Brandon University graduate student Mitchell Stanton will be sharing his research at a major national science conference tomorrow (June18). He'll be giving a talk at the Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC 2025), where he'll explain how he's developing a new way to catch and study proteins using tiny gold particles and fluorescent tags.
"I'm really excited to present my work and connect with other researchers from across the country," said Stanton. "This project has been a great way to combine creative problem-solving with real-world applications, and I'm proud to represent Brandon University on a national stage."
Born and raised in Brandon and a proud Me tis scholar, Stanton earned his Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry with a Co-op designation from BU in 2023. During his undergraduate years, he conducted extensive research in the barley molecular genetics lab at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and received a prestigious Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA). Now pursuing his Master's in Environmental and Life Sciences (MELS), he continues to develop innovative tools in organic chemistry under the supervision of Dr. Bryan Hill.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for Mitchell and is a testament to both his hard work and creativity." said Dr. Bryan Hill, Professor of Chemistry at BU. "His use of NHCs as organo-catalysts during his undergraduate thesis has evolved into a novel and innovative molecular fishing line project for his Masters thesis. During this time he has had the opportunity to both teach and mentor undergraduate students with their research projects and has become an amazing role model for others. I'm excited to see his presentation in Ottawa."
Stanton's project brings together older and newer ideas in chemistry. He uses a special molecule called Fmoc (short for 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl), which lights up under UV light and helps scientists track parts of proteins during experiments. He combines this with NHCs (N-heterocyclic carbenes), which are very stable chemical helpers that stick well to gold. By attaching these NHCs to tiny gold particles, he's creating a tool that acts like a reusable fishing rod. This "molecular fishing rod" can be used to "catch" specific proteins from a mixture, helping scientists isolate and study them more easily. It's a creative new way to find and tag important molecules in the lab.
"This is a wonderful example of the research excellence we're fostering at Brandon University," said Dr. Chris LeMoine, Dean of Science. "Mitchell is applying sophisticated chemistry with creativity to develop new molecular tools with many potential applications. We're extremely proud to see his work represented on the national stage."
The CSC is the largest annual gathering of chemical professionals in Canada, attracting researchers and innovators from across academia, government, and industry. Stanton will present his research in an oral session on June 18, 2025.
"Mitchell's journey from undergraduate research assistant to conference presenter illustrates the kind of mentorship and growth our students can experience at BU," said Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies. "His success reflects the strength of our chemistry program and the commitment of our faculty to student-centered research."
For more information on the Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, visit cheminst.ca/conference.
