far the most important method for the dissemination of knowledge gained through research, conference presentations are also of crucial importance. Crudden group members typically attend 2-3 national CSC conferences during their degrees and at least one international conference during their PhDs.

I think it is extremely important for students to meet other researchers in Canada and to get direct personal feedback on their research. Conferences also provide an opportunity for students to network with industry and academic researchers. I work with students in the group to select conferences based on their career ambitions to be sure that they make the right connections, and of course fund attendance at these conferences from my budget. Conference travel is an extremely positive experience, which all the students enjoy and is very useful for advancing research and connections.

Length of Degree

Graduate students who join my group can expect to complete a master’s degree in 1.5-2 years and a Ph.D. in 4-5 years. Graduate studies should not be a life’s work, but a stepping stone to an independent career. After carrying out research for 4-5 years in one area, students should be ready to move on to another institution and another challenge.

Student Sabbaticals

When I was a graduate student, I had the opportunity to carry out a research exchange in Japan with Professor Shinji Murai in Osaka University. This was one of the best experiences of my life and so I strive to give my own graduate students similar opportunities. Thus every Ph.D. student who joins my group will be able to carry out a student exchange in another lab, either in Canada or in another country. Students in my group have traveled to Japan, Switzerland, Ireland, the US, and the UK. Because of my connections in Japan, this is a popular and exciting destination! Student sabbaticals are a very useful way to broaden connections and to learn different ways of doing chemistry. For students participating in the C2MCI program, this exchange is formalized but all PhD students have this possibility. In some cases, postdocs can spend a year in Canada and then a year at my satellite lab in Japan with the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules.

Traditionally, we have encouraged students to take 3-4 months on exchange. This allows students enough time away for a good experience out of the trip without interfering with progress of their thesis back home.

Group Culture

I truly believe that a happy student is a productive student. Therefore, I do my best to ensure that all my graduate students are happy, contented and have what they need to advance their research and their careers. For foreign students, this can mean direct help with permanent resident applications or visa problems and differential fees. For all students, this means help with scholarship applications, and as much access to conference travel and other “perks” that I can provide. Regular trips to the graduate club to celebrate student accomplishments (or to celebrate good weather!), an annual beach trip and tobogganing, in addition to regular summer barbeques/pool parties at my place are typical. My group has also always had great group spirit and without a doubt as I am writing this, some of them are raising a beer together or chasing a squash ball.

Most of all, it is a huge joy for me to see my students do well while in my group and afterwards. I love keeping in touch with students and PDFs after they graduate and love hearing about and magnifying their successes. For me, student/PDF success is a more important metric than any publication list, award or H-index!