Dr. Lucas Applegarth,
MChem. Hons., PhD
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Safety Management | Application Technology | Research Chemist
Unit 18, 78 College Ave West Guelph, ON N1G 4S7 519-760-1994
lapplega@uoguelph.ca ca.linkedin.com/pub/lucas-applegarth/87/388/b20
PROFILE
Chemist, offering four years of: experience developing and implementing safety controls and procedures;
managing multidisciplinary, deadline-driven projects; and, improving laboratory operations. Trains staff and
creates training materials, including Standard Operating Procedures. Leverages background in: research and
development for industrial applications in physical and analytical chemistry; organic and inorganic synthesis;
Raman spectroscopy; materials science; hydrothermal chemistry for nuclear energy; and, material science for
electronic technology sectors.
Graduate Co-Supervision | Safety Management | Research & Development (R&D)
Laboratory Management Assistance| Data Analysis | Reporting | Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Analytical Techniques: Raman, NMR, SEM, XRD, GC-MS, FTIR, UV-Vis and AFM
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Chemistry,
Durham Univ., UK & SONY Material Science Laboratories, Germany – 2010
Project: “Towards Understanding and Engineering of Guest-Host Interactions in Liquid Crystal
Displays”: Designed and synthetically engineered organic molecules for guests in liquid crystal (LC)
materials to improve display devices for SONY. Designed and implemented new optoelectronic
spectroscopic cells to study the chemical mechanics and physical properties of LC cells.
Master of Chemistry (M.Chem.) with Honours, (Combined Bachelor and Master degree),
Durham Univ., UK – 2005
Master’s degree in Supramolecular Coordination Polymer Chemistry, project: “Anion Directed SelfAssembly of Guest Host Interactions”. Synthetic growth of anion direct crystals and organo-gels based
on bis(urea) ligands that are templates for metal salts and solvent. Studied the crystals and polymeric
nanostructuring to advance technological applications.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
University of Guelph - Hydrothermal Research Group, Guelph, ON
May 2010 – Present
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE / RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY FACILITIES MANAGER (Sep 2013 – Present)
Postdoctoral Fellow / Raman Spectroscopy Facilities Manager (May 2010 –Sep 2013)
Manage projects, Raman laboratory and lab equipment. Co-supervise students from undergraduate level to
postgraduate PhD level. Conduct independent and team research and development (R&D) in aqueous chemistry
and hydrothermal quantitative Raman spectroscopy. Research includes speciation, solubility, thermal
decomposition kinetics and liquid-liquid phase separation studies to better understand thermodynamic
properties as a function of high P and T. Consult on projects as expert in Raman spectroscopy and cell
development and implementation.
Raman Lab Management
Developed and implemented safety culture and practices in the spectroscopy lab.
Establishing regular, routine calibration and maintenance schedule for Raman instrument that
minimized necessary maintenance engineer visits and the need for a biannual maintenance budget.
Enhanced lab efficiency by instituting log book and Standard Operating Procedures.
Lucas Applegarth
Created manuals, spectrometer user training and technical support documents.
Development
Designed and commissioned custom, in-house, new instrument cells, saving money and increasing
operating pressure limits up to 30MPa (4,350 psi) and 500°C.
Redesigned optical cells for more efficient control and enhanced research capabilities from macro-scale
research by designing new sapphire flow cell and new low temperature liquid–liquid phase separation
cell.
Enhanced research capabilities of spectrometer by identifying and working with manufacturer to
replace faulty parts and working with machine shop to construct laser shield to comply with H&S.
Research Projects (quantitative analysis under hydrothermal conditions)
Copper (I) chloride speciation up to 80 °C for hydrogen production cycle for waste heat energy from
power plants. First successful quantitative study of aqueous copper (I) chloride.
Studied CANDU Nuclear Reactor chemistry. D2O isotope effects on acid-base ionization and metal
hydrolysis. Aqueous speciation of various transition metals as a function of temperature and pressure.
Boric acid and Sodium Borate speciation under operating conditions for pressurized water reactors
(PWR). Improve current modelling software by firmly understanding chemistry inside the reactors.
