Faculty Bio

Dr. Matthew Clay

Associate Professor, Chemistry

Phone: 403-254-3756
Email: matthew.clay@stmu.ca

Dr. Matthew Clay, born and raised in Nova Scotia, received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Ottawa in 2006 before moving west to conduct post-doctoral research in biochemistry at the University of Alberta. In 2008 he accepted a position at St. Mary’s University, excited to bring his passion for teaching to the friendly and interactive environment of a St. Mary’s classroom. Teaching general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry at St. Mary’s since 2008, Dr. Clay has developed a number of strategies and teaching styles to ensure students are given the best possible chance of success and he takes great pride in helping everyone realize their potential. His interest in teaching is not confined to the undergraduate classroom either, as he has also been spotted teaching students the finer points of making ice cream with liquid nitrogen or explaining the science behind news stories to anyone who will listen. When he’s not at St. Mary’s you’ll probably find Dr. Clay exploring the Rocky Mountains, hiking, scrambling, snowshoeing, and backpacking his way through remote mountainous regions.

Specialization/Research Interest

Organic chemistry, chemical education

Education

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Ottawa, 2006
B.Sc., Chemistry & Psychology, Dalhousie University, 2001

  • Matthew D. Clay and Eric J. McLeod. Detection of Salicylic Acid in Willow Bark: An Addition to a Classic Series of Experiments in the Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory. J. Chem. Ed. 2012, 89, 1068.
  • Nobuhiko Watanabe, Matthew D. Clay, Marco J. van Belkum, Chenguang Fan, John C. Vederas and Michael N. G. James. The open conformation of LL-DAP-AT from Chlamydia trachomatis: Implications on broad substrate specificities. J. Mol Biol. 2011, 411, 649-660.
  • Chenguang Fan, Matthew D. Clay, Michael K. Deyholos and John C. Vederas. Exploration of Inhibitors for Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2010, 18, 2141-2151.
  • Watanabe, N.; Clay, M.D.; van Belkum, M.J.; Cherney, M.M.; Vederas, J.C.; and James, M.N.G., Mechanism of Substrate Recognition and PLP-induced Conformational Change in LL-Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana, J. Mol Biol., 2008, 384, 1314-1329.
  • Nobuhiko Watanabe, Maia M. Cherney, Marco J. van Belkum, Sandra L. Marcus, Mitchel D. Flegel, Matthew D. Clay, Michael K. Deyholos, John C. Vederas and Michael N. G. James. “Crystal Structure of LL-Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana: A Recently Discovered Enzyme in the Biosynthesis of L-Lysine by Plants and Chlamydia.” J. Mol. Biol. 2007, 371, 685-702.
  • Acetylenic Allenophanes: An Asymmetric Synthesis of a bis-Alleno-bis-butadiynyl-meta-cyclophane. M. D. Clay and A. G. Fallis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 4039-4042.
  • Matthew D. Clay, Ditte Riber and Alex G. Fallis. “Competing Diels-Alder Intramolecular Pathways from Cross Conjugated Trienes: Fused Hydrindenones (Bicyclo[4.3.0]nonenones) versus Bridged Ring (Bicyclo[3.3.1]nonenones) Adducts from a Diene-Transmissive Precursor.” Can. J. Chem. 2005, 83, 559-568.
  • Matthew D. Clay and Alex G. Fallis. “Acetylenic Allenophanes: An Asymmetric Synthesis of a bis-Alleno-bis-butadiynyl-meta-cyclophane.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2005, 44, 4039-4042.
  • Matthew D. Clay, Jennifer Durber and Norman P. Schepp. “Photochemical Generation and Absolute Reactivity of an Allene Oxide in Solution." Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 3883-3886.
  • Pre-service teachers’ experiences co-teaching with scientists in Discovering Science. K. Francis-Poscente, M. A. McLean, M. D. Clay, G. Grothman, and L. Braverman. Proceedings of the 2011 Annual Conference of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education. Conference Presentations
  • Detection of Salicylic Acid in Willow Bark: An Experiment for Introductory Organic Chemistry. M. D. Clay and E. J. McLeod. 94th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (2011).
  • Lysine Biosynthesis: Characterization of LL-DAP Aminotransferase. M. D. Clay. 7th Annual Pigeon Lake Symposium on Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry (2008).
  • Lysine Biosynthesis in Plants: Characterization of LL-DAP Aminotransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana. M. D. Clay. Volcano Conference in Chemical Biology (2008).
  • Characterization of ll-Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase. M. D. Clay, M. J. van Belkum, S. L. Marcus, N. Watanabe, M. M. Cherney, M. K. Deyholos, M. N. G. James, and J. C. Vederas. Zing Natural Products Conference (2008).
  • Characterization of ll-Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase. M. D. Clay, M. D. Flegel, M. J. van Belkum, S. L. Marcus, N. Watanabe, M. M. Cherney, M. K. Deyholos, M. N. G. James, and J. C. Vederas. 90th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (2007, poster prize winner).
  • Characterization of ll-DAP Aminotransferase. M. D. Clay. 6th Annual Pigeon Lake Symposium on Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry (2007).
  • Synthetic Investigations Towards C60. M. D. Clay and A. G. Fallis. 88th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (2005).
  • Synthetic Investigations Towards C60. M. D. Clay and A. G. Fallis. Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute Day (2005).
  • The First Asymmetric Synthesis of an Acetylenic Allenophane. M. D. Clay and A. G. Fallis. 15th Quebec-Ontario Mini-Symposium in Synthetic and Bioorganic Chemistry (2004).
  • Progress Toward the Asymmetric Synthesis of Allenophanes. M. D. Clay and A. G. Fallis. Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute Day (2004, Poster prize winner).
  • Studies Toward the Synthesis of Enantiopure Allenophanes. M. D. Clay and A. G. Fallis. 14th Quebec-Ontario Mini-Symposium in Synthetic and Bioorganic Chemistry (2003).
  • Design and Synthesis of Enantiopure Allenophanes. M. D. Clay and A. G. Fallis. 39th IUPAC Congress and 86th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (2003).
  • A Tether-Controlled Intramolecular Diels-Alder Approach to Hydrindanes. M. D. Clay, D. Riber and A. G. Fallis. Ottawa-Carleton Chemistry Institute Day (2003).
  • A Tether-Controlled Intramolecular Diels-Alder Approach to Hydrindanes. M. D. Clay, D. Riber and A. G. Fallis. 13th Quebec-Ontario Mini-Symposium in Synthetic and Bioorganic Chemistry (2002).
  • Generation and Reactivity of Allene Oxides. M. D. Clay, J. Durber and N. P. Schepp. 84th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (2001).