Group Members – Jason Hein Lab

JASON HEIN

Associate Professor

Jason Hein received his B.Sc. in biochemistry at the University of Manitoba in 2000. In 2005, he completed his Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry as an NSERC PGS scholar under Professor Philip G. Hultin at the same institution. He then moved to the Scripps Research Institute as an NSERC postdoctoral fellow supervised by Professors K. Barry Sharpless and Valery V. Fokin. In 2010, he became a senior research associate with Professor Donna G. Blackmond at Scripps. He began his independent career at the University of California, Merced in 2011 where his work focused on employing in situ kinetic reaction analysis as a means to rapidly profile and study complex networks of reactions. In 2015, he moved to the University of British Columbia to continue the development of reaction analytical techniques to further mechanistic organic chemistry.

Curriculum Vitae

Associate Professor, University of British Columbia (2019 – present)

Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia (2015 – 2019)

Assistant Professor, University of California, Merced (2011 – 2015)
Senior Research Associate under Prof. Donna Blackmond, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla (2009 – 2011)

NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow under Profs. K. Barry Sharpless and Valery V. Fokin, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla (2005 – 2009)

Ph.D. Student under Prof. Philip G. Hultin, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (2000 – 2005)

B.Sc. Student, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (1996 – 2000)

Awards and Honors

University of Ottawa, Fagnou Lecturer (2021 – 2022)

Thieme Chemistry Journal Award (2019)

American Chemical Society Young Investigator’s Award (2015)

University of California, Merced, Graduate & Research Council Award (2012 – 2014)

NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2006 – 2008)

University of Manitoba Dean of Graduate Studies Student Achievement Award (2005)

Action Canada Fellowship for Outstanding Young Leaders (2004 – 2005)

CSC National Conference Poster Presentation Award (2004)

Hugh J. Anderson Anderson Graduate Award for Academic Achievement (2003 – 2004)

ACS-Pan American Advanced Studies Institute on Green Chemistry Fellowship (2003)

NSERC Post Graduate Scholarship – A&B (2000 – 2004)i

Postdocs and Research Associates

JOSH DERASP

Research Associate

I completed an undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Prince Edward Island. I then moved to Ottawa and joined the Beauchemin lab for my PhD where I helped develop novel synthetic transformations of nitrogen containing compounds. I joined the Hein group in June 2019 where I now focus on combining my synthetic organic chemistry background with continuous preferential crystallization. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, camping and working out.

EKATERINA TRUSHINA

Postdoctoral Fellow

I graduated my BS and MS degrees in Chemical engineering in Ural Federal University (Yekaterinburg, Russia). In 2020 I completed PhD in Organic chemistry investigating synthesis and properties of calixarene derivatives. From 2020 till 2023 I worked in Cronin group (University of Glasgow, UK) as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow where I built a strong expertise in digitization and automation of organic synthesis. In my free time I enjoy all kinds of dancing, travelling and walking.

Graduate Students

FINN BORK

PhD Student

After completing my B.Sc. in the field of Biochemistry, I pursued the more chemistry-based side of it in my M.Sc. Medicinal and Natural Product Chemistry at the Leibniz University Hanover, Germany. In my last year, two colleagues of mine introduced me to the field of automation in chemistry, which ultimately led me to the HeinLab in 2021. In my time off I like to read (mostly Sci-Fi), listen to/make music or engage in any kind of sporting activity.

ISABELLE CAI

PhD Student

I completed my B.Sc. in Chemistry at the University of British Columbia in 2022, during which I spent two years here in the Hein Lab as an undergraduate research assistant. Intrigued by reaction kinetics and the process of using various analytical tools to gain mechanistic insight, I decided to continue my studies here and pursue a graduate degree. In my free time, I like painting, playing video games, and fiddling around on my piano.

RAMA
EL-KHAWALDEH

PhD Student

I completed my BSc in Biopharmaceutical Science with a specialization in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Ottawa in 2022. There, I researched in continuous flow kinetics of Mizoroki-Heck reactions under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Newman. Afterward, I joined Dr. David Bryce’s Lab to research in crystal engineering and solid-state NMR, particularly focusing on exploring polymorphism in halogen-bonded co-crystal structures. Subsequently, I transitioned to Dr. Tito Scaiano’s Lab with an interest in high-throughput experimentations in fluorogenic heterogeneous catalysis and data visualization in accelerating catalyst discovery. I joined the Hein Lab to develop autonomous workflows to power process development. In my spare time I enjoy baking, biking, and reading dystopian novels.

