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People
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
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 (with a cross-appointment to the Department of Chemistry) in May 2022. He was named to the 2024 Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40, and is the recipient of the 2025 Queen’s University Frank Knox Award for teaching excellence, and the 2024 Queen’s University Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award for his efforts in encouraging and mentoring undergraduate scholars. Research in his group focuses on the design and valorization of sustainable bio-based materials from biomass feedstocks.
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.
Research Staff and Postdoctoral Fellows
Joshua Buzolic
Postdoctoral Fellow (co-supervised with Dr. Rachel Baker)
Project: Electrochemical effects on natural materials as alternative electrodes
Joshua is a Vice-Principal Research postdoctoral fellow in the De France Lab at Queen’s University. He completed his PhD in Surface Chemistry and Materials Science at The University of Western Australia under the supervision of Prof. Rob Atkin. Joshua’s PhD thesis explored interfacial phenomena using advanced microscopy, rheology, and electrochemical techniques, with a focus on understanding nanoscale structure and dynamics in complex fluids and materials. During his studies, Joshua published in several high-impact journals, presented at international conferences, and earned multiple awards for his research. At Queen’s University, Joshua will investigate how electrochemical environments influence the stability and integrity of natural materials as sustainable electrode alternatives for electrochemical CO2 conversion. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing hockey and tennis, watching Australian rules football and cricket, and is passionate about music.
Ariella Liberati
Postdoctoral fellow (co-supervised with Dr. Michael Cunningham)
Project: Composite Pickering Emulsions and Scaffolds based on Protein Nanofibers and Bacterial Cellulose
Ariella is a postdoctoral fellow in the De France lab at Queen’s University. She grew up in France, where she obtained her PhD in Chemistry and Physico-Chemistry of Materials from the University of Montpellier at the Charles Gerhardt Montpellier Institute. She stayed an extra year in Montpellier for a first postdoctoral fellow experience, before coming to Canada. Her research has mainly focused on the use of organic chemistry at the service of polymer materials science. Applications of her work have varied from lithium-ion battery recycling to biobased hydrogels for medical applications. At Queen’s, Ariella will explore the synthesis of new composite Pickering emulsions and templated bacterial cellulose structures, while identifying relevant applications for such promising technologies. Ariella is aiming at an academic career but in the meantime, she enjoys spending her spare time preparing for plan B by designing clothes and mastering arts and crafts.
Arvinder Pannu
Research Project Coordinator
Project Manager: 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.
Mostafa Rammal
Postdoctoral Fellow
Project: Developing dry-film antimicrobial coatings from cellulose nanocrystals
Mostafa is a Mitacs postdoctoral fellow in the De France lab. Originally from Lebanon, he obtained his PhD in Materials Chemistry at McGill University under the supervision of Prof. Matthew Harrington. During his PhD, his research focused on elucidating structure-function relationships in mussel-inspired materials and adapting biogenic design principles to develop advanced biopolymeric soft materials. At Queen’s, his research focuses on developing dry-film antimicrobial coatings from cellulose nanocrystals, in collaboration with Oligomaster Inc. In his free time, you can find him playing table tennis, trying new recipes, hunting for new cafes, or lifting weights at the gym.
Sandra Smeltzer
Postdoctoral Fellow (co-supervised with Dr. Michael Cunningham)
Project: Pickering emulsions stabilized by modified protein nanofibers for agricultural applications
Sandra is a postdoctoral fellow in the De France Lab at Queen’s University with a background in polymer colloids. She completed her PhD in Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University as a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar under the supervision of Prof. Michael Cunningham. Her PhD research focused on the self-assembly and application of amphiphilic block-random copolymers as stabilizers in emulsion polymerization.
During her PhD, Sandra spent three months at Monash University in Australia with the Polymer Reaction Design Group led by Prof. Tanja Junkers, where she gained hands-on experience in flow chemistry. At Queen’s, her postdoctoral research focuses on developing Pickering emulsions stabilized by modified protein nanofibers for agricultural applications. Outside of the lab, Sandra enjoys figure skating, playing softball, and reading.
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Yueyang Zhang
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta
(Nanotoxicology & Advanced Materials Safety)
Project: Developing safe-by-design approaches for advanced bio‑based materials by integrating in vitro toxicology, exposure assessment, and regulatory frameworks
Brian is a postdoctoral fellow specializing in nanotoxicology, with a PhD in Physiology, Cell & Developmental Biology from the University of Alberta. His research focuses on the environmental and health impacts of engineered nanoparticles, nanoplastics, and nano-enabled products. Through his postdoctoral work with industry partners, he has developed expertise in characterizing advanced materials and designing safety testing strategies aligned with regulatory requirements.
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 second-year doctoral student, holding both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST). She has extensive experience in the design and development of nanofibrous membranes for water purification and other biotechnological applications. She is particularly passionate about creating high-performance, bio-based materials for use in wastewater treatment and medical technologies. Her PhD research focuses on the application of protein-based nanomaterials—specifically engineered protein nanofibers (PNFs) and modified extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)—to enhance anaerobic digestion performance. By improving microbial aggregation and electron transfer, her work aims to boost methane production and system stability in sustainable biological wastewater treatment processes. Beyond her academic pursuits, Romina is a fitness enthusiast, a passionate photographer and painter, and a professional volleyball player.
