People

Principal Investigator

Dr. Emily Cranston

Dr. Emily D. Cranston
Associate 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

Behzad Zakani
Lab Manager (Foster & Cranston groups)
PhD Mechanical Engineering
UBC (2022)

Office: PPC 305

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Postdoctoral Research Fellows

Marcus Johns

Marcus Johns
Post-Doctoral Fellow
PhD Chemical Engineering
University of Bath, UK (2017)

Office: FSC 4033

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Autofluorescence of cellulose nanomaterials & enzymatic synthesis of polysaccharides

Ivan Quevedo

Ivan Quevedo
Visiting Professor
IBERO University, Mexico

Office: PPC 311

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Production and physicochemical characterization of colloidal encapsulated agrochemicals (CEAs) with biopolymeric materials.

Megan Roberts

Megan Roberts
Post-Doctoral Fellow
PhD Polymer & Materials Chemistry
University of Toronto, Canada (2021)

Office: FSC 4031

LinkedIn | Twitter

Developing designer oligosaccharides for in situ preparation of CNC-based polymer conjugates.

UBC Graduate Students

Gili Bar

Gili Bar
MASc student
Chemical and Biological Engineering

Office: PPC 311

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Biomimetic crosslinked cellulose nanocrystal microbeads for personal care products

Elizabeth Dobrzanski

Elizabeth Dobrzanski
MASc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering

Office: PPC 311

LinkedIn

High solid content wood-based foams for thermal insulation

Ariane Fernandes

Ariane Fernandes
PhD student
Wood Science
Co-supervisor: Adriana Manso

Office: FSC 4301

LinkedIn | Twitter

CNC-based dental resins

Giuliana Thalina Franco

Giuliana Thalina Franco
Visiting PhD Student (2023-2024)
Physical Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos
Co-supervisor: Caio Gomide Otoni

Office: FSC 4301

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Physicochemical Understanding of Multilayer Biopolymeric Films

Madeleine Hallman

Madeleine Hallman
MASc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering

Office: PPC 311

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Carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals as rheological modifiers and lubricants

Cameron King

Cameron King
MSc Student
Wood Science

Office: FSC 4301

LinkedIn

Surface modification of cellulose nanocrystals through controlled precipitation

Runru (Tristan) Liu

Runru (Tristan) Liu
MASc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering

Office: PPC 311

LinkedIn

Liquid crystal properties and autofluorescence of carboxylated CNCs

Alexandra Rousseau

Alexandra Rousseau
PhD Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering

Office: PPC 311

LinkedIn

Electrochemical applications of cellulose

Tiinamari Seppänen

Tiinamari Seppänen
Visiting PhD Student (2022-2023)
Chemical Engineering, Aalto University (Finland)
Co-supervisor: Monika Österberg

Office: FSC 4301

LinkedIn

Adsorption, retention and detection of additives in fiber-based materials

Eupidio Scopel

Eupidio Scopel
Visiting PhD Student (2022-2022)
Chemistry, Unicamp (Brazil)
Co-supervisor: Camila Rezende

Office: FSC 4301

LinkedIn | Twitter

Nanocellulose hydrogel fibre spinning

Anderson Veiga

Anderson Veiga
PhD Student
Wood Science

Office: FSC 4301

LinkedIn

Labelled cellulose fibres for micro-CT analysis

Undergraduate and Co-op Students

Cindy Lam

Cindy Lam
Chemical and Biological Engineering

LinkedIn

Autofluorescence of cellulose nanomaterials

Keanna Yu

Keanna Yu
Integrated Science

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Dried and redispersible oat oil emulsion powders stabilized by methyl cellulose and nanocellulose

Recent Cranston Group Alumni

Jude Abu-Namous

Jude Abu-Namous
NSERC USRA Researcher, Chemical & Biological Engineering
UBC, Canada

Currently: Research Assistant at UBC

LinkedIn

Effect of sulfate content on autofluorescence of nanocellulose

Currently: EA Sports

Glen Aggiss

Glen Aggiss
Summer Researcher (2019)
UBC, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: A.H.Lundberg Systems

Julia Antoniw

Julia Antoniw
MSc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering

LinkedIn

Currently: UBC Industry Liaison Office

Incorporation of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals in latex-based pressure sensitive adhesives

Kevin De France

Kevin De France
PhD (2014-2019)
(Dr. Hoare and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: Assistant Professor, Queen’s University

Gwendoline Delepierre

Gwendoline Delepierre
Visiting PhD Student (2019-2020)
Chemistry, Adolphe Merkle Institute
Co-supervisors: Justin Zoppe/Christophe Weder

LinkedIn

Currently: Michelin Research and Technology

Symmetric and asymmetric cellulose nanocrystals

Elisa Ferreira

Elisa Ferreira
Post-Doctoral Fellow
PhD Physical Chemistry
UNICAMP, Brazil (2020)

LinkedIn

Currently: LNNano/CNPEM Brazil

Lightweight bulky fibre-based materials

Urooj Gill

Urooj Gill
MSc (2015-2017)
(Dr. Moran-Mirabal and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Biology
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: Piramal Healthcare Ltd.

Zhen (Justin) Hu

Zhen (Justin) Hu
PhD (2011-2015)
(Dr. Pelton and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada

Currently: Sanofi

Erik Joy

Erik Joy
MASc Student
Chemical and Biological Engineering

LinkedIn

New production routes for CNCs and their biocompatibility

Stephanie Kedzior

Stephanie Kedzior
PhD (2013-2017)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: Postdoctoral researcher, University of Calgary, Canada

Michael Kiriakou

Michael Kiriakou
MASc Student (2018-2020)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Todd Hoare

LinkedIn

Improving CNC compatibility for latex synthesis though controlled radical polymerization

Currently: Anomera Inc.

Dan LeClair

Dan LeClair
MASc (2013-2016)
(Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: Pfizer

Daniel Levin

Daniel Levin
Co-op Student (2017-2018)
(Dr. Moran-Mirabal and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Biology
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: Medical School, McMaster

Xiran Li

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

Lingli (Lily) Liu

Lingli (Lily) Liu
Visiting PhD Student (2016-2018)
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: Transfar Zhilian Co.

Myla Manser

Myla Manser
MASc Student
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Michael Thompson

LinkedIn

Thermally stable powders containing viral vectors for vaccines

Heera Marway

Heera Marway
MASc (2014-2016)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: Research Engineer in MMRI, McMaster

Marc Massicotte

Marc Massicotte
MASc
Chemical and Biological Engineering

LinkedIn

Spray drying and fibre spinning multiphase nanocellulose formulations

Currently: BC Ministry of Forests

Blair Morgan

Blair Morgan
PhD (2016-2021)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Michael Thompson

LinkedIn

Thermally stable powders containing viral vectors for vaccines

Currently: Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Elina Niinivaara

Elina Niinivaara
DSc (Tech.) Bioproduct Technology
Aalto University, Finland (2016)

LinkedIn

Tuning cellulose-water interactions using designer oligosaccharides

Currently: BC Research Inc

Tyler Or

Tyler Or
Summer and Thesis Student (2016-2018)
(Dr. Moran-Mirabal and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Biology
McMaster University, Canada

Currently: Graduate Studies, Waterloo

Daniel Osorio

Daniel Osorio
PhD (2018-2021)
Chemical and Biological Engineering, UBC
Co-supervisor: Charles De Lannoy

LinkedIn

Multiscale mechanical testing of CNC nanocomposites

Cynthia Pham

Cynthia Pham
BEng BioSciences Student (Level IV)
Chemical Engineering & Bioengineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: John Frostad

LinkedIn

Currently: Graduate Studies, UBC

Nanocellulose emulsion processing

Michael Reid

Michael Reid
PhD (2013-2017)
Chemical Engineering
McMaster University, Canada

LinkedIn

Currently: RISE, Sweden

Varsha Singh

Varsha Singh
PhD Student
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Michael Thompson

Engineering spray-dried vaccines for enhancement in inhalation delivery

Taylor Stimpson

Taylor Stimpson
MASc (2018-2020)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Jose Moran-Mirabal

LinkedIn

Structure-function relationships of plant cell wall components

Currently: Academy for Sustainable Innovation

Jason Sugiharto

Jason Sugiharto
Material Engineering
Co-supervisor: Mark Martinez

Creating bulky fibres with surface modification

Steven Toniolo

Steven Toniolo
MSc (2016-2018)
(Dr. Thompson and Dr. Cranston)
Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering,
McMaster University, Canada

Currently: Zimmark Inc.

Oriana Vanderfleet

Oriana Vanderfleet
PhD Student (2016-2021)
Chemical Engineering, McMaster

LinkedIn

Understanding and improving thermal stability of CNCs

Currently: Natural Resources Canada

Jaclyn Winitsky

Jaclyn Winitsky
B.BME.Eng Researcher (2019-2020)
Engineering Physics & Biomedical Engineering, McMaster
Co-supervisor: Kathryn Grandfield

LinkedIn

Currently: AlayaLabs Associate

Nanocellulose bone implants

Current Collaborators outside UBC

Tiffany Abitbol

Tiffany Abitbol
Assistant Professor
Nanocellulose Fundamentals and Applications
EPFL, Switzerland

https://people.epfl.ch/tiffany.abitbol?lang=en

Charles De Lannoy

Charles De Lannoy
Assistant Professor
Chemical Engineering
Environmental Applications of Nanomaterials
McMaster University, Canada

www.delannoylab.com/

Marc A. Dubé

Marc A. Dubé
Professor
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Polymer Reaction Engineering
University of Ottawa, Canada

https://profs.engineering.uottawa.ca/dube/

John Frostad

John Frostad
Assistant Professor
Chemical & Biological Engineering and Food Science
Interfacial Phenomena & Functional Foods
UBC, Canada

food.chbe.ubc.ca/

Todd Hoare

Todd Hoare
Associate Professor
Chemical Engineering
Engineered Smart Materials
McMaster University, Canada

hoarelab.mcmaster.ca/

Eero Kontturi

Eero Kontturi
Associate Professor
Bioproducts and Biosystems
Nanocellulose
Aalto University, Finland

www.aalto.fi/en/people/eero-kontturi

Jose M. Moran-Mirabal

Jose M. Moran-Mirabal
Associate Professor
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Micro and Nanostructured Environments
McMaster University, Canada

www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/moran-mirabal/

Camila Rezende

Camila Rezende
Associate Professor
Chemistry
Fibre Technology and Biomass Fractionation
Unicamp, Brazil

iqm.unicamp.br/institucional-departamentos/camila-alves-de-rezende

Michael R. Thompson

Michael R. Thompson
Professor
Chemical Engineering
Polymer, Particle & Pharmaceutial Processing
McMaster University, Canada

www.eng.mcmaster.ca/people/faculty/michael-thompson

Jaana Vapaavuori

Jaana Vapaavuori
Assistant Professor
Chemistry and Materials Science
Functional Nanomaterials
Aalto University, Finland

www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-chemistry-and-materials-science