Dr. Joseph Zurakowski earned a Governor General's Gold Medal, which he will receive at the University of Windsor's Fall 2026 Convocation.
By Sara Elliott
At the heart of University of Windsor alumnus Joseph Zurakowski's (PhD ’25) passion for chemistry is the thrill of creating something new — and the possibility that his discoveries could help other scientists advance their research.
“I love making molecules, it’s so much fun,” Zurakowski says.
“That in and of itself is innately driving me, but the idea of having other people use my molecules in a lab is also very intoxicating.”
That enthusiasm has helped earn Zurakowski a Governor General's Gold Medal, one of Canada's most prestigious academic honours, which he will receive at the University of Windsor's Fall 2026 Convocation.
His doctoral research focused on developing new iron-containing molecules and exploring their chemical reactions, work that could eventually contribute to advances in fields ranging from pharmaceutical development to materials science.
“If you can help make pharmaceuticals cheaper or better or in less steps, that's always a good start,” he says.
For Zurakowski, the award recognizes not only his own achievements but also the people who supported him throughout his academic journey.
“It’s an unbelievable compliment to me and my supervisors and the Faculty of Science at the University of Windsor,” he says.
“I’m the one that gets the gold medal, but it really takes a team to raise a good scientist.”
During his PhD, Zurakowski developed a new iron-containing molecule by taking advantage of what chemists call a “tucked-in” scaffold, referring to the molecular structure surrounding the iron atom.
“It was the first time anybody had ever been able to make and isolate a stable iron molecule containing this type of scaffold around the iron,” he says.
Through experimental testing, he discovered that removing a single electron caused two molecules to react with each other, forming a new carbon-carbon bond.
These bonds are fundamental to creating many chemical compounds, including pharmaceuticals and advanced materials.
“Carbon-carbon bonds are really important to make throughout all fields of chemistry,” Zurakowski says.
“For example, carbon-carbon bond formation is used in pharmaceuticals to make new drug molecules and to make new therapies for people. It's also used in material sciences to make new materials, especially in organic electronic devices.”
Zurakowski hopes other researchers will build on his discoveries by exploring how the molecules behave in different chemical reactions.
The pharmaceutical industry is one potential area of application, where chemists continually seek more efficient ways to create and modify compounds used in drug development.
For Zurakowski, knowing that his work could eventually find a place in another scientist's laboratory is a powerful motivation.
“It's nice if other people use the product, whether it's the concepts I’ve developed for their own experimental design or if it's the physical molecule I've made,” he says.
“I see both as a pretty big success and it's very gratifying to see someone else using our research in their lab.”
The Governor General's Gold Medal adds to an impressive record of academic achievement. In 2022, Zurakowski became the Faculty of Science's first Vanier Scholar in a decade.
Faculty of Science Dean Cláudio Verani says Zurakowski's accomplishments reflect the dedication of students and faculty to advancing scientific discovery.
"We are proud of Zurakowski's accomplishment, as this reflects the dedication and care put by science students and faculty," Dr. Verani says.
Zurakowski is now a postdoctoral fellow in an organic chemistry laboratory at the University of Chicago, where he continues to pursue his passion for creating new molecules.
He credits his supervisors, colleagues and the University of Windsor's Department of Chemistry for helping him develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to take the next step in his scientific career.
“My parents used to say their job was to provide roots and wings, wings for me to go off into the world and roots to come back home to,” he says.
“And I really believe that about my PhD experience as well. UWindsor gave me really good roots and the wings to go fly and go places.”