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Research

Research Organized by Research Area

Research Areas:

  1. Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering
  2. Interfacial Phenomena, Colloids and Porous Media
  3. Green Reaction Engineering
  4. Nanotechnology
  5. Process Systems Engineering
  6. Polymer Science and Engineering
  7. Separation Processes

The faculty members are listed below along with their research interests and e-mail addresses.  More information about each faculty members’ research interests is also available by clicking on the “Faculty” menu item to the left.

1: Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering

M. Aucoin, maucoin@uwaterloo.ca (1):
Viral and non-viral gene/drug delivery; virus-like particle, viral vector and biopolymer synthesis; animal cell culture; metabolic analysis; synthetic biology; systems biology.

W.A. Anderson, wanderson@uwaterloo.ca (1, 3):
Heterogeneous catalysis and process engineering as applied to Environmental and Biochemical Engineering problems.

P. Chen, p4chen@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 7):
Nanotechnology, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, drug and gene delivery, colloid and surface science, interfacial engineering, polymer and biopolymer synthesis.

C. P. Chou, cpchou@uwaterloo.ca (1):
Bioprocess development for biomanufacturing, genetic/protein engineering, metabolic engineering, molecular biology, microbial biotechnology, gene expression, recombinant protein production, fermentation, downstream processing, protein folding.

F. Gu, fxgu@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
Development of self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles for the delivery of conventional small molecule therapeutic agents. Our technology aims to improve the therapeutic index of currently available drugs by optimizing their efficacy and toxicity, and to improve the solubility and stability of drug entities that have been stalled in preclinical trials because of suboptimal biochemical properties. Also specialize in designing and optimizing the processes in nanoparticle manufacturing, which include particle formation, collection, drying and sterilization.

E. Jervis, ejervis@uwaterloo.ca (1):
The underlying hypothesis driving this research program is that an under-standing of transport in the cytoplasm and cellular microenvironment is required for the full realization of host integrated tissue prosthesis. The primary tool used for this work is multiphoton laser scanning microscopy (MP-LSM). The MP technique uses non-linear optical effects to achieve 3D imaging. Basic principles in bio-chemical engineering are applied with MP microscopy for applications including light induced drug activation, MP-photobleaching analysis of trans-port, and 3D live-cell time course imaging.

R.L. Legge, rllegge@uwaterloo.ca (1):
Research interests focus on protein and biomimetic engineering including separation and purification of enzymes, use of enzymes in non-conventional media, reactor design for biotransformations in non-conventional media, enzyme immobilization, immobilized enzyme kinetics, biosensor development, protein thermodynamics and stability and analysis of coupled enzymatic reactions. Research in the area of environmental engineering includes bioremediation of contaminated soils, wastewater treatment and the development of separation processes for treatment of waste effluents.

K.C. Tam, mkctam@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7):
Nano-structured systems from templating process, enhanced drug delivery systems, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), stimuli responsive polymeric systems, polymer-surfactant interactions, associative polymers for environmentally friendly coatings, magnetic nanoparticles for novel separation processes.

C. Moresoli, cmoresol@uwaterloo.ca (1, 7):
Enzyme reaction engineering; wood pulp characterization; food processing and waste reutilization; membrane filtration processes; polymeric membrane barrier properties.

2: Interfacial Phenomena, Colloids and Porous Media

I. Chatzis, ichatzis@uwaterloo.ca (2, 7):
Pore structure characterization; enhanced oil recovery; modelling two-phase flow in porous media; contaminant transport in porous media.

P. Chen, p4chen@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 7):
Nanotechnology, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, drug and gene delivery, colloid and surface science, interfacial engineering, polymer and biopolymer synthesis.

Z. Chen, zhwchen@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 4, 7):
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Materials: Electrocatalysis; Composite Membranes; Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells; Alkaline Fuel Cells; Lithium Ion Batteries; Zinc-Air Batteries; Clear Water and Clear Energy Technology.

M. Fowler, mwfowler@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 6):
Design and testing of fuel cells and associated materials; reliability modeling; 'green energy'; hydrogen energy systems; environmental management, conductive polymer blends.

F. Gu, fxgu@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
Development of self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles for the delivery of conventional small molecule therapeutic agents. Our technology aims to improve the therapeutic index of currently available drugs by optimizing their efficacy and toxicity, and to improve the solubility and stability of drug entities that have been stalled in preclinical trials because of suboptimal biochemical properties. Also specialize in designing and optimizing the processes in nanoparticle manufacturing, which include particle formation, collection, drying and sterilization.

