Areas of Research

The fields of research in the department identified for Ontario Council of Graduate Studies (OCGS) accreditation are Biochemical Engineering, Polymers and Reaction Engineering, and Process Systems Engineering. Within these broad areas, the department has significant research activity in the following areas:

• Biochemical Engineering: Biological conversion of biological feedstocks to energy, materials and useful ends (e.g., degradation of pollutants). Feedstocks may be virgin sourced or may be waste material such as agricultural waste. Separation of products is also studied including the use of phase partitioning bioreactors to combine bioreaction and separation. Researchers: Andrew Daugulis (holds a Queen's Research Chair), Ron Neufeld, Juliana Ramsay, Bruce Ramsay (Adjunct Professor) and Pascale Champagne (cross-appointed).
  > Biochemical Engineering

• Environmental Engineering: Biological conversion of pollutants to benign products using fermenters or in situ processing of contaminated soils. Work is also underway examining turbulent dispersion in the environment, primarily for air quality. Researchers: Juliana Ramsay, Bruce Ramsay, Andrew Daugulis and Ted Grandmaison.
  

• Macro-molecular Processes and Products: Polymer reaction engineering with a broader title to include biological macro-molecules as well. The department has a particularly strong research concentration in this area, with one of the largest polymer engineering groups in North America and elsewhere internationally. The research expertise spans the entire range of polymer engineering, from polymer reaction chemistry, to polymer reaction engineering, to processing and compounding. Expertise in biopolymers and biomaterials includes hydrogels, scaffold material for tissue regeneration, encapsulation of bioactive materials, polyurethanes for biomedical application and polymer gel dosimetry. Researchers: Brian Amsