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De France Lab People
Our lab work is all about collaboration, blending the fascinating fields of materials chemistry, engineering, and biotechnology. We strive to replace petroleum-based products with high-performance renewable materials, paving the way for a greener future! This rewarding journey involves our dedicated faculty, staff, and students, along with amazing advisors, facilitators, and change-makers from all around the world.
People
Dr. Kevin De France
Assistant Professor, Queen’s University
Dr. Kevin De France joined Queen’s University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering in May 2022. He was named to the 2024 Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40, and is the recipient of the 2024 Queen’s University Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award for his efforts in encouraging and mentoring undergraduate scholars. His research focuses on the design of sustainable materials using building blocks from cellulose and proteins.
Prior to his appointment at Queen’s, Kevin was an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow in The Cellulose & Wood Materials Lab at Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science & Technology, where he focused on understanding structure-function relationships in bio-based nanomaterials, and translation toward commercialization. This included the design of sprayable food-packaging from cellulose nanofibers, emulsion stabilized fungal propagules for biological control, and composite films from cellulose nanocrystals and protein fibers. Kevin earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University (2019), under the supervision of Dr. Todd Hoare and Dr. Emily Cranston, where his research focused on the design of cellulose nanocrystal hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. He was awarded the TAPPI Nano Division Student Award in 2019 to recognize his research contributions and service to the TAPPI Nano Division as a PhD student.
Dr. Kevin De France joined Queen’s University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering in May 2022. He was named to the 2024 Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40, and is the recipient of the 2024 Queen’s University Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award for his efforts in encouraging and mentoring undergraduate scholars. His research focuses on the design of sustainable materials using building blocks from cellulose and proteins.
Prior to his appointment at Queen’s, Kevin was an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow in The Cellulose & Wood Materials Lab at Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science & Technology, where he focused on understanding structure-function relationships in bio-based nanomaterials, and translation toward commercialization. This included the design of sprayable food-packaging from cellulose nanofibers, emulsion stabilized fungal propagules for biological control, and composite films from cellulose nanocrystals and protein fibers. Kevin earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University (2019), under the supervision of Dr. Todd Hoare and Dr. Emily Cranston, where his research focused on the design of cellulose nanocrystal hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. He was awarded the TAPPI Nano Division Student Award in 2019 to recognize his research contributions and service to the TAPPI Nano Division as a PhD student.
Dr. Kevin De France
Assistant Professor, Queen’s University
Research Staff and Postdoctoral Fellows
Lenka Vitkova
Postdoctoral Fellow (co-supervised with Dr. Amsden)
Project: Electrospinning crosslinkable protein nanofibers for muscle tissue engineering
Lenka is a postdoctoral fellow in the De France Lab at Queen’s University. A proud alumna of Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Republic, she got her Ph.D. at the Department of Physics and Materials Engineering. Her research dives into the world of biopolymers, focusing on advanced scaffold processing for cell cultivation. Her work on the electrospinning of hyaluronan has been recognized with the Head of the Department of Physics and Materials Engineering Award. She gained international experience at the University of Luxembourg and the Bayreuth University. At Queen’s, Lenka will explore self-assembled protein amyloids as materials for electrospinning of aligned fibrous scaffolds, aiming to guide muscle cell growth and differentiation. When she’s not immersed in research, Lenka enjoys climbing, reading and absurd hypothetical questions.
Arvinder Pannu
Research Project Coordinator
Project: Meal2Materials.ca
Arvinder Pannu (He/Him) is a Project Manager for the Meal2Materials initiative (funded by NSERC) in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University, where he is helping transform canola biomass into innovative commercial inputs. He also serves as an ad-hoc Data, Policy, and Research Analyst at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, shaping policies that drive sustainable growth in Canada’s agri-food sector. Arvinder’s cross-functional leadership includes spearheading circular-economy loans for Guelph’s first-of-its-kind food system pilot, managing national Food Day Canada campaigns, and guiding critical cybersecurity and data discussions at federal forums. Fluent in English and French, he thrives on collaboration, building bridges among academia, industry, and grassroots movements, and—when not crunching data or organizing stakeholder summits—champions sustainable innovations that empower communities to think bigger, move faster, and create lasting impact.
