Dr. Dylan Webb

Dylan was born and raised in the windy city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. He obtained his Bachelor of Science and worked with Dr. J. Robin Fulton for his Masters at Victoria University of Wellington. Dylan’s Masters thesis involved the synthesis of unique and reactive zinc, cadmium, and mercury complexes.

Following his studies, Dylan travelled the world and ended up in Canada, where opportunities in the science field are more plentiful. Once in Canada, he worked with Prof. Paul Hayes at the University of Lethbridge. Dylan’s PhD thesis involved cationic zinc and calcium complexes as catalysts for the generation of biodegradable polymers. With a desire to continue growing in a teaching and research environment Dylan sought employment within Alberta.

Dr. Dylan Webb joined the Department of Chemistry and Physics at MRU in 2022 as an Assistant Professor. He is predominantly teaching inorganic chemistry, capstone courses, and may be seen in general chemistry and courses involving spectroscopy and synthesis.

Beside chemistry, Dylan is an avid hiker and explorer of the Canadian Rockies. He also is a leather worker, paints miniatures, plays Dungeons and Dragons, and writes epic fantasy. You can find a link to his work here.

Relevant Training and Experience

Assistant Professor - Inorganic Chemistry (07/2022 - Present)
- Mount Royal University
- Chemistry representative on: FST Curriculum committee, FST Safety committee, General Science program committee
- Associate membership with the School of Graduate Studies - University of Lethbridge
PhD - Earth, Space, and Physical Science. Concentration in Inorganic Chemistry (09/2017 - 04/2022)
- University of Lethbridge
- Supervisor - Prof. Paul G. Hayes
- Thesis - I: Synthesis and Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cationic Metal Complexes Supported by NEN-Pincer Ligands (E = O, S, Se) II: Semisynthesis Strategies for the Generation of Cannabinoids ad Related Derivatives

MSc - Chemistry. Concentration in Inorganic Chemistry (11/2014 - 11/2016)
- Victoria University of Wellington
- Supervisor - Dr. J. Robin Fulton, Associate Professor
- Thesis - Synthesis and Reactivity of Group 12 beta-Diketiminate Coordination Complexes
BSc - Chemistry and Biology (03/2011 - 11/2014)
- Victoria University of Wellington

Senior Chemistry Instructor, Academic Horizons (02/2022 - 05/2022)
Combustion Analysis Technician, University of Lethbridge (09/2018 - 05/2022)
Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Student Instructor, University of Lethbridge (09/2017 - 12/2021)
Research Assistant, Coles Lab, Victoria University of Wellington (11/2016 - 03/2017)
Undergraduate Laboratory Demonstrator and Sessional Assistant, Victoria University of Wellington (03/2013 - 03/2017)
Victoria Summer Scholarship Positions, Prof. Kate McGrath and Dr. J. Robin Fulton, Victoria University of Wellington (11/2012 - 02/2015)
Rigaku School for advanced topics in Practical Crystallography - Honors (2020 & 2021)
Canadian Society of Chemistry (CSC) member (2017 - Present)
New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) member and student representative (2015 - 2017)
Courses taught in at Victoria University of Wellington
- CHEM191 - Introductory Chemistry
- CHEM114 - Principles of Chemistry
- CHEM205 - Chemical Synthesis, Laboratory Component
- CHEM206 - Chemical Methods and Processes, Laboratory Component
- CHEM306 - Chemistry Materials and Methods Laboratory
Courses taught in at the University of Lethbridge
- CHEM2500 - Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM2600 - Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM4010 - Advanced Chemistry, Laboratory Series
Courses taught in at Mount Royal University
- CHEM2401 - Inorganic Chemistry (lecture & lab)
- CHEM3200 - Research Methods in Chemistry
- CHEM4411 - Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis (lecture & lab)
- SCIE5010 - General Science Senior Student Seminar
- SCIE5020 - General Science Interdisciplinary Project
- SCIE5030 - General Science Internship / Work Integrated Learning

Selected Awards

Internal Research Grant Fund (Awarded Winter 2024)
Faculty Development Committee funding (Winter 2023 & Winter 2024)