Conducted speciation, liquid-liquid phase behavior and boiling point elevation up to super-critical
water conditions. Uranium chemistry and boiling point elevation of the critical point of various
electrolytes under hydrothermal conditions.
Director at Large, “Mothers Against Drunk Driving”, Wellington County, ON
Oct 2012 – Present
Serve as board member of the charity and volunteer-based organization. Lead, organize and coordinate charity
events. Collaborate and liaise with police force, schools and general public to raise awareness.
President, Durham University Chemical Society (DUCS), Durham, UK
Oct 2005 – Jun 2007
Coordinated, organized and hosted a series of lectures from scientists within UK universities and industry.
Coordinated and ran social and dinner functions for the chemistry department. Managed financial accounts.
Nuffield Foundation Research Assistant, Durham University, Durham, UK
Jul 2004 – Sept 2004
Custom built a chemical vapour deposition synthesis setup to synthesize single walled carbon nanotubes.
Purified and characterized these for potential process development.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TGD Class 7 Training Certificate, University of Guelph – 2014
Foundations of Project Management – Mitac Workshop, University of Guelph – 2014
The PUREX Process, National Analytical Management Program, US – 2014
Managing Me For Staff – Time Management Workshop, University of Guelph – 2014
Radiation Safety, University of Guelph – 2014
Overview of Nuclear Reactors, National Analytical Management Program, US – 2014
OSHA Training, University of Guelph – 2014
Emergency First Aid, CPR Level, AED Training, University of Guelph – 2014
Supervisor Health and Safety Awareness and Due Diligence, University of Guelph - 2014
General Fire Safety, Fire Warden & Extinguisher Use, University of Guelph – 2013
Analytical Chemistry of Uranium and Plutonium, National Analytical Management Program, US – 2012
Trace Ions Analysis in Water Circuits, Metrohm US – 2012
WHIMIS Training, University of Guelph – 2012
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Canadian Society of Chemistry, 2010 – Present
Geochemical Society, 2012 – Present
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Lucas Applegarth
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Journals
A Raman and Ab Initio Investigation of Aqueous Cu(I) Chloride Complexes from 25 to 80 °C, Lucas M. S.
G. A. Applegarth, Christopher R. Corbeil, Darren J. W. Mercer, Cory C. Pye, and Peter R. Tremaine,
Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 118 (1), 204 - 214 (2014).
Non-complexing anions for quantitative speciation studies by Raman spectroscopy in fused-silica high
pressure optical cells under hydrothermal conditions, Lucas M. S. G. A. Applegarth, C. Alcorn, K.
Bissonnette, J. Noel and Peter R. Tremaine, submitted to Applied Spectroscopy (2014).
Deuterium isotope effects, ΔpK = pKD2O – pKH2O, for the second ionization constant of sulphuric acid
from 25 °C to 200 oC using Raman Spectroscopy, M. B. Yacyshyn, L. M. S. G. A. Applegarth, P. R.
Tremaine, In preparation (2014).*
A Raman Spectroscopic Investigation of Aqueous Boric Acid, Borate and Polyborates Speciation from
25 to 80 °C, Lucas M. S. G. A. Applegarth and Peter R. Tremaine†, In preparation (2014).*
Raman spectra and formation constants for aqueous nickel chloro-complexes from 5 to 150 oC
and Ab initio and Raman Investigation of Ni(II) Complexes K. Bissonette, L.M.S.A. Applegarth, L.
Cheng, J. P. Ferguson, J. Cox, C. C. and Pye, P. R. Tremaine. In preparation (2014).*
Metal-Induced Gelation in Dipyridyl Ureas, P. Byrne, G. O. Lloyd, L. Applegarth, K. M. Anderson, N.
Clarke and J. W. Steed, New Journal of Chemistry, 34(10), 2261-2274 (2010).
Fabrication, Characterization and Electrical Properties of Langmuir-Blodgett Films of an Acid
Terminated Phenylene-ethynylene Oligomer, A. Villares, G. Pera, S. Martin, R. J. Nichols, D. Lydon, L.
