Darren Derksen
@darrenderksen.bsky.social
Professor of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Co-founder AphioTx, Dad-taxi, Aspiring Chef. #chemsky #realtimechem
Essentially every airline in Canada…🙂
November 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Essentially every airline in Canada…🙂
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Really excited to see this in print - super work here by the wonderful team here from the @uwyoongroup.bsky.social
It was a real pleasure to watch this work evolve from a "what if" discussion to a @natsynth.nature.com paper
I truly appreciate being included #Chemsky
It was a real pleasure to watch this work evolve from a "what if" discussion to a @natsynth.nature.com paper
I truly appreciate being included #Chemsky
Oxygen migration into carbon–carbon single bonds by photochemical oxidation - Nature Synthesis
Heteroatom insertions into chemically inert carbon–carbon single bonds are rare compared to their unsaturated analogues. Now, ligand-to-metal charge transfer offers a promising entry point for oxygen ...
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Really excited to see this in print - super work here by the wonderful team here from the @uwyoongroup.bsky.social
It was a real pleasure to watch this work evolve from a "what if" discussion to a @natsynth.nature.com paper
I truly appreciate being included #Chemsky
It was a real pleasure to watch this work evolve from a "what if" discussion to a @natsynth.nature.com paper
I truly appreciate being included #Chemsky
Reposted by Darren Derksen
I think about this post every day 🧪
November 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I think about this post every day 🧪
Reposted by Darren Derksen
I wonder if they saw that coming
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I wonder if they saw that coming
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Novartis is hiring a BS or MS synthetic / medicinal chemist to join the Synthesis Technologies Team - looks like a great early career opportunity #chemjobs www.novartis.com/careers/care...
Research Scientist, Synthetic Technologies
Internal Job Title: Research Scientist I/IIPosition Location: Cambridge, MA, onsite #LI-onsiteJob DescriptionWe are seeking a highly talented and motivated synthetic / medicinal chemist to join the Sy...
www.novartis.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Novartis is hiring a BS or MS synthetic / medicinal chemist to join the Synthesis Technologies Team - looks like a great early career opportunity #chemjobs www.novartis.com/careers/care...
Amazing
October 28, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Amazing
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Professor Emeritus Axel D. Becke @dalhousieu.bsky.social has passed away at age 72.
October 26, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Professor Emeritus Axel D. Becke @dalhousieu.bsky.social has passed away at age 72.
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Explaining Canadian Thanksgiving to Americans
October 12, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Explaining Canadian Thanksgiving to Americans
Reposted by Darren Derksen
We have just published a vacancy for a Process Chemistry Senior Principal Scientist at Vertex, Boston, MA, USA: www.organic-chemistry.org/jobs/offers/... - Please check and share!
October 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
We have just published a vacancy for a Process Chemistry Senior Principal Scientist at Vertex, Boston, MA, USA: www.organic-chemistry.org/jobs/offers/... - Please check and share!
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Using a faster workflow for micro-electron diffraction discovery of new natural products. They’re hiding out there!
Tiny Crystals from Small Extracts
www.science.org
June 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Using a faster workflow for micro-electron diffraction discovery of new natural products. They’re hiding out there!
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Simon Fraser University invites applications from world-renowned researchers for the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) 2026 competition, offering up to $8M over eight years to support innovative and impactful research. Learn more and apply by June 30: www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/a...
Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) 2026 Competition
www.sfu.ca
June 2, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Simon Fraser University invites applications from world-renowned researchers for the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) 2026 competition, offering up to $8M over eight years to support innovative and impactful research. Learn more and apply by June 30: www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/a...
Great to see this paper out in print. We have been curious about changing the properties of borates and this collaboration with Jeff and Warren @wpiers.bsky.social crosses a few different disciplines to synthesize and characterize these intriguing molecules
Take a look at 'Development of electronically tuneable N-heterocyclic borates'
New from @darrenderksen.bsky.social, Jeffrey Van Humbeck, @wpiers.bsky.social and colleagues at @ucalgary.bsky.social.
#OpenAccess 🔓
New from @darrenderksen.bsky.social, Jeffrey Van Humbeck, @wpiers.bsky.social and colleagues at @ucalgary.bsky.social.
#OpenAccess 🔓
Development of electronically tuneable N-heterocyclic borates
In this contribution, we describe the synthesis and characterization of novel borates constructed with N-heterocyclic arene substituents. Beyond providing comparable electronic and redox properties…
buff.ly
June 23, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Great to see this paper out in print. We have been curious about changing the properties of borates and this collaboration with Jeff and Warren @wpiers.bsky.social crosses a few different disciplines to synthesize and characterize these intriguing molecules
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Our pre-print on hypoxia-activated PROTACs (HAP-TACs) is now on ChemRvix: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
We used the indolequinone bioreductive group to protect VHL- or CRBN-recruiting BRD4 degraders rendering them inactive. This group is removed selectively in hypoxia, revealing the active PROTAC.