M. Ioannidis, mioannid@uwaterloo.ca (2):
Transport and capillary phenomena in porous materials, characterization of the porous microstructure.

Y. Li, y382li@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6):
Printable nanoparticle-based semiconductors and conductors, p-type, n-type, and ambipolar organic and polymeric semiconductors, organic thin film transistors (OTFTs), organic photovoltaics (solar cells, photodetectors, etc.), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), nanophase separation, nanocomposites.

R. Pal, rpal@uwaterloo.ca (2, 7):
Rheology of dispersions (emulsions, suspensions, emulsions with added solids), flow of dispersions in pipelines and other process equipment; stability and demulsification of oil/water emulsions, column flotation, flow measurement of multi-phase fluids.

M.D. Pritzker, pritzker@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 5, 7):
Electrochemistry of metallurgical and aqueous systems; modeling of hydrometallurgical and electrochemical processes; industrial wastewater treatment. 

K.C. Tam, mkctam@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7):
Nano-structured systems from templating process, enhanced drug delivery systems, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), stimuli responsive polymeric systems, polymer-surfactant interactions, associative polymers for environmentally friendly coatings, magnetic nanoparticles for novel separation processes.

T.T. Tsui, tttsui@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4):
Nanofabrication using electron beam lithography, small scale mechanical properties, fracture of thin films and 3-d structures, interface chemistry, extreme low-k dielectrics, and super strong materials.

A. Yu, aipingyu@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6)
Synthesis of novel nanostructured materials for energy storage, such as supercapacitor and battery. Study and model the long time durability of these devices. Enigneering the interface of filler materials for multi-functional polymer composites.

B. Zhao, zhaob@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6):
Biomimetic micro/nano-technology; adhension, surface forces and contact dynamics; polymers, interfacial phenomena and surface chemistry; pulp and paper science and engineering

3: Green Reaction Engineering

W.A. Anderson, wanderson@uwaterloo.ca (1, 3):
Heterogeneous catalysis and process engineering as applied to Environmental and Biochemical Engineering problems.

Z. Chen, zhwchen@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 4, 7):
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Materials: Electrocatalysis; Composite Membranes; Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells; Alkaline Fuel Cells; Lithium Ion Batteries; Zinc-Air Batteries; Clear Water and Clear Energy Technology.

E. Croiset, ecroiset@uwaterloo.ca (3):
Air pollution control from combustion sources with emphasis on control of NOx and SOx emissions; greenhouse gas abatement.

W.S. Epling, wepling@uwaterloo.ca (3):
Designing, developing and applying heterogeneous catalysts and reaction engineering to engine exhaust cleanup, hydrogen production and environmental pollution control.

M. Fowler, mwfowler@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 6):
Design and testing of fuel cells and associated materials; reliability modeling; 'green energy'; hydrogen energy systems; environmental management, conductive polymer blends.

F.T.T. Ng, fttng@uwaterloo.ca (1, 3, 7):
Catalytic Distillation, Catalyst Development for Hydrocarbon Processing, Heavy Oil and Emulsion Upgrading, Recycling of Plastics.

M.D. Pritzker, pritzker@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 5, 7):
Electrochemistry of metallurgical and acqueous systems; modeling of hydrometallurgical and electrochemical processes; industrial wastewater treatment.

G.L. Rempel, grempel@uwaterloo.ca (3, 6):
Catalysis, polymer science, environmental and pollution control.

4: Nanotechnology

P. Chen, p4chen@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 7):
Nanotechnology, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, drug and gene delivery, colloid and surface science, interfacial engineering, polymer and biopolymer synthesis.

Z. Chen, zhwchen@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 4, 7):
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Materials: Electrocatalysis; Composite Membranes; Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells; Alkaline Fuel Cells; Lithium Ion Batteries; Zinc-Air Batteries; Clear Water and Clear Energy Technology.

F. Gu, fxgu@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
Development of self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles for the delivery of conventional small molecule therapeutic agents. Our technology aims to improve the therapeutic index of currently available drugs by optimizing their efficacy and toxicity, and to improve the solubility and stability of drug entities that have been stalled in preclinical trials because of suboptimal biochemical properties. Also specialize in designing and optimizing the processes in nanoparticle manufacturing, which include particle formation, collection, drying and sterilization.

D. Henneke, henneke@uwaterloo.ca (4):
Nanoparticle and nanostructured thinfilm synthesis; development of high-throughput nanomaterial systems; fundamental aerosol charging.

