Group

PI: Dr. Ilsa Cooke

I am an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department and leader of the UBC Astrochemistry Laboratory. I am an astrochemist who uses the tools of physical chemistry to understand how molecules form and evolve in interstellar space and star-forming regions. I grew up in Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand. I received my bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 2012 after undertaking a project at the Centre for Trace Elements Otago in the lab of Dr Claudine Stirling… Read more

Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Thomas Speak

I am a new astrochemist with my prior experience being mainly in the fields of atmospheric and combustion chemistry. My experience is in bringing together ab-intio calculations, chemical modelling and experimental observations to improve current understanding of complex gas phase processes. I grew up in the countryside near Manchester in England and ventured over the other side of the country to the University of Leeds for my undergraduate and post-graduate studies. At the University of Leeds I worked under Mark Blitz and Paul Seakins… Read more

Dr. Haley Scolati

I am an astrochemist with research interests in radio astronomy and applied machine learning. I grew up in a small town in Ohio, US where I moved cross country to earn my B.S. in environmental chemistry at UC Davis and began my research experience in laboratory astrochemistry and rotational spectroscopy under Dr. Kyle Crabtree. I moved back across the states to the University of Virginia for my graduate studies… Read more

Graduate Students

Carina Hobbs (PhD student)

I moved from Munich, Germany to Brighton in the UK to complete a Master of Chemistry degree at the University of Sussex. I am pursuing my PhD in the UBC Astrochemistry lab, where I am currently involved in the design and construction of a new ultra-high vacuum experiment, coupled with soft-ionization mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy – which will be used to simulate chemistry occurring in interstellar and planetary ices. Outside the lab, I enjoy murder mysteries, crosswords, and anything to do with food.

Reace Willis (PhD student)

I am from the small town of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. This was where I did my Bachelor of Science, which was an Honours in Chemistry. I love boxing, hockey, baseball, and science in general, more specifically through astronomy/astrophysics and chemistry. I am currently focusing on gas-phase neutral-neutral reaction pathways leading to aromatic molecules in the ISM.

Elsa Yuan (PhD student)

Born and raised in Vancouver, I obtained my BSc in Chemistry at UBC before pursuing my PhD at UBC. My focus is on energetic processing of sulfur-containing icy dust grains in interstellar space. During my undergrad, I have also enjoyed doing research in fields as varied as biotechnology, the pulp & paper industry, and semiconductor manufacturing. In my free time, I love working on local theatrical productions, playing music, and spending time in the great outdoors.

Sam McGrath (PhD student, joint supervised by T. Momose)

I was born in a small village in County Cork in Ireland. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from University College Cork and my Master’s degree in Chemistry at UBC. I am currently studying astrochemically relevant aromatic molecules in para-hydrogen matrices. Some of my hobbies include playing Hurling, the national sport of Ireland, which I have played since the age of 5. I also enjoy playing video games in my spare time. I am heavily interested in astronomy and aerospace engineering and hope to someday pursue a full-time career in these areas.

Undergraduate Students

Arieh Irving-Hughes

I grew up in Toronto and attended an arts high school in Scarborough. I am currently the director of the UBC Astrochem Lab outreach program. I have many research interests, quantum mechanics, critical pedagogy, and anything cosmology shaped are the ones currently occupying the most brain space. In my free time I like to read, solve puzzles, have existential conversations about number theory, make comics, and dance in my kitchen. I am in a constant state of figuring out how to explain what I do to my grandparents.

Nyx Lawal

Born in Calgary, I was raised in Fort McMurray Alberta for most of my life. During my tween years, I lived in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. I am currently working on modeling the dispersion and evolution of glyoxal and formaldehyde in BC wildfire plumes. Plants and anything that relates them to math and chemistry are my current obsession. I wish I lived in a forest. I spend most of my free time cooking, watching math videos, singing and imagining that my plants and stuffed animals live in a sitcom. I also spend an embarrassing amount of time on Quora.

Maddox Schaller

I was born and raised here in Vancouver. I’m currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in physics, but my research interests extend far beyond that, including subjects like astronomy, chemistry, and molecular biology. In the lab, I’m using computer simulations to investigate high-energy ion impact on icy troilite. In my spare time, I love playing and listening to music, rock climbing, hiking, or doing pretty much anything outdoorsy.

Group photo (Summer 2024)

Group alumni

  • Matteo Michielan, visiting PhD student, 2025
  • Sam McGrath, Masters student, 2023
  • Myles Osenton, undergraduate researcher, 2023
  • Edward Tang, undergraduate researcher, 2022