We used the indolequinone bioreductive group to protect VHL- or CRBN-recruiting BRD4 degraders rendering them inactive. This group is removed selectively in hypoxia, revealing the active PROTAC.
June 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Our pre-print on hypoxia-activated PROTACs (HAP-TACs) is now on ChemRvix: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...
We used the indolequinone bioreductive group to protect VHL- or CRBN-recruiting BRD4 degraders rendering them inactive. This group is removed selectively in hypoxia, revealing the active PROTAC.
We used the indolequinone bioreductive group to protect VHL- or CRBN-recruiting BRD4 degraders rendering them inactive. This group is removed selectively in hypoxia, revealing the active PROTAC.
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Dad's On The Dancefloor
June 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Dad's On The Dancefloor
Reposted by Darren Derksen
Well this couldn’t have come at a better time www.bbc.com/news/article...
Scientists at Loughborough University create 'world's smallest violin'
The violin is smaller than a human hair and has "laid the groundwork" for future research.
www.bbc.com
June 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Well this couldn’t have come at a better time www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Darren Derksen
New on my CV: “Partially Successful Submission to Nature.”
May 28, 2025 at 5:22 PM
New on my CV: “Partially Successful Submission to Nature.”
In contrast to all the bad news in the world, kid 2 hit his first out-of-the-park home run today and it’s basically a perfect afternoon in the sunshine
May 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
In contrast to all the bad news in the world, kid 2 hit his first out-of-the-park home run today and it’s basically a perfect afternoon in the sunshine
Reposted by Darren Derksen
As a practicing chemist, how often do you calculate the pH of a weak acid (or base) solution based on the initial concentration and Ka(b) value?
Because that's like 75% of the acid/base chapter of most textbooks.
Because that's like 75% of the acid/base chapter of most textbooks.
May 20, 2025 at 11:34 AM
As a practicing chemist, how often do you calculate the pH of a weak acid (or base) solution based on the initial concentration and Ka(b) value?
Because that's like 75% of the acid/base chapter of most textbooks.
Because that's like 75% of the acid/base chapter of most textbooks.
Very proud of the newest PhD from the lab! Huge congratulations to Dr. Leonie van de Wouw (O’Sullivan). It was a privilege to have her work in my lab and I know she will go on to do great things in science!! Thank you to @avenaross.bsky.social for being the external examiner 🙂
May 16, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Very proud of the newest PhD from the lab! Huge congratulations to Dr. Leonie van de Wouw (O’Sullivan). It was a privilege to have her work in my lab and I know she will go on to do great things in science!! Thank you to @avenaross.bsky.social for being the external examiner 🙂
Reposted by Darren Derksen
All 4 of my NIH research grants are terminated. These were grants on MDR-TB treatment & strategies for supporting adolescents living w/ HIV. This is a massive waste of resources. I am heartbroken for my Harvard team, my partners in Peru, the next generation of scientists & our country. Shame.
May 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
All 4 of my NIH research grants are terminated. These were grants on MDR-TB treatment & strategies for supporting adolescents living w/ HIV. This is a massive waste of resources. I am heartbroken for my Harvard team, my partners in Peru, the next generation of scientists & our country. Shame.
Reposted by Darren Derksen
This is a noble goal, but I think policy is getting way ahead of reality on the ground here
The FDA says that over the next 3–5 years it aims “to make animal studies the exception rather than the norm” for preclinical safety testing, starting with monoclonal antibodies and eventually encompassing all drugs. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic...
FDA’s shift from animal testing opens doors for organoid makers
New policy could be a windfall for makers of nonanimal models
cen.acs.org
May 12, 2025 at 11:03 AM
This is a noble goal, but I think policy is getting way ahead of reality on the ground here
Reposted by Darren Derksen
📢The Chitnis group is moving!!!
After 7 wonderful years on the east coast @dalchemistry.bsky.social, I'm thrilled to join University of Victoria on the west coast in July 2025.
My Dal fam gave me the best start I could have imagined, and I'm proud to carry their torch on this new adventure at UVic!
After 7 wonderful years on the east coast @dalchemistry.bsky.social, I'm thrilled to join University of Victoria on the west coast in July 2025.
My Dal fam gave me the best start I could have imagined, and I'm proud to carry their torch on this new adventure at UVic!
May 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
📢The Chitnis group is moving!!!
After 7 wonderful years on the east coast @dalchemistry.bsky.social, I'm thrilled to join University of Victoria on the west coast in July 2025.
My Dal fam gave me the best start I could have imagined, and I'm proud to carry their torch on this new adventure at UVic!
After 7 wonderful years on the east coast @dalchemistry.bsky.social, I'm thrilled to join University of Victoria on the west coast in July 2025.
My Dal fam gave me the best start I could have imagined, and I'm proud to carry their torch on this new adventure at UVic!