Graduate Students
Nasim Fadaie
PhD student (co-supervised with Dr. Xin, Civil Engineering)
Project: Sustainable materials for the treatment of pharmaceutical contaminants
Nasim is a first-year doctoral student who holds a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST). Her academic expertise centers on Membrane Technology for water/wastewater treatment applications. She has previously worked on innovative thin-film composite membranes for forward osmosis processes. At Queen’s University, her research will be focused on developing bio-based nanofibril materials for both water treatment and biomedical applications. Outside of the lab, she is a fitness trainer and enjoys spending her free time in the gym.
Carolina Ordonez
PhD student (co-supervised with Dr. Cunningham and Dr. Champagne, NRC)
Project: Stimuli-responsive protein nanofiber emulsions for controlled delivery
Carolina is a Chemical engineer from Colombia and a second-year doctoral student with a background in bioprocess, corrosion, and polymers. She has prior experience in corrosion research for the Oil and Gas industry. Her first project focused on enhancing the properties of latex-based coatings using carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals. Currently, her research explores the development of oil-in-water emulsions with protein fibers designed to be stimuli-responsive for biomedical applications. Beyond academia, Carolina enjoys dancing, crafting, exercising, and traveling.
Romina Shirazi
PhD student (co-supervised with Dr. Koupaie)
Project: Sustainable materials in water treatment and anaerobic digestion
Romina is a first-year doctoral student, and completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST). Her research interests lie in the area of nanofibrous membrane design for water purification and other biotechnological applications. She is enthusiastic about implementing her knowledge in designing high-performance bio-based materials for wastewater treatment and medical applications. Aside from her academic activities, she is a fitness enthusiast, an amateur photographer and painter.
Mohamed Wahbi
PhD student (co-supervised with Dr. Kontopoulou)
Project: Sustainable routes to modify PLA for additive manufacturing
Mohamed is a fourth-year doctoral student who is interested in advancing sustainable materials for 3D printing. His academic journey began with a B.Sc. from Ibn Zohr University, followed by an M.Sc. from Cadi Ayyad University in Morocco. During his master’s studies, Mohamed participated in an Erasmus exchange program in Greece, where he spent a year dedicated to developing biobased polyesters for eco-friendly packaging. At Queen's, his research focuses on overcoming the limitations of PLA in 3D printing by developing fully bio-based PLA blends and composites. His main project currently involves the hydrophobic modification of CNCs to improve their compatibility with PLA and other polymer matrices.
Wen-Qiang Wang
PhD student (co-supervised with Dr. Xin, Civil Engineering)
Project: Advanced Photocatalytic and Air Nanobubble Systems for Cyanotoxin Mitigation in Drinking Water
Wen-Qiang is a civil engineering PhD student from China interested in developing advanced water treatment technologies to address pressing environmental challenges. With a diverse background in engineering project management, industrial R&D, and research at the intersection of AI and chemical engineering, he brings a unique perspective to his work. His research focuses on the removal of cyanotoxins from drinking water using photocatalysts combined with nanobubble technology. Outside of academia, Wen-Qiang is an award-winning photographer, an active 2V2 badminton player, and a fitness fan.
Marwa Naime
MASc student (co-supervised with Dr. Kontopoulou and Dr. Gilbert)
Project: Protein nanofiber alignment and rheological behavior
Marwa is a second year Chemical Engineering Master’s student from Lebanon who is passionate about sustainability. she is interested in integrating it into unconventional scientific research fields and exploring niche techniques to studying sustainable materials. Her project will focus on studying protein nanofiber alignment, orientation, and rheological behavior to better understand their effects on material properties. Outside academics, she is an avid enthusiast of archeology, morning runs, and escape rooms!
Yidan (Daniella) Wen
PhD student
Project: Protein nanofibers from canola meal
Yidan (Daniella) started her academic journey as a nanotechnology engineering undergraduate at the University of Waterloo. Her capstone project focused on developing a glucose sensor for diabetes, based on gold nanoparticles. During her co-op she conducted research on microfluidic devices for point of care applications. She is now pursuing a Master’s degree at Queen’s University in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and is excited to explore the potential of protein nanofibers in biomedical devices and sustainable biomaterials.
Shaoyan Wang
PhD student (co-supervised with Dr. Zechel, Chemistry)
Project: Engineering plastic packaging to make it auto-bio-degradable
Shaoyan is a doctoral student supervised by Dr. David Zechel and Dr. Kevin De France at Queen’s. He is the holder of a Bruce Mitchell Research Program (BMRP) fellowship. His research interests lie in the area of microbiology, enzymology and material chemistry.
Before joining Queen’s, he obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of Saskatchewan where he was awarded the President’s Medal, the University Medal in Science, and the Dean’s Medal.
