Shira Joudan, PhD (she/they)

Shira grew up in Winnipeg and obtained her BSc in Chemistry from Carleton University, where she was first exposed to mass spectrometry research through lipidomics while working with Prof. Jeff Smith. During her summers and the year before graduate school, she worked with Prof. Charles Wong at the University of Winnipeg, where she really learned about environmental chemistry! She attended the University of Toronto to pursue her PhD in Chemistry (Environmental Chemistry) with Prof. Scott Mabury, where her research investigated reactions of legacy and replacement per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. During her postdoc research at York University with Prof. Cora Young she made atmospheric measurements of PFAS, and did something new to her by innovating a novel online chromatography-mass spectrometry instrument to measure atmospheric organic acids. Outside of research and teaching, she enjoys canoeing, concerts, quality time with friends, and is getting back into tap dancing!

 

Academic positions
2023 — present: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta
2020 — 2022: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Chemistry, York University with Prof. Cora Young

Education
2014 — 2020: PhD Environmental Chemistry, University of Toronto with Prof. Scott Mabury
Dissertation: Environmental Reactions of Novel and Legacy Fluorosurfactants
2009 — 2013: BSc Chemistry, Carleton University

How to pronounce my name: She-rah Jo-Dan. If unsure, please ask before introducing me!

Quick links: Full CV Google Scholar

Media features
Women in Chemistry: Q&A with Dr Shira Joudan, Communications Chemistry, 2024, 7, 228.
Shira Joudan, tackling PFAS and environmental contaminants with chemistry, Advance Science News, May 2024
Meet Shira Joudan, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, UAlberta, April 2023

Select awards
2022: Best Review Paper 2021, Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, doi:10.1039/D2EA90011D
2020: Contract Instructor Teaching Excellence Award, shortlisted, U. Toronto
2018: Visiting Researcher Fellowship ($1500 USD), National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA
2017-19: NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship D ($70,000)
2018: Michael Smith Foreign Supplement ($6000)
2017: ACS Summer School on Green Chemistry & Sustainable Energy Participant
2016: SETAC/ACS Environmental Student Exchange Award
2016: Chemistry Teaching Fellowship (twice – total $4000), Department of Chemistry, U. Toronto
2015-16: NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship M ($17,500)
2015-16: Ministry of the Environment Graduate Scholarship ($5000), Ontario MOE & U. Toronto
2011-12: Motoshi Asano Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry ($1540), Department of Chemistry, Carleton U.
2011: NSERC Undergraduate Research Award ($4500)

Select service
Chemistry Interest Group, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC ChemIG): Chair, 2023, member 2018-present
Environment Division, Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC En): Member-at-large, 2022-present
Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Editorial Board Member, 2023-present

Other writing

I write a column for the Thesis section in Nature Chemistry about my career progression. You can find them here:

Below is a map of place I've travelled to or lived in. I've been lucky to have opportunities to travel through work or with my family, and have also travelled on my own. Keeping this map is a bit of a hobby for me. Hopefully I can make it to Asia, Africa and Australia soon.