Meet our Team
Elizabeth (Liz) Trofimenkoff
(she/they)
Co-Chair & Media Relations Coordinator
Educating others on inclusive practices and promoting diversity has always been important to me. I have always loved math and chemistry, and this passion only grew stronger when I entered University. I am currently a PhD student in the Roussel lab, where I am constructing a model to study splicing, an important RNA modification process, giving me an opportunity to merge my passions for mathematics and biochemistry! I'm looking forward to helping create a safe place for people to learn and engage with each other in both the physical and virtual worlds! I can't wait to see the positive impact ACID:BASE will make on the higher education community!
Rebecca Jeong
(she/her)
Co-Chair & Treasurer
Rebecca is a PhD student in the Wetmore lab studying the impacts of electronic cigarette-derived DNA damage using computational chemistry. She has always been interested to promote racial/gender diversity in classrooms and by participating in ACID:BASE, she looks forward to playing a role in embracing the diversity and inclusivity in chemistry community. Outside of school, she enjoys gardening and spending time with her dog.
Secretary & Co-Event Coordinator
Briana Boychuk
(she/her)
Briana is a PhD student in the Wetmore Group wherein she investigates metal–nucleic acid interactions using computational chemistry. As Co-Chair, she is excited to increase student engagement towards creating an inclusive and diverse environment within the department. In her spare time, Briana enjoys spending time with her dog, games, reading and listening to music.
Makay Murray
​
(he/him)
Co-Event Coordinator
Hi! I am a PhD. student in the Wetmore group where I am working on several computational projects involving modified DNA aptamers for use as anti-bodies, dyes and metal detectors. I believe the most important thing about a chemist is their ability to perform and communicate chemistry. All other considerations are secondary. When not furthering my research, I occupy myself with a myriad of hobbies. From 3D printing, coding, gaming to miniature modeling.
Dr. Stacey Wetmore
(she/her)
Faculty Representative
Stacey obtained her PhD from Dalhousie University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Australian National University. Currently a Professor and Tier 1 Board of Governor’s Research Chair in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge, her research uses molecular modeling to understand the chemistry of nucleic acids. She is passionate about advocating for all underrepresented groups as well as promoting diversity and inclusion in chemistry, the chemical sciences and STEM in general.
Dr. Jean-Denys Hamel (JD)
(he/him)
Faculty Representative
I am the newest faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and I am invested with the mission to shake things up and support initiatives that can make a difference in higher education. Everyone deserves a safe place to learn and to blossom as individuals, that is accepting of them as who they are and provides them with equal opportunity. I am truly excited to see students forming bonds and being given both a strong voice and a means to take action through the ACID:BASE club.