Viktorie Daňková
Visiting PhD Student
Project: Development of natural polymer hydrogel systems for biological applications
Vicky is a first-year doctoral student from Thomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic, visiting the De France Lab at Queen’s University. She received her Master of Engineering at the Department of Physics and Materials Engineering. For her work on the preparation of polydopamine (PDA) in various forms, she was awarded the Director of the Department of Physics and Materials Engineering’s Award. During her master's, Vicky spent two months at the Department of Chemistry at University of Coimbra (Portugal), where she studied transport properties of polymer systems. At Queen’s University, she will explore the preparation of conductive electrospun scaffolds based on hyaluronan derivatives and polydopamine. In her free time, Vicky loves sports (tennis, cycling, climbing) and board games.
Viktorie Hepová
Visiting MASc Student
Project: Designing structured surfaces from proteins and carbohydrates
Viki is a visiting Master’s student from Czechia. Her major is biomaterials, and in her work, she focuses on the hierarchical structuring of polymer surfaces intended for tissue engineering applications. Viki is interested in the intersection of biology and technology. She has some experience from a biology lab from her undergraduate studies, where she was developing skin tissue models. During her traineeship at Queen’s, she will be preparing wrinkled surfaces based on natural polymers such as proteins or polydopamine and further modifying them with polydopamine particles or films. In her free time, she likes walks in nature as well as exploring city life, from local markets to cozy cafés. She also enjoys good conversations and discovering new places and cultures.
Undergraduate Students
Spencer McCluskey
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
Project: Protein nanofiber electrodes for electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion
Spencer is an undergraduate Engineering Chemistry student with an interest in applying sustainable materials to electrochemical processes. Spencer will be joining the lab as a NSERC USRA researcher co-supervised by Dr. Rachel Baker. His project will focus on the development of protein-based materials as a replacement for metal electrodes in electrochemical CO2 conversion systems. In his free time, Spencer enjoys running, hiking, and cooking.
Cassandra Koitsopoulos
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
Project: Designing emulsions from protein nanofibers
Cassandra is an Engineering Chemistry undergraduate student with an interest in nanobiotechnology and sustainable material design. For her thesis, Cassandra will be working on designing and characterizing stable emulsions using bio-based protein nanofibers (PNFs), which are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional surfactants and can help promote a shift towards greener manufacturing practices in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Outside of the lab, Cassandra enjoys going to the gym, swimming, and photography.
Sylvia Chamberlain
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
Project: PLA Composites Reinforced with modified cellulose nanofibers
Sylvia is an undergraduate student in Engineering Chemistry, currently completing her thesis project in the De France Lab. She is interested in material science and her research aims to enhance PLA by creating composite materials incorporating modified cellulose nanofibers. Outside of research, she enjoys baking and listening to the music of Taylor Swift.
Helen Zhang
CHEE 408 Thesis Student
Project: Designing electrospun scaffolds from protein nanofibers
Helen is an undergraduate biochemical engineering student with a keen interest in regenerative medicine. She is completing her fourth year thesis in the De France lab, where her project focuses on electrospinning fibrous scaffolds for muscle tissue engineering applications. Outside of her studies, Helen enjoys traveling and watching the latest movies.
Alumni
Ina Tachom
Undergraduate Volunteer
2024
Gillian Szandtner
NSERC USRA Summer Researcher
2024
Andre Guerra
Visiting PhD Student
2023 - 2024
Brigitte Gaudert
USSRF Summer Researcher & BIOL 537 Thesis Student
2023 - 2024
Michaela Hammond
CHEE 408 Thesis Student
2023 - 2024
Nathalia Rosalle
NSERC USRA Summer Researcher & ENCH 417 Thesis Student
2023 - 2024
Victor Di Donato
CHEE 408 Thesis Student
2023 - 2024
Caroline Kupczyk
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
2023 - 2024
Sam Fahrngruber
CHEE 408 Thesis Student
2023 - 2024
Geneviève Norris-Roozmon
CHEE 408 Thesis Student
2022 - 2023
Statement of Inclusion
The De France Lab and all of its members are committed to fostering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in our workplace, on the Queen’s campus, and the broader Kingston community. All HQP in the De France Lab are equally welcomed, valued, and respected, receiving personalized training in laboratory and professional skills. Resources and support centered around Enabling, Engaging, and Inclusion are provided to give HQP the capability and confidence to accomplish significant research objectives in the advancement of science and their own professional careers.
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