Y. Li, y382li@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6):
Printable nanoparticle-based semiconductors and conductors, p-type, n-type, and ambipolar organic and polymeric semiconductors, organic thin film transistors (OTFTs), organic photovoltaics (solar cells, photodetectors, etc.), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), nanophase separation, nanocomposites.

L. Simon, lsimon@uwaterloo.ca (4, 6):
Correlation of synthesis-structure properties of polymers. Development of polymer nanocomposites. Mathematical modeling of polymerization mechanisms.

K.C. Tam, mkctam@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7):
Nano-structured systems from templating process, enhanced drug delivery systems, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), stimuli responsive polymeric systems, polymer-surfactant interactions, associative polymers for environmentally friendly coatings, magnetic nanoparticles for novel separation processes.

T.T. Tsui, tttsui@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4):
Nanofabrication using electron beam lithography, small scale mechanical properties, fracture of thin films and 3-d structures, interface chemistry, extreme low-k dielectrics, and super strong materials.

A. Yu, aipingyu@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6)
Synthesis of novel nanostructured materials for energy storage, such as supercapacitor and battery. Study and model the long time durability of these devices. Enigneering the interface of filler materials for multi-functional polymer composites.

B. Zhao, zhaob@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6):
Biomimetic micro/nano-technology; adhension, surface forces and contact dynamics; polymers, interfacial phenomena and surface chemistry; pulp and paper science and engineering

5: Process Systems Engineering

H.M. Budman, hbudman@uwaterloo.ca (5):
Computer process control; robust control; modelling and control of nonlinear processes.

P.L. Douglas, pdouglas@uwaterloo.ca (5):
Computer-aided process engineering; large-scale process simulation and optimization; process synthesis; design for controllability; expert systems. 

T.A. Duever, tduever@uwaterloo.ca (5, 6):
Applied statistics and mathematical modelling in chemical engineering. Recent examples include polymerization and pulp and paper processes. 

A. Elkamel, aelkamel@uwaterloo.ca (5):
Process Systems Engineering; Process Analysis and Improvement; Planning and Scheduling of Process Operations; Supply Chain Management; Product and Process Design; Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization; Waste Utilization and Management; Planning for Energy Production (Oil, Gas and Biomass Energy); Robust Optimization; Soft Computing; Combinatorial Optimization.

A. Penlidis, penlidis@uwaterloo.ca (5, 6):
Polymerization kinetics, mathematical modelling and computer simulation of polymer reactors, on-line sensor development for polymer and latex characterization, and polymer reactor design, optimization and computer control; bulk, solution, emulsion and suspension polymerization.

M.D. Pritzker, pritzker@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 5, 7):
Electrochemistry of metallurgical and acqueous systems; modeling of hydrometallurgical and electrochemical processes; industrial wastewater treatment.

L. Ricardez Sandoval, laricard@uwaterloo.ca (5)
Optimal design of dynamic systems under uncertainty, multiscale modeling and control, optimization under uncertainty, process modeling.

6: Polymer Science and Engineering

T.A. Duever, tduever@uwaterloo.ca (5, 6):
Applied statistics and mathematical modelling in chemical engineering. Recent examples include polymerization and pulp and paper processes. 

X. Feng, xfeng@uwaterloo.ca (6, 7):
Separation technologies, hollow fibers, synthetic membranes and membrane processes, membrane-based contactors and reactors, adsorption separation.

M. Fowler, mwfowler@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 6):
Design and testing of fuel cells and associated materials; reliability modeling; 'green energy'; hydrogen energy systems; environmental management, conductive polymer blends.

F. Gu, fxgu@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
Development of self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles for the delivery of conventional small molecule therapeutic agents. Our technology aims to improve the therapeutic index of currently available drugs by optimizing their efficacy and toxicity, and to improve the solubility and stability of drug entities that have been stalled in preclinical trials because of suboptimal biochemical properties. Also specialize in designing and optimizing the processes in nanoparticle manufacturing, which include particle formation, collection, drying and sterilization.

Y. Li, y382li@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6):
Printable nanoparticle-based semiconductors and conductors, p-type, n-type, and ambipolar organic and polymeric semiconductors, organic thin film transistors (OTFTs), organic photovoltaics (solar cells, photodetectors, etc.), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), nanophase separation, nanocomposites.