During PhD
Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (2021)
MITACS Accelerate Fellowship (2019-2022)
Research Dissemination Travel Award (2019)
Graduate Student Travel Scholarship (2019)

During Masters & Bachelors
Curtis-Gordon Research Scholarship (2015-2017)
Summer Scholarship Golden Poster (2012)
Victoria Summer Scholarship x 3 (2012-2015)
Victoria Excellence Scholarship (2011)

Selected Presentations and Publications

Webb, D. J.; Kovalchuk, I.; Hayes, P. G.* “Semisynthetic Strategies to, and Biological Activity of, Low Abundant Cannabinoids and Related Derivatives” 14th Annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. November 2021
Webb, D. J.; Hayes, P. G.*; Kovalchuk, I. “Semisynthetic Strategies to, and Biological Activity of, Low Abundant Cannabinoids and Related Derivatives” 48th World Chemistry Congress and 104th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. August 2021
Webb, D. J.; Hayes, P. G.*; Kovalchuk, I.* “Semisynthetic Strategies for the Production of Cannabinoids from Cannabis Sativa” Poster Presentation, 13th Annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. October 2019. Awarded 1st Prize.
Webb, D. J.; Hayes, P. G.* “The Synthesis of Phosphinimine Containing NEN-Pincer Ligands (E = O, S, Se) and their Corresponding Cationic Zinc and Calcium Complexes” 7th Latin American Symposium on Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry (SILQCOM7), Cartagena, Columbia. August 2019. Awarded 1st Prize.
Webb, D. J.; Hayes, P. G.* “Synthesis and Design of Cationic Metal Complexes Bearing NEN-Pincer Ligands (E = O, S, Se) for Ring-Opening Polymerization” Poster Presentation, 102nd Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. June 2019
Webb, D. J.; Hayes, P. G.* “Synthesis and Design of Cationic Metal Complexes Bearing NEN Pincer Ligands (E = O, S) for Ring-Opening Polymerization” Poster Presentation, 12th Annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. September 2018. Awarded 1st Prize.

Webb, D. J; Hill D. D. N; Boeré R. T; Kovalchuk, I; Li, D; Hayes, P. G.* Ortho-quinone Derivatives of Cannabinol (CBN) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Isomers: Synthesis, Effect on Breast Cancer Cell Growth, and Electrochemistry. ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 202X (Coming from PhD)
Webb, D. J; Kovalchuk I; Li D; Hayes, P. G.* A Semisynthetic Approach to Cannabinoid Production from Cannabis sativa and Their Corresponding Antiproliferative Effects on Cancer. J. Nat. Prod. 202X (Coming from PhD)
Webb, D. J; Kaur, R; Wetmore, S. D; Kovalchuk, I; Hayes, P. G.* From Plant to Oil: A Semisynthetic Strategy and Computational Study of Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol. J. Nat. Prod. 202X (Coming from PhD)
Webb, D. J; Cruz-Milette, D. E; Hayes, P. G.* The Synthesis of Phosphinimine Containing NEN-Pincer Ligands (E = O, S, Se) and their Corresponding Cationic Zinc Complexes. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 202X (Coming from PhD)
Webb, D. J; Hayes, P. G.* On the Coordination Chemistry of Bis- and Trisphosphinimine Containing Ligands. Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry III. 2021, 1, Pg 131-157
Webb, D. J; Hayes, P. G; Kovalchuk, I. Methods for Synthesis of Cannabis Products. 2021 US-2020262806-A1
Webb, D. J; Wheaton, C. A; Hayes, P. G.* Cationic Zinc Complexes of Phosphinimine-Containing NON-Pincer Ligands. Inorg. Synth. 2021 (Invited Submission)
Webb, D.; Fulton, J. R.* Utilising an Anilido-imino Ligand to Stabilize Zinc-phosphanide Complexes: Reactivity and Fluorescent Properties. Dalton Transactions 2019, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C9DT00681H.
Webb, D.; Fitchett, C.; Lein, M.; Fulton, J. R.* Carbodiimides as Catalysts for the Reduction of a Cadmium Hydride Complex. Chemical Communications 2017, 54 (5). DOI: 10.1039/C7CC08393A.