Assistant Professor
Shamus (he/him) received his PhD in Quantum Chemistry from the University of New Brunswick in 2015 under the supervision of Dr. Thakkar. While in graduate school, he worked with Let’s Talk Science. After graduating from UNB, between 2015 and 2021, Shamus was a tutor in many different math, physics, and chemistry courses across a number of different Universities and Community Colleges throughout Nova Scotia, both in-person and virtually. Since the fall of 2021, Shamus has been an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, coming full circle to where he obtained his BSc.
Shamus began working with Shad in the summer of 2025, shadowing as a Program Director at Carleton University in Ottawa and theUniversity of British Columbia in Vancouver. He is looking forward to the beginning of Shad StFX in the summer of 2026; the experiences it will bring, working with the staff and seeing the development of the students throughout the program.
Outside of Chemistry, Shamus enjoys going on road trips with his wife and is an avid reader of both fiction(crime/thriller novels and anything by Stephen King) and non-fiction(particularly philosophy and the history of science).
Senior Laboratory Instructor, Department of Chemistry
Samantha’s (she/her) interest in science started at a young age watching reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This interest led her to pursue a degree in environmental chemistry at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University and to a career as a laboratory instructor in the chemistry department at St. Francis Xavier University.
As a lab instructor Samantha has instructed a wide range of labs including first year, biochemistry and advanced organic chemistry. Here Samantha’s students witness firsthand how chemistry is present in our day-to-day lives; from studying photosynthetic enzymes in spinach to synthesizing organometallic compounds and chemically modifying essential oils.
Outside of work Samantha is an avid reader, particularly science fiction and action. She believes that reading opens the mind to endless possibilities and helps us better understand different perspectives.
Samantha is excited to share her love of science as a co-program director of Shad St. Francis Xavier University starting in 2026.
