Featured Candidates

Meet Mike Gillingham.  Ideal position:  Communications or Research work related to history or law.

Hello my name is Mike Gillingham, I have recently moved back to Fredericton, from Halifax, as my wife has taken on a new position with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.  I was actually born in Fredericton and lived here up until 2006.  I graduated from Fredericton High School in 1999, and then moved on to University where I attended St. Thomas University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2006, while attaining a major in History and a minor in English and Criminology. 

Since moving back to Fredericton, I have been looking to find a position that will put my education to work.  I am interested in a career position that involves research work or some type of communications position, whether it is history related or law related.  These are two fields are of great interest to me. I really hope to find a position in these fields and look forward to hearing from any opportunity that I may qualify for with my education and work experience.       

Sincerely,

Mike Gillingham

Biography of Paul D. Thornton.  Ideal position: Looking for an opportunity in businesses/agencies that do chemistry or research in chemistry.

Paul Thornton was born and raised in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. He attended Southern Victoria High School and after graduation spent a year as a Rotary exchange student in Switzerland. After this enlightening and formative experience, Paul returned to Canada and began his undergraduate studies at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, NB. It was in the second year of his BSc. degree that he became fascinated with the study of organic chemistry. Inspired by the excellent teachers in the Department of Chemistry at UNB, Paul proceeded to spend his summers conducting research in chemistry and completed an honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. David MaGee. Paul then continued his education at Dalhousie University where he has been conducting PhD research in organic synthesis under the direction of Dr. Jean Burnell.

Organic synthesis is a keystone discipline of medicinal chemistry and materials science. Its principal aim is to discover new ways of making molecules and then apply these new methods in the preparation of complex and useful substances (e.g. medicines or polymers). In this regard, synthetic chemists can be described as architects on an incredibly small scale. The number and diversity of challenges associated with this type of research add to its appeal.

In August of 2009, Paul will be starting a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Aubé. The research he will be conducting in Kansas focuses on using the techniques of organic synthesis to make and identify “lead” compounds that have medicinal potential. The most active of these lead compounds will be further modified to increase their suitability as medicinal agents. Paul is excited to be involved in this research endeavour. His long-term goal is to return to the Maritimes and pursue a career in chemistry that can incorporate his research abilities and interests in teaching.