Francesca M. Kerton is a green chemist and Professor of Chemistry at
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, or MUN (), is a Public university, public research university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook ...
, Canada.
Early life
Kerton completed her B.Sc. (Hons) in chemistry with environmental science at the
University of Kent
The University of Kent (formerly the University of Kent at Canterbury, abbreviated as UKC) is a Collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom. The university was granted its roya ...
. She then completed her D.Phil. (1995–1999) at the
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is a public university, public research university, research university located in Falmer, East Sussex, England. It lies mostly within the city boundaries of Brighton and Hove. Its large campus site is surrounded by the ...
.
Academic career
Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a Public university, public research university with campuses near University of British Columbia Vancouver, Vancouver and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada ...
(1999–2000), Kerton was appointed as a junior lecturer at the
University of York
The University of York (abbreviated as or ''York'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public Collegiate university, collegiate research university in York, England. Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thir ...
(2000–2002). She was awarded a Royal Society (UK) University Research Fellowship (2002–2004). She was appointed as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, or MUN (), is a Public university, public research university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook ...
in 2005, where she founded the Green Chemistry and Catalysis Group. She was promoted to associate professor in 2010 and promoted to professor in 2015.
Research
Kerton has authored more than 80 scientific papers related to
green chemistry
Green chemistry, similar to sustainable chemistry or circular chemistry, is an area of chemistry and chemical engineering focused on the design of products and processes that minimize or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Wh ...
,
organometallic chemistry
Organometallic chemistry is the study of organometallic compounds, chemical compounds containing at least one chemical bond between a carbon atom of an organic molecule and a metal, including alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metals, and so ...
,
catalysis
Catalysis () is the increase in rate of a chemical reaction due to an added substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed by the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recycles quick ...
, and
polymer chemistry
Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the structures, chemical synthesis, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are also applic ...
. Kerton and her research group have contributed to the development of processes to convert waste from fish and shellfish processing plants into chemical feedstocks. Her laboratory has also developed polymerization catalysts using earth-abundant metals.
Published work
Kerton is the co-author of the book ''Alternative Solvents for Green Chemistry'', which is published by the Royal Society for Chemistry. She has also authored ''Fuels, Chemicals and Materials from the Oceans and Aquatic Sources'', which is published by Wiley.
Honours and awards
Kerton was selected as one of three Canadian Women for the 25 Women in Science 2024 cohort whose research focuses on environmental sustainability. This recognition aims to increase the visibility of women researchers and highlights Kerton's research targeting new environmentally-friendly technologies to transform food waste towards achieving a circular economy. In 2023, Kerton was the recipient of the Kalev Pugi Award from the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) Canada Group. Kerton received the 2016 Dean's Distinguished Scholar Medal at Memorial University. In 2019, Kerton was recognized for her research with the Canadian Green Chemistry and Engineering Award (Individual). She was made a
Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) is one of the most prestigious awards conferred by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in the United Kingdom. Existing Fellows include award winning scientists and Nobel prize winners.
FRSC awa ...
in 2016.
Other contributions
Kerton has served on the interdisciplinary adjudication committee for
Canada Research Chair
Canada Research Chair (CRC) is a title given to certain Canadian university research professors by the Canada Research Chairs Program.
Program goals
The Canada Research Chair program was established in 2000 as a part of the Government of Canada ...
s program and as an evaluator of Fellowship proposals for the
Association of Commonwealth Universities
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is a charitable organization that was established in 1913, and has over 400 member institutions in over 40 countries across the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth.Reaction Chemistry and Engineering both published by the
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society and professional association in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemistry, chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the ...
. She is a member of the
IUPAC
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC ) is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations working for the advancement of the chemical sciences, especially by developing nomenclature and terminology. It is ...
committee for Chemistry Research Applied to World Needs (CHEMRAWN) and Chair of this committee since January 2020. She was the co-chair for the 27th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference in 2023, and will serve as Conference Chair for the 2027 IUPAC , CSC 51st World Chemistry Congress and 54th General Assembly.