Tyra Lewis
Each year, the ECS Canada Section recognizes a deserving PhD student from a Canadian university for academic achievements in our multi-disciplinary fields though the Canada Section Student Award. The award was established in 1987 to recognize promising young engineers and scientists and to promote careers in electrochemistry and solid state science and technology. Recipients receive a USD $1,500 prize.
Tyra Lewis, originally from the Virgin Islands received her BSc in Forensic Science (2020) and MSc from Trent University (2022). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Materials Science at Trent University under the supervision of Dr. Sanela Martic. Specifically, Tyra’s research interests lie in electroanalysis, electrosynthesis and electrocatalysis. Her undergraduate research focused on studying the electrochemical reactivity of flavonoids and flavonoid-metal complexes with the superoxide anion radical. She then applied her skills to her master’s research thesis which focused on the development of a localized surface plasmon resonance- based sensor for SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Now, through her PhD research, she is fabricating electrochemical sensors toward the application of innovative avenues for more sustainable and precise approaches to environmental monitoring. As first author, she has published original research and reviews in journals such as Analyst, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Electrochemical Science Advances, Electrocatalysis, amongst others. Her accomplishments have been recognized with various awards, including poster awards from the 2020 International Society of Electrochemistry Meeting, the 2021 ECS Canada Section Meeting, and 2022 Poster Competition for the Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Division; a nomination for the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal in 2022; and the Canadian Black Scientists Network BE-STEMM 2023 Conference Award for Research Innovation and Impact. Beyond her research, Tyra is passionate about science communication and community service and has held leadership roles in the Rotary Organization and the Ontario Tech–Trent University ECS Student Chapter.
Tyra will present her award lecture at the upcoming ECS Canada Section meeting.
The new nomination period for the Canada Section Student Award is October 15 through January 15.