Paul G. Hayes

Paul G. Hayes is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge, where he leads the Hayes Research Group. His work focuses on organometallic and inorganic chemistry for catalysis, biodegradable materials, and actinide/lanthanide complexes.

• Education: B.Sc. (Honours) in Chemistry from Mount Allison University, Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Calgary, and NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley.

Research Interests include:

• Synthesis of reactive inorganic molecules for chemical transformations and catalysis.
• Biodegradable/biocompatible materials using Mg, Ca, and Zn complexes.
• Lanthanide/actinide complexation with phosphazide ligands.
• Catalytic hydrocarbon functionalization via Rh and Ir complexes.

His group employs high-vacuum techniques, X-ray crystallography, and spectroscopy (NMR, EPR, GPC) to characterize these systems.

Recent Publications highlight advancements in rhodium-mediated heterocycle synthesis, cyclometalation suppression, and actinide-ligand interactions, spanning Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Dalton Trans., and Organometallics. Key themes include ligand design, small-molecule activation, and green chemistry.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Tier I Board of Governors Research Chair.
  • NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship.
  • NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship.

Advising and Grants include mentoring over 20 graduate/undergraduate students and securing major funding from NSERC, Alberta Ingenuity, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. His lab’s Research Facilities include the Research Facility for Organometallic Chemistry and the New Science Building (Science Commons).