Applegarth, A. Beeby, P.J. Low, P. Cea, , Chemistry of Materials, 22(6), 2041-2049 (2010).
Synthesis, Photophysics and Molecular Structures of Luminescent 2,5-Bis(phenylethynyl)thiophenes
(BPETs), J. S. Siddle, R. M. Ward, J. C. Collings, S. R. Rutter, L. Porres, L. Applegarth, A. Beeby, A. S.
Batsanov, A. L. Thompson, J. A. K. Howard, A. Boucekkine, K. Costuas, J. F. Halet, T. B. Marder, New
Journal of Chemistry, 30(6), 841-851 (2007).
Modular Nanometer-Scale Structuring of Gel Fibres by Sequential Self-Organization, L. Applegarth, N.
Clarke, A. C. Richardson, A. D. M. Parker, I. Radosavljevic-Evans, A. E. Goeta, J. A. K. Howard, J. W. Steed,
Chemical Communications, 43, 5423-5425, (2005).
Influence of Hydrogen Bonding on Coordination Polymer Assembly, L. Applegarth, A. E. Goeta, J. W.
Steed, Chemical Communications, 18, 2405-2406 (2005).
Refereed Conference Proceedings
*
An ab initio and Raman investigation of Ni(II) complexes, C. C. Pye, L. Cheng, J. P. Ferguson, K.
Bissonette, L. Applegarth, J. Cox, P. R. Tremaine, Proc. 3rd China-Canada Joint Workshop on Supercritical
Water-cooled Reactors, 2012.
An ab initio and Raman investigation of Co(II) complexes, C. C. Pye, D. C. M. Whynot, L. Applegarth, J.
Cox, P. Tremaine, Proc. 3rd China-Canada Joint Workshop on Supercritical Water-cooled Reactors, 2012.
Non-Complexing Anions for Physico-Chemical Studies by Raman Spectroscopy under Hydrothermal
Conditions, L.M.S.G.A. Applegarth, C. Alcorn, K. Bissonnette, J. Noel and P.R. Tremaine, Proc. 16th Int.
Conf. Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS & Inst. Mech. Eng.; Greenwich, U.K., Sept. 1 - 5, 2013).
Boiling Points and Speciation of Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions Under “Hideout” Conditions in SCWR
Coolant by Raman Spectroscopy, Lucas M. S. G. A. Applegarth and Peter R. Tremaine, Proc. 19th Pacific
Basin Nuclear Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, August 24-28, (2014).
Draft manuscript for peer reviewed publication
519-760-1994 lapplega@uoguelph.ca ca.linkedin.com/pub/lucas-applegarth/87/388/b20 Page 3
Lucas Applegarth
Thesis
Towards Engineering and Understanding of Guest Host Interaction between Dopants and Liquid
Crystals in Liquid Crystal Displays, L.M.S.G.A. Applegarth (2010) - http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/169/
Oral Presentations
Boiling Points and Speciation of Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions Under “Hideout” Conditions in
Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor Coolant by Raman Spectroscopy, Lucas M. S. G. A. Applegarth and
Peter R. Tremaine, The 19th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
(August 24-28 2014).
Non-Complexing Anions for Physico-Chemical Studies by Raman Spectroscopy under Hydrothermal
Conditions, L.M.S.G.A. Applegarth, C. Alcorn, K. Bissonnette, J. Noel and P.R. Tremaine, Proc. 16th Int.
Conf. Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS & Inst. Mech. Eng.; Greenwich, U.K., Sept. 1 - 5, 2013).
A Raman and Ab Initio Investigation of Aqueous Cu(I) Chloride Complexes from 25 to 80°C, Lucas M. S.
G. A. Applegarth, Christopher R. Corbeil, Darren J. W. Mercer, Cory C. Pye and Peter R. Tremaine, 96th
Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition CNS Conference (Quebec, May 26th – 30th 2013).
Investigation of Aqueous Complexes Using Raman Spectroscopy, Lucas M. S. G. A. Applegarth,
University of Western Ontario Seminar (London, Jan 13th 2012).
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