MASON GUY

PhD Student

I completed by HBSc at the University of Ottawa, where during the summers I worked under Professor Deryn Fogg as a 2-time NSERC-USRA holder. My honours research, also with Dr. Fogg, focused on studying the impact of pyridine on ruthenium catalyzed olefin-metathesis. I came to the Hein research group after seeing presentations from members of the lab at CCCE 2019. The implementation of robotics and the automation of chemistry greatly interested me, and so I looked west to uBC for the completion of my PhD. My hobbies include skiing, gin tasting, and playing Super Smash Bros. Melee.

SARA GUZMAN

PhD Student

As a graduate from Vancouver Island University with a degree in Biology and Chemistry, I developed an interest in the toxicological and social impacts of the compounds that surround us. I started working in a community-level drug checking project with the BC Centre on Substance Use exploring the implications of the current composition of illicit substances. Eventually I moved to government roles working with both Health Canada, analyzing and elucidating new psychoactive substances using high field NMR and UPLC-MS/MS, and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, as a member of her Youth Council. Throughout my experiences I found myself questioning the dynamics of science and policy, and the lack of collaborative and multidisciplinary research. Now, with the Hein Lab, my focus is to learn and apply chemical process automation for the elucidation of synthetic pathways used in clandestine laboratories, as well as for the detection of emerging substances, precursors, and impurities in illicit drug markets. In my free time, I enjoy painting, dancing, and playing guitar.

JACOB JESSIMAN

PhD Student

I was born and raised out east in Ottawa, where I completed my undergraduate degree. It was there that I found my love for chemistry research working under Prof. Stephen Newman. I then joined the Hein lab in 2020 to pursue my MSc in the areas of continuous flow synthesis and reaction monitoring. In my spare time, you can usually find me listening to music, cooking, or playing video games.

FÉLIX PAINSECQ

PhD Student - Visiting International Research Student (VIRS)

I obtained my BSc in Chemistry/Biology at University of Le Havre in 2020 in France, and then moved to the XL-Chem Graduate School of Research at the University of Rouen for my MSc where I gained experience in organic synthesis and became passionate about crystallization. This led me to join the SMS Laboratory (Coquerel group) in 2022 for a PhD in preferential crystallization. In 2023, I obtained a gap-year to join the Hein lab where I’m applying in-line analysis and automation tools to the development of crystallization processes. Today, my research interests include crystallization processes for chiral organic molecules as well as diastereomers, polymorphism and the study of solid phases in general.
In my spare time, I like playing the drums, cooking and watching TV shows.

KRISTY SHI

PhD Student

I completed my Master of Philosophy degree in the field of catalytic asymmetric halogenation reactions at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, under the supervision of Prof. Yeung Ying Yeung. Then I joined the Hein lab to pursue my PhD degree. Out of the lab I enjoy movies, cooking and working out.

JIAYU ZHANG

PhD Student

I completed my B.S. in Chemistry at Rutgers University in 2019, and a M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at Columbia University in 2021. During my master’s study, I focused on probabilistic modelling and data analysis for enhanced enzyme diffusion. During the same time period, I found interest in areas such as experiment design and automated experimentation, which eventually motivated me to join Professor Hein’s lab. In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games, biking, and playing ultimate Frisbee.

Undergraduate Students

REBEKAH GREENWOOD

Project Student - CHEM 449

I am a 4th year student at UBC completing my BSc in Chemical Biology. My past research experiences in health economics, materials engineering, and organic synthesis have left me with a great interest in the development of cost and time efficient processes, leading me to the Hein Lab. My undergraduate thesis work aims to automate the purification of API multi-component solid systems via cooling crystallization. Outside of the lab, there is a high chance you will find me listening to and playing music, hanging out with my friends’ kids, or reading books from the 17th century.

JIYOON MIN

Work Learn Student

I am a second year student studying a combined major in Chemical Biology at the University of British Columbia. The use of robotics and automation in chemistry drew me into joining the Hein lab, as it gave me a new perspective on robotics and fulfilled my interest in chemistry. In my spare time, I like playing music and spending time with friends.

