Professor
Departmental Chair
B.Sc. (Univ. Nacional de R铆o Cuarto, Argentina, 1996)
Ph.D. (University of Ottawa, 2002)
Postdoctoral Fellow (University of Texas at Austin, 2002-2004)
Awards and Recognition
2016 - Present Member Editorial Advisory Board for the journal "ChemPhotoChem" (part of Chemistry Europe)
2012 - 2015 Member Editorial Advisory Board for the journal "Langmuir" (American Chemical Society)
2009 - Present Associate Editor for the journal 鈥淧hotochemistry and Photobiology鈥� (American Society for Photobiology).
2020 The 2020 Chris S. Foote Lecture, Department of Chemistry, UCLA
2017 Fessenden Professorship
2015 Canadian Society of Chemistry Keith Laidler Award
2014 NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement, 2014 competition
2012 Visiting Scholar, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
2012 American Society for Photobiology New Investigator Award
2009 European Society for Photobiology Young Investigator Award
2009 Inter-American Photochemical Society Young Investigator Award
2009 Tomlinson Science Award, Faculty of Science, 大发彩票平台
2008 CNC-IUPAC (Canadian National Committee for the IUPAC) Travel Award
2003 IUPAC Prize for Young Chemists awarded to the most outstanding Ph.D. Thesis in the general area of the Chemical Sciences
2003 39th IUPAC Congress Travel Grant for Young Chemists
2002 Governor General's Gold Medal to the best Ph.D. Thesis in Sciences and Engineering, University of Ottawa, Canada
1997 Asociaci贸n Qu铆mica Argentina Award
Member
Member, NSERC CREATE PROMOTE
Member, Quebec Center for Applied Materials (QCAM)
Member, Centre en chimie verte et catalyse (CCVC)
Member, Research Center on Structural Biology (CRBS)
Office: Pulp & Paper 109A
Phone: (514)398-6932
Email: Gonzalo.Cosa [at] 大发彩票平台.CA
Lab: Pulp and Paper 300-1-2-3
Lab Phone: (514)398-6230
Web Page:聽
Research Themes
- Chemical Biology
- Materials Chemistry
- Synthesis/Catalysis
Research Description
Our research centers on designing, synthesizing and using fluorescent molecular probes and on developing fluorescence microscopy methods that combined provide unprecedented detail of chemical and biologically relevant processes with unsurpassed spatial-temporal resolution and sensitivity. The hallmark of our program lies in visualizing and monitoring the motions of molecules one at a time, by tracing fluorescence emission at the single-molecule level, unraveling properties otherwise hidden in bulk ensembles. We create unique "movies" 鈥� sequences of molecular recognition and assembly processes as they lead to increasingly complex nano- and meso-scale structures. The tools utilized in our research group span from the rational design and synthesis of new fluorescent probes, to the utilization and development of state-of-the-art single molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques including single molecule fluorescence imaging and super resolution fluorescence imaging, to the assembly of highly hierarchical supramolecular systems.
Our work seeks to illuminate the mechanical workings of single macromolecules including key proteins in DNA and RNA viral genome replication, the assembly of DNA nanomaterials, and the interplay of morphology and exciton transport in conjugated polyelectrolyte-based nanomaterials. Our work also involves mapping, in real time, lipid peroxyl radicals and secondary products in living cells, providing key insights into these elusive cellular species, associated with cell homeostasis, disease, and aging.
Currently Teaching
CHEM 204. Physical Chemistry/Biological
Sciences 1.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Similar to /. Emphasis on the use of biological examples to illustrate the principles of physical chemistry. The relevance of physical chemistry to biology is stressed.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking CHEM 203 or CHEM 213 or CHEM 223 and CHEM 243.
- Fall, Winter
- Prerequisites: CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 or equivalent and one full course in calculus
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking CHEM 203 or CHEM 213.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
CHEM 502. Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
This course will cover biologically relevant molecules, particularly nucleic acids, proteins, and their building blocks. In each case, synthesis and biological functions will be discussed. The topics include synthesis of oligonucleotides and peptides; chemistry of phosphates; enzyme structure and function; coenzymes, and enzyme catalysis; polyketides; antiviral and anticancer agents.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CHEM 402.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: CHEM 302
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CHEM 402.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
CHEM 512. Catalysis, Concepts and Applications.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Chemistry (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
General concepts governing catalysis and practical aspects of its implementation including its most important applications. A global perspective on industrial catalysis. A general introduction about catalysis including homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, organocatalysis, and biocatalysis. A select number of reactions will be studied in detail, based on the most recent research efforts made in the field of catalysis.
- Prerequisites: CHEM 381, CHEM 302, CHEM 243
- Restriction: Course open to U3 undergraduate students and graduate students
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
CHEM 688. Progress
Assessment 1.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Chemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
An evaluation that is completed before the end of the second year of registration.
- Restriction: Restricted to graduate students in Chemistry.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
CHEM 701. Comprehensive Examination.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 0
Offered by: Chemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
An evaluation that is completed before the end of the third year of registration.
- Restriction: Ph.D. students in Chemistry.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
CHEM 702. Progress Assessment 2
.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 0
Offered by: Chemistry (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
An evaluation that is completed before the end of the fourth year of registration.
- Restriction: Ph.D. students in Chemistry.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