N. McManus, nmcmanus@uwaterloo.ca (6):
Free radical polymerization kinetics to produce tailor made polymers; chemical modification of polymers

A. Penlidis, penlidis@uwaterloo.ca (5, 6):
Polymerization kinetics, mathematical modelling and computer simulation of polymer reactors, on-line sensor development for polymer and latex characterization, and polymer reactor design, optimization and computer control; bulk, solution, emulsion and suspension polymerization.

G.L. Rempel, grempel@uwaterloo.ca (3, 6):
Catalysis, polymer science, environmental and pollution control.

L. Simon, lsimon@uwaterloo.ca (4, 6):
Correlation of synthesis-structure properties of polymers. Development of polymer nanocomposites. Mathematical modeling of polymerization mechanisms.

J.B.P. Soares, jsoares@uwaterloo.ca (5, 6):
Metallocene and Ziegler-Natta Catalyzed Polymerizations. Polymer Characterization. Polymerization Kinetics. Mathematical Modelling of Polymerization.

K.C. Tam, mkctam@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7):
Nano-structured systems from templating process, enhanced drug delivery systems, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), stimuli responsive polymeric systems, polymer-surfactant interactions, associative polymers for environmentally friendly coatings, magnetic nanoparticles for novel separation processes.

C. Tzoganakis, ctzogan@uwaterloo.ca (5, 6):
Polymer Processing and Rheology. Chemical Modification of Polymers by Reactive Extrusion. Mathematical Modelling and Computer Simulation of Polymer Processing Operations.

A. Yu, aipingyu@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6)
Synthesis of novel nanostructured materials for energy storage, such as supercapacitor and battery. Study and model the long time durability of these devices. Enigneering the interface of filler materials for multi-functional polymer composites.

B. Zhao, zhaob@uwaterloo.ca (2, 4, 6):
Biomimetic micro/nano-technology; adhension, surface forces and contact dynamics; polymers, interfacial phenomena and surface chemistry; pulp and paper science and engineering

7: Separation Processes

I. Chatzis, ichatzis@uwaterloo.ca (2, 7):
Pore structure characterization; enhanced oil recovery; modelling two-phase flow in porous media; contaminant transport in porous media.

P. Chen, p4chen@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 7):
Nanotechnology, biomaterials, biomedical engineering, drug and gene delivery, colloid and surface science, interfacial engineering, polymer and biopolymer synthesis.

Z. Chen, zhwchen@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 4, 7):
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Materials: Electrocatalysis; Composite Membranes; Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells; Alkaline Fuel Cells; Lithium Ion Batteries; Zinc-Air Batteries; Clear Water and Clear Energy Technology.

X. Feng, xfeng@uwaterloo.ca (6, 7):
Separation technologies, hollow fibers, synthetic membranes and membrane processes, membrane-based contactors and reactors, adsorption separation.

F. Gu, fxgu@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
Development of self-assembled polymeric nanoparticles for the delivery of conventional small molecule therapeutic agents. Our technology aims to improve the therapeutic index of currently available drugs by optimizing their efficacy and toxicity, and to improve the solubility and stability of drug entities that have been stalled in preclinical trials because of suboptimal biochemical properties. Also specialize in designing and optimizing the processes in nanoparticle manufacturing, which include particle formation, collection, drying and sterilization.

C. Moresoli, cmoresol@uwaterloo.ca (1, 7):
Enzyme reaction engineering; wood pulp characterization; food processing and waste reutilization; membrane filtration processes; polymeric membrane barrier properties.

F.T.T. Ng, fttng@uwaterloo.ca (1, 3, 7):
Catalytic Distillation, Catalyst Development for Hydrocarbon Processing, Heavy Oil and Emulsion Upgrading, Recycling of Plastics.

R. Pal, rpal@uwaterloo.ca (2, 7):
Rheology of dispersions (emulsions, suspensions, emulsions with added solids), flow of dispersions in pipelines and other process equipment; stability and demulsification of oil/water emulsions, column flotation, flow measurement of multi-phase fluids.

M.D. Pritzker, pritzker@uwaterloo.ca (2, 3, 5, 7):
Electrochemistry of metallurgical and acqueous systems; modeling of hydrometallurgical and electrochemical processes; industrial wastewater treatment.

K.C. Tam, mkctam@uwaterloo.ca (1, 2, 4, 6, 7):
Nano-structured systems from templating process, enhanced drug delivery systems, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), stimuli responsive polymeric systems, polymer-surfactant interactions, associative polymers for environmentally friendly coatings, magnetic nanoparticles for novel separation processes.