Principal Investigator
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/emily.jpg)
Dr. Emily D. Cranston
Professor
Department of Wood Science,
and Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
University of British Columbia, Canada
Office: FSC 4036
Phone: 604-827-0627
Email: emily.cranston@ubc.ca
Lab Manager
![Behzad Zakani](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/07/behzad-zakani.jpg)
Behzad Zakani
Lab Manager (Foster & Cranston groups)
PhD Mechanical Engineering
UBC (2022)
Office: PPC 305
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
UBC Graduate Students
![Cecilia Cancellara](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/09/cecilia-cancellara.jpg)
![Elizabeth Dobrzanski](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/01/elizabeth-dobrzanski.jpg)
Elizabeth Dobrzanski
PhD Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Office: PPC 311
High solid content wood-based foams for thermal insulation
![Runru (Tristan) Liu](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/01/runru-tristan-liu.jpg)
Runru (Tristan) Liu
PhD Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Office: PPC 311
Liquid crystal properties and autofluorescence of carboxylated CNCs
![Anderson Veiga](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/01/anderson-veiga.jpg)
Anderson Veiga
PhD Student
Wood Science
Office: FSC 4301
Labelled cellulose fibres for micro-CT analysis
![Ariane Fernandez Roberts](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/08/ariane-fernandez-roberts.jpg)
![Giuliana Thalina Franco](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/01/giuliana-thalina-franco.jpg)
Giuliana Thalina Franco
Visiting PhD Student (2023-2024)
Physical Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos
Co-supervisor: Caio Gomide Otoni
Office: FSC 4301
Physicochemical Understanding of Multilayer Biopolymeric Films
![Cameron King](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2021/09/cameron-king.jpg)
Cameron King
MSc Student
Wood Science
Office: FSC 4301
Surface modification of cellulose nanocrystals through controlled precipitation
![Alexandra Rousseau](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/03/alexandra-rousseau.jpg)
Alexandra Rousseau
PhD Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Office: PPC 311
Electrochemical applications of cellulose
Undergraduate and Co-op Students
![Sam Bookbinder](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/02/sam-bookbinder.jpg)
![Amy Lai](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2024/01/amy-lai.jpg)
Recent Cranston Group Alumni
![Jude Abu-Namous](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2021/05/jude.jpg)
Jude Abu-Namous
NSERC USRA Researcher, Chemical & Biological Engineering
UBC, Canada
Currently: Research Assistant at UBC
Effect of sulfate content on autofluorescence of nanocellulose
Currently: EA Sports
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/10/julia.jpg)
Julia Antoniw
MSc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Currently: UBC Industry Liaison Office
Incorporation of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals in latex-based pressure-sensitive adhesives
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/gwenn.jpg)
Gwendoline Delepierre
Visiting PhD Student (2019-2020)
Chemistry, Adolphe Merkle Institute
Co-supervisors: Justin Zoppe/Christophe Weder
Currently: Michelin Research and Technology
Symmetric and asymmetric cellulose nanocrystals
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/urooj.jpg)
Urooj Gill
MSc (2015-2017)
(Dr. Moran-Mirabal and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Biology
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Piramal Healthcare Ltd.
![Madeleine Hallman](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2021/09/madeleine-hallman.jpg)
Madeleine Hallman
MASc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals as rheological modifiers and lubricants
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/10/erik-joy.jpg)
Erik Joy
MASc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering
New production routes for CNCs and their biocompatibility
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/10/marcus-johns.jpg)
Marcus Johns
Post-Doctoral Fellow
PhD Chemical Engineering
University of Bath, UK (2017)
Autofluorescence of cellulose nanomaterials & enzymatic synthesis of polysaccharides
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/michael.jpg)
Michael Kiriakou
MASc Student (2018-2020)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Todd Hoare
Improving CNC compatibility for latex synthesis through controlled radical polymerization
Currently: Anomera Inc.
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/D3.jpg)
Daniel Levin
Co-op Student (2017-2018)
(Dr. Moran-Mirabal and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Biology
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Medical School, McMaster
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/lily.jpg)
Lingli (Lily) Liu
Visiting PhD Student (2016-2018)
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Transfar Zhilian Co.
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/heera.jpg)
Heera Marway
MASc (2014-2016)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Research Engineer in MMRI, McMaster
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/blair.jpg)
Blair Morgan
PhD (2016-2021)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Michael Thompson
Thermally stable powders containing viral vectors for vaccines
Currently: Canadian Intellectual Property Office
![Tyler Or](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/tyler.jpg)
Tyler Or
Summer and Thesis Student (2016-2018)
(Dr. Moran-Mirabal and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Biology
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Graduate Studies, Waterloo
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/cynthia.jpg)
Cynthia Pham
BEng BioSciences Student (Level IV)
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: John Frostad
Currently: Graduate Studies, UBC
Nanocellulose emulsion processing
![Jonas Schnell](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/07/jonas-schnell.jpg)
Jonas Schnell
Technical University of Munich
Hybrid feedstocks for high solid content wood-based foams for thermal insulation
![Tiinamari Seppanon](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/12/tiinamari-seppanon.jpg)
Tiinamari Seppänen
Visiting PhD Student (2022-2023)
Chemical Engineering, Aalto University (Finland)
Co-supervisor: Monika Österberg
Adsorption, retention and detection of additives in fiber-based materials
![Varsha Singh](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/varsha.jpg)
Varsha Singh
PhD Student
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Michael Thompson
Engineering spray-dried vaccines for enhancement in inhalation delivery
![Taylor Stimpson](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/taylor.jpg)
Taylor Stimpson
MASc (2018-2020)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Jose Moran-Mirabal
Structure-function relationships of plant cell wall components
Currently: Academy for Sustainable Innovation
![Oriana Vanderfleet](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/oriana.jpg)
Oriana Vanderfleet
PhD Student (2016-2021)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Understanding and improving thermal stability of CNCs
Currently: Natural Resources Canada
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/05/steven.png)
Steven Toniolo
MSc (2016-2018)
(Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering,
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Zimmark Inc.
