JEELLA ACEDO
Dr. Jeella Acedo (she/her) is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Physics at MRU and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary.
She has so far taught courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Her research focus is on the discovery and characterization of peptide antimicrobials. She is the first NSERC Discovery Grant holder in the department.
Prior to coming to MRU, Jeella was an NSERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the research group of Prof. Wilfred van der Donk, who is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (WAV Website).
She received her PhD in Chemistry in 2017 from the University of Alberta, where she was an Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Scholar under the supervision of Prof. John Vederas (JCV Website).
Before coming to UofA, she worked at the University of the Philippines Los Baños for 3 years as a university instructor and taught laboratory courses in organic, analytical, general, and physical chemistry (see list here). Jeella obtained her BSc in Agricultural Chemistry, graduating as magna cum laude, from the same university in 2009.
Selected Recognition, Awards, Grants & Funding
2024 Research Recognition Award for Undergraduate Research Supervision
2023 Petro-Canada Emerging Innovator Award
2023 MRFA Teaching Excellence Award
2023 MRU Library Open Access Fund
2023 Faculty Research and Scholarship Dissemination Fund
2023 FST Faculty Development Fund
2023-2025 New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration (Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Nwaishi)
2023-2026 Alberta Innovates Water Innovations Grant (Co-Investigator with Dr. Nwaishi as Principal Investigator)
2023-2024 Internal Research Grant Fund
2021 FST Faculty Development Fund
2021-2026 NSERC Discovery Grant
2021-2026 NSERC Discovery Launch Supplement
2021-2022 Internal Research Grant Fund
2020 FST Faculty Development Fund
2019-2021 FST Research Grant
Graduate and Post-doctoral Awards
2018-2020 NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship
2015-2017 Alberta Innovates Health Solutions Graduate Scholarship
2016 Graduate Teaching Award, University of Alberta
2016 GSA Professional Development Award, University of Alberta
2015 FGSR Travel Award, University of Alberta
2015 Chemical Biology Oral Presentation Award (Graduate Seminar), University of Alberta
2012 Doctoral Recruitment Award, University of Alberta
2012-2017 Consistent Recipient of Departmental Teaching Award in Organic Chemistry, University of Alberta
Selected Undergraduate Awards
2010 Best Undergraduate Thesis, PMCP–Bayer Philippines
2010 Best Undergraduate Thesis, Gamma Sigma Delta International Honor Society of Agriculture
2009 Most Outstanding Science Research, Department of Science and Technology-Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation (BPI-DOST)
2009 Outstanding University Student Leadership Award, University of the Philippines Los Baños
2009 UPLB Alumni Association Leadership Award, University of the Philippines Los Baños
2008 Ten Outstanding Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines
2007, 2008 Two-time National Champion for the National Intercollegiate Chemistry Quiz Competition (PACSiklaban)
2004-2009 Department of Science and Technology Undergraduate Merit Scholarship
Selected Appointments / Service
Member, MRU Research and Scholarship Committee of the General Faculties Council (2023-2026)
Reviewer, New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)–Exploration (2023-2024)
Admin Team, Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentship (2023-2024)
Member, MRU Research Days Organizing Committee (2024)
Reviewer, Student Research Award for the Library Committee (2022-2024)
Member, MRU Faculty of Science and Technology Research Day Organizing Committee (2021, 2022, 2024)
Reviewer, MRU Office of Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement (ORSCE) Scholarship Review Committee (2020-2023)
Member, MRU Faculty of Science and Technology Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (2021-2022)
Member, MRU Faculty of Science and Technology Research and Scholarly Activities Committee (2020-2022)