Nirusha Thavarajah

Teaching Interests

• First Year Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding (CHMA10H3)
• First Year Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms (CHMA11H3)
• Second-Year Physical Sciences Research Experience (PSCB90H3)
• Fourth Year Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry (CHMD47H3)
• Fourth-Year Directed Research (CHMD90H3 & CHMD91H3)

Research Projects

• Project 1: Green Extraction of Antioxidants from Fruits and Vegetables.
• Project 2: Developing Sustainable Approaches to Agriculture with Green Chemistry Principles
• Project 3: Developing Innovative Pedagogical Tools for Student Engagement

Awards and Grants

• Government Award: e-Campus Ontario Grant ($65,400.00), Feb 2021, Customizable Simulations for Chemistry, Environment, and Engineering, Co-investigators: Prof. Mark Schmuckler (Project Lead), Vice Provost - Innovation in Undergraduate Education, Prof. Greg Evans, Dr. Kimia Moozeh, and Dr. Qin Liu.
• Experiential Learning Grant, Jan 2023, Sustainable Agriculture with Ghana, Co-Investigator: Prof. Phani Radhakrishnan.
• Global Classroom Award, Sept 2022, Sustainable Agriculture: An Interdisciplinary and International Experiential Learning Project, Co-Investigator: Prof. Phani Radhakrishnan.
• Pedagogies of Inclusive Excellence Grant, September 2022, Development of Custom Textbook and Homework Questions for First-Year Chemistry, Co-investigators: Prof. Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis, Prof. Kris Kim, Prof. Alex Voznyy, Prof. Ruby Sullan, Prof. Bernie Kraatz, Prof. Xiao-an Zhang, and Prof. Lana Mikhaylichenko.
• Dean's Merit Award, July 2022, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough.
• CTL Teaching Enhancement Grant, May 2022, Module Development for Student Success with Reading and Comprehension: How to Read and Analyze Scientific Journal Articles, Co-investigators: Prof. Kris Kim and Prof. Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis.
• Global Classroom Grant, Sept 2021, Designing Culturally Relevant Public Health Vaccination Campaigns, Co-Investigator: Prof. Phani Radhakrishnan.
• CTL Teaching Enhancement Grant, May 2021, Video Tutorials with Adaptive and Guided Learning Exercises for an Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry Course.
• Dean's Merit Award, July 2021, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough.
• CTL Teaching Enhancement Grant, Dec 2020, Technical Illustrations and Guided Learning Activities for First Year Chemistry, Co-investigators: Prof. Kris Kim and Prof. Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis.
• Junior Faculty Award for Excellence in Science Education, Aug 2020, Presented by Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering Committee Chairs, SickKids/University of Toronto.
• CTL Teaching Enhancement Grant, May 2020, Visual Schematics to Support Laboratory Technical Skills, Co-investigators: Dr. Kris Kim & Dr. Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis.
• Learning and Education Advancement Fund (LEAF), Dec 2019, Academic Writing in First-Year Chemistry using Peer-to-Peer Feedback: Developing Research and Science Communication Skills through a Mock Journal Article Submission Process, Co-investigators: Prof. Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis, Prof. Kris Kim, Prof. Ruby Sullan and Prof. Oleksandr Voznyy.
• Dean's Experiential Education Grant, Sept 2019, Interdisciplinary Science-on the -Go Project, Co-investigators: Prof. Aarthi Ashok and Prof. Zohreh Shahbazi.
• Young Investigator-The Best Presentation Award, Presented by Technological Advances in Science, Medicine, and Engineering Committee Chairs, SickKids/University of Toronto.
• CTL Teaching Enhancement Grant, Dec 2018, Peer-Peer Learning Online Question Bank.
• University of Toronto Scarborough Teaching Award, May 2016.

Recent Publications

1. Thavarajah, N., & Moozeh, K. (2022, August). Virtual Delivery of Chemistry Laboratories During COVID-19 Pandemic. Presented at 26th Annual Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering Conference, SickKids, Toronto.
2. Thavarajah, N., Radhakrishnan, P., Romain, J., Agarwal, V., Ghosh Biswas, R., & Khorashahi, C. (2022, August). Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Focused Inter-Disciplinary Experiential Learning Project in a Global Context. Presented at 26th Annual Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering Conference, SickKids, Toronto.
3. Thavarajah, N., & Ganesan, N. (2021, July). Virtual Tools to Enhance Student Engagement in an Online Learning Environment. Presented at 25th Annual Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering Conference, SickKids, Toronto.
4. Thavarajah, N., Thiagalingam, A. & Radhakrishnan, P. (2021, July). Women in STEM Leadership: Building Resilience and Raising High. Presented at 25th Annual Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering Conference, SickKids, Toronto.
5. Thavarajah, N., & Ganesan, N. (2021, July). Moving Lab Exercises to the Cloud. Presented at 25th Annual Technological Advances in Science, Medicine and Engineering Conference, SickKids, Toronto.
6. Ganesan, N., & Thavarajah, N. (2021, March). Conducting Online Examinations. Presented at 25th IABD 32nd Annual Conference 2021 (Virtual), University of North Florida.

Education

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, University Health Network
• Ph.D., Synthetic Organic Chemistry, University of Toronto
• M.Ed., Teaching in Higher Education, University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• LL.M., Intellectual Property Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
• B.Sc. (Hons.), Specialist in Biological Chemistry, University of Toronto