![Wejia Zhang](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/07/wejia-zhang.jpg)
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/glen.jpg)
![Gili Bar](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/08/gili-bar.jpg)
Gili Bar
MASc student
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Biomimetic crosslinked cellulose nanocrystal microbeads for personal care products
![Chris Fisher](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/07/chris-fisher.jpg)
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/kevin.jpg)
Kevin De France
PhD (2014-2019)
(Dr. Hoare and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Assistant Professor, Queen’s University
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/10/elisa.jpg)
Elisa Ferreira
Post-Doctoral Fellow
PhD Physical Chemistry
UNICAMP, Brazil (2020)
Currently: LNNano/CNPEM Brazil
Lightweight bulky fibre-based materials
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/05/Zhen2.jpg)
Zhen (Justin) Hu
PhD (2011-2015)
(Dr. Pelton and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Sanofi
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/stephanie.jpg)
Stephanie Kedzior
PhD (2013-2017)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Postdoctoral researcher, University of Calgary, Canada
![Cindy Lam](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/12/cindy-lam.jpg)
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/dan.jpg)
Dan LeClair
MASc (2013-2016)
(Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: Pfizer
![Xiran Li](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/xiran.jpg)
Xiran Li
BSc Researcher (2019-2020)
Food Science, UBC
Co-supervisor: John Frostad
Characterization of interfacial activity and stability of CNC stabilized emulsions
Currently: Graduate Student, UC Davis
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/myla.jpg)
Myla Manser
MASc Student
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Michael Thompson
Thermally stable powders containing viral vectors for vaccines
![Marc Massicotte](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/10/marc-massicotte.jpg)
Marc Massicotte
MASc
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Spray drying and fibre spinning multiphase nanocellulose formulations
Currently: BC Ministry of Forests
![Ivan Quevedo](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/08/ivan-quevedo.jpg)
Ivan Quevedo
Visiting Professor
IBERO University, Mexico
Production and physicochemical characterization of colloidal encapsulated agrochemicals (CEAs) with biopolymeric materials.
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/elli.jpg)
Elina Niinivaara
DSc (Tech.) Bioproduct Technology
Aalto University, Finland (2016)
Tuning cellulose-water interactions using designer oligosaccharides
Currently: BC Research Inc
![Colton Routtenberg](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/07/colton-routtenberg.jpg)
Colton Routtenberg
Materials Engineering
Kelp-based bio-composite for structural applications
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/05/dano2.png)
Daniel Osorio
PhD (2018-2021)
Chemical and Biological Engineering, UBC
Co-supervisor: Charles De Lannoy
Multiscale mechanical testing of CNC nanocomposites
![](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/mike.jpg)
Michael Reid
PhD (2013-2017)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada
Currently: RISE, Sweden
![Eupidio Scopel](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/07/eupidio-scopel.jpg)
![Jason Sugiharto](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2022/12/jason-sugiharto.jpg)
Jason Sugiharto
Material Engineering
Co-supervisor: Mark Martinez
Creating bulky fibres with surface modification
![Jaclyn Winitsky](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/jaclyn.jpg)
Jaclyn Winitsky
B.BME.Eng Researcher (2019-2020)
Engineering Physics & Biomedical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Kathryn Grandfield
Currently: AlayaLabs Associate
Nanocellulose bone implants
![Keanna Yu](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2023/03/keanna-yu.jpg)
Keanna Yu
Integrated Science
Dried and re-dispersible oat oil emulsion powders stabilized by methylcellulose and nanocellulose
Current Collaborators outside UBC
![Tiffany Abitbol](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/tiffany.jpg)
Tiffany Abitbol
Assistant Professor
Nanocellulose Fundamentals and Applications
EPFL, Switzerland
![Marc A. Dube](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/10/marc.jpg)
Marc A. Dubé
Professor
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Polymer Reaction Engineering
University of Ottawa, Canada
![Todd Hoare](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/todd.jpg)
Todd Hoare
Associate Professor
Chemical Engineering
Engineered Smart Materials
McMaster University, Canada
![Jose Moran-Mirabal](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/jose.jpg)
Jose M. Moran-Mirabal
Associate Professor
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Micro and Nanostructured Environments
McMaster University, Canada
![Michael R. Thompson](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/MRT.jpg)
Michael R. Thompson
Professor
Chemical Engineering
Polymer, Particle & Pharmaceutial Processing
McMaster University, Canada
![Charles De Lannoy](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/charles.jpg)
Charles De Lannoy
Assistant Professor
Chemical Engineering
Environmental Applications of Nanomaterials
McMaster University, Canada
![John Frostad](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/john.jpg)
John Frostad
Assistant Professor
Chemical & Biological Engineering and Food Science
Interfacial Phenomena & Functional Foods
UBC, Canada
![Eero Kontturi](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/eero.jpg)
Eero Kontturi
Associate Professor
Bioproducts and Biosystems
Nanocellulose
Aalto University, Finland
![Camila Rezende](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/camila.jpg)
Camila Rezende
Associate Professor
Chemistry
Fibre Technology and Biomass Fractionation
Unicamp, Brazil
iqm.unicamp.br/institucional-departamentos/camila-alves-de-rezende
![Jaana Vapaavuori](https://cranstongroup.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2019/09/jaana.jpg)
Jaana Vapaavuori
Assistant Professor
Chemistry and Materials Science
Functional Nanomaterials
Aalto University, Finland
www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-chemistry-and-materials-science