LIAM ROBERTS

Project Student - CHEM 449

I’m a 4th-year student pursuing a combined honors degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry, currently in my honors thesis at the Hein lab. My research journey began with 8 months in Dr. Howe’s lab at UBC, focusing on epigenetic biochemistry. I then embarked on a 16-month co-op term, spending the first half in Dr. Jabado’s lab at McGill studying epigenetic drivers of cancer and the latter half at Zymeworks Inc., making antibody-drug conjugates that could be used as potential cancer therapeutics. At Zymeworks I gained an interest in method optimization, and I reached out to Jason to try optimizing antibody-drug conjugation as a whole. Outside of research, I enjoy reading, playing basketball, and spending time with friends.

JERRICA YANG

Work Learn Student

I am a third year student studying combined major in Chemistry and Computer Science at the University of British Columbia. I am interested in devoting both my programming and chemistry background in the research field, hence leading me to the automation group of the Hein lab. During my free time, I enjoy taking good care of my plants, baking awful looking but somehow delicious cakes, playing video games, and traveling with friends.

Staff

LUCKY HEIN

Abandoned as a pup on the mean streets of Merced, California, I had a tough start in life. My curiosity, playful spirit, and desire for affection were unfulfilled and my outlook was bleak… until one exceptional Beagle Basset Hound, Crambley, changed everything. Crambley adopted me as one of her own, nurturing me to overcome my trauma. I then came to Vancouver to jump-started my career as the Morale Officer for university research programs. I now bark, snooze, and thrive in the Hein Lab, where I support students, scientists, and friends of the group through all the challenges of life.

BECKY HICKMAN

I completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Microbiology from the University of Victoria in 2011. I jumped straight into work and now have thirteen years experience in molecular biology laboratories, where I have been employed first at UBC, then at the BC Centre for Disease Control, followed by Natera. As a scientist working in assay design, I have managed large collaborative groups while also performing troubleshooting, process development and more. In particular, my time on the BCCDC’s research and development team during the pandemic has provided me with the ability to take on large scale projects and ensure they are running efficiently, even in a crisis situation. A fortuitous encounter found me at the Hein Lab, where I perform laboratory management as well as project management for the drug checking initiative. Outside of work you can find me trying new craft beers, heading to Whitecaps games, or travelling the world.

LAUREN KOCH

I moved to Vancouver for my undergraduate degree and completed my double major BA in Anthropology and Linguistics at the University of British Columbia. I enjoy learning, especially when it comes to human ingenuity. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, playing video games, reading, and, when timing and funds align, scuba diving.

ARCADIA LAU

I completed my BA in English and Global Studies at the University of Hong Kong and MSc at Edinburgh Napier University. Before joining the Hein Lab in 2023, I worked in business development at a surgical robotics center, and prior to that, a tech funding agency. In my spare time, you’ll find me on the mat, museum hopping, or traveling solo.

ANDREW PEDERSEN

I graduated from Ontario Tech University in 2010 with a BSc (Hons.) in chemistry where I stayed to work under Professor Brad Easton studying fuel cell catalyst materials. The Easton Lab gave me a strong foundation in electrochemistry, building custom instrumentation, and a wide range of analytical techniques that progressed into a career in scientific equipment service and sales across North America. I was fortunate enough to work with the Hein Lab when they purchased some equipment, and now get to spend all my time building and supporting whatever research tools the team needs. Outside of the lab you will usually find me in the mountains where I enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, and skiing.

MATTHEW REISH

I completed a PhD in physical chemistry focusing on Raman spectroscopy and computational chemistry of organic photovoltaic materials at the University of Otago in New Zealand followed by two post-docs in surface science and spectroscopy in the US. A break from research saw me learning French and teaching English in Rennes, France and during this time I also became interested in embedded electronics, leading me to the Hein Group. In my spare time, I enjoy ski touring, mountain biking and building equipment for amateur astronomy.

IVORY ZHANG

I completed my BSc in Computational Biochemistry and PhD in Chemistry at Carleton University. During my Co-op, I developed my interest in programming while helping design a data processing software. I joined the Hein lab where I can contribute both my programming and chemistry background to research. In my spare time, I like sketching, cooking and skateboarding.