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.
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 PhD candidate 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 Medalarded the President’s Medal, the University Medal in Science, and the Dean’s Medal.
Fun fact: Shaoyan is a marathoner. He finished his half-marathon with a personal best of 1 hour 33 min 49 sec on April 26, 2026 in Kinston, ON, which makes him the fastest long-distance runner in the lab.
Meera Mistry
MASc Student (Co-supervised by Dr. Laura Wells)
Project: Extracting cellulose from canola meal to create nanocellulose hydrogels
Meera is a passionate first‑year master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at Queen’s University. She began her studies at the University of Waterloo, where she completed an undergraduate degree in Medicinal Chemistry. In her fourth year, she completed a thesis in computational chemistry, modelling protein systems and running molecular dynamics simulations. Through successive co‑op placements, she gained broad industry experience. Her current research focuses on extracting cellulose from canola meal to produce nanocellulose hydrogels for ocular applications. Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking, painting, skating, and both watching and playing sports.
Ritik Puri
MASc Student (Co-supervised by Dr. Marianna Kontopoulou)
Project: Bioplastic Composites from Canola Nanocellulose
Ritik Puri is a first-year MASc student working to address the global plastics challenge by developing sustainable materials from biopolymers. His research focuses on converting cellulose and lignocellulosic biomass into next-generation plastics that can replace conventional petroleum-based polymers while creating new opportunities for the pulp and paper industry.
He completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering at Lakehead University, where he gained diverse laboratory, industrial, and teaching experience. Ritik worked as a Laboratory Intern at the Toronto plant of Ecolab, completed an Operations Summer Internship with Weyerhaeuser, and served as a chemistry tutor for college transfer students at Lakehead University.
Outside of research, Ritik enjoys cooking, listening to soulful music, staying active, following international cricket, reading about history, and exploring new places around the world.
Jimena Calderón
MASc Student
Project: Plant-based biomaterials for cell culture applications in cultivated meat
Jimena Calderón is a biomedical engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and a Master’s student in Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University. She is currently a graduate researcher in the De France Lab, working on the canola meal project, focusing on developing plant-based biomaterials for cell culture applications in cultivated meat. Her work explores the use of sustainable, protein- and fiber-rich agricultural byproducts as functional biomaterials to support cell growth and tissue development. Her research interests include biomaterials, cell culture systems, and translational technologies for sustainable food and biomedical applications. Jimena’s experience in medical devices and clinical technologies informs her interest in developing biomaterials that can be translated into real-world biological systems. Her background combines applied engineering, regulatory environments, and biomedical innovation, with a strong interest in bridging materials science and biological systems for practical impact.
Jazive Rodríguez
PhD Student (Co-supervised by Dr. Marianna Kontopoulou)
Project: Development of bio-based polymeric materials
Jazive (She/Her) is a doctoral student at the De France Lab at Queen’s University. Originally from Mexico, she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Rheology from UNAM (Mexico City), where she was awarded an ExxonMobil scholarship during her undergraduate studies in 2022. During her Master’s program, she also worked as a lecturer for two years at the university. She is also a co-author of the book Topics in Bioengineering (UNAM, 2024), which explores mathematical modeling of membranes and viscoelastic media. Her current research, co-supervised by Dr. Kontopoulou, focuses on the development of bio-based polymeric materials. In her free time, she works independently as a science communicator and enjoys reading, embroidery, photography, and boxing.
Krupa Thakkar
MASc Student, University of Guelph(Co-supervised by Dr. Maria Corradini)
Project: Analysis of deterioration kinetics and shelf life of cellulosic and protein components derived from canola meal by-products.
Krupa Thakkar is a Master’s student in the Corradini lab in the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph. She is passionate about applying food science to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to real-world problems and fostering a supportive student community through her involvement in the Food Science Graduate Committee at Guelph. She previously completed her BSc (Hons) in Food Science at the University of Guelph, where she was actively involved in student leadership and community outreach, supporting engagement within the food science community.
Undergraduate Students
Gillian Szandtner
Summer Student
Project: Extraction of Microalgae Proteins and form Microalgae Protein Nanofibers for the Preparation of Bioplastics
Gillian is a fourth-year undergraduate Biochemical Engineering student who is interested in projects focused on sustainable solutions. For her summer research, Gillian will be working to extract microalgae proteins and form microalgae protein nanofibers for the preparation of bioplastics. In Gillian’s spare time, she loves to cook, do crafts, and spend time outdoors.
Nyah Tripp
Summer Student
Co-supervised with Dr. Rachel Baker
Project: Design of Protein Nanofiber (PNF) Electrodes for Electrochemical Alcohol Oxidation
Nyah is a third-year undergraduate student in Biochemical Engineering. Under the guidance of Joshua Buzolic (Postdoctoral Fellow), she synthesizes PNF solutions to fabricate electrodes as alternatives to conventional metal materials. Through electrochemical synthesis, her work supports the production of pharmaceutical intermediates while favouring safe, recyclable, and low-cost materials. Outside the lab, Nyah enjoys figure skating, downhill skiing, and travelling.
Elizabeth Sadek
Summer Student
Project: Development of Sustainable Protein-Based Adsorbents for Air Filtration
Elizabeth Sadek is an undergraduate chemical engineering student at Queen's University working as an undergraduate research assistant in the De France Lab.Last summer Elizabeth worked as a part of QGEM (Queen’s Genetically Engineered Machine) where she helped to design a therapeutic for patients with Cystic Fibrosis by reprograming quorum-sensing for mammalian cells to dismantle biofilms. This year Elizabeth is working in collaboration with Romina Shirazi and Dr. Dean Kennedy at RMC. The research focuses on the development of sustainable protein-based adsorbents for air filtration. Specifically, investigating how formulation composition and crosslinking conditions influence material structure, stability, and adsorption performance. Elizabeth enjoys rock climbing, cooking and spending time outside in her free time.
Sadie Margulis
Summer Student
Project: Preparing emulsions stabilized by modified protein nanofibers for agricultural applications
Sadie Margulis is a second-year undergraduate student in biochemical engineering working in the De France lab under Sandra Smeltzer (Postdoctoral fellow). Sadie is working on various methods to stabilize Pickering emulsions using protein nanofibers (PNFs) for use in the agricultural industry. This includes looking at additives before and after emulsification, different methods of PNF preparation, and varying materials. In the past year, she has worked under the mathematics and statistics department at Queen's University and is a calculus TA for first-year engineering students. Sadie spends her free time playing sports, hiking, painting, reading, and travelling.
Viktorie Hepová
Visiting
MASc Student
2025
Marwa Naime
MASc
Student
2024 - 2025
Spencer McCluskey
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
2024 - 2025
Sylvia Chamberlain
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
2024 - 2025
Cassandra Koitsopoulos
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
2024 - 2025
Helen Zhang
ENCH 417 Thesis Student
2024 - 2025
Ina Tachom
Undergraduate Volunteer
2023 - 2024
Gillian Szandtner
NSERC USRA Summer Researcher
2023 - 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
Maya Sahnouni
Visiting
Undergraduate Student
2025
Fatima Gil
Visiting
Undergraduate Student
2025
Lachlan Sandison
Undergraduate
Student
2025
Kimberly Ramsay
Undergraduate
Student
2025
Torrin Bigrigg
Undergraduate
Student
2025
James Czerkawski
Undergraduate
Student
2025
Viktorie Daňková
Visiting
PhD Student
2025
Alumni
Alumni
Postdocs & Graduate Students
Cassandra Koitsopoulos
2025 - 2026
MEng
Project: Designing emulsions from microalgal protein nanofibers
Lenka Vitkova
2023 - 2025
Postdoctoral Fellow
Project: Electrospinning crosslinkable protein nanofibers for muscle tissue engineering
Marwa Naime
2024 - 2025
MASc
Project: Protein nanofiber alignment and rheological behavior
Undergraduate Students
Mia Donatucci
BIOL 537 Thesis
2025 - 2026
Kimberly Ramsay
NSERC USRA &
CHEM 497 Thesis
2025 - 2026
Bronwyn Faulkner
CHEE 408 Thesis
2025 - 2026
Mariam El-Behiry
CHEE 408 Thesis
2025 - 2026
James Czerkawski
NSERC USRA
Summer Student
2025
Torrin Bigrigg
Meal2Materials Summer Student
2025
Lachlan Sandison
NSERC USRA
Summer Student
2025
Spencer McCluskey
NSERC USRA &
ENCH 417 Thesis
2024 - 2025
Sylvia Chamberlain
ENCH 417 Thesis
2024 - 2025
Helen Zhang
CHEE 408 Thesis
2024 - 2025
Gillian Szandtner
NSERC USRA
Summer Student
2024
Michaela Hammond
CHEE 408 Thesis
2023 - 2024
Victor Di Donato
CHEE 408 Thesis
2023 - 2024
Nathalia Rosalle
NSERC USRA &
ENCH 417 Thesis
2023 - 2024
Brigitte Gaudert
Queen's USSRF &
BIOL 537 Thesis
2023 - 2024
Caroline Kupczyk
ENCH 417 Thesis
2023 - 2024
Sam Fahrngruber
CHEE 408 Thesis
2023 - 2024
Geneviève Norris-Roozmon
CHEE 408 Thesis
2022 - 2023
Visiting Researchers
Viktorie Horáková
Master's Student
TBU, Czech Republic
2025
Viktorie Daňková
PhD Student
TBU, Czech Republic
2025
Viktorie Hepová
Master's Student
TBU, Czech Republic
2025
Fatima Gil
Mitacs Globalink Undergraduate Student, Mexico
2025
Maya Sahnouni
Mitacs Globalink Undergraduate Student, Tunisia
2025
Andre Guerra
PhD Student
McGill University
2023 - 2024
Ina Tachom
Undergraduate Student Volunteer
2023 - 2024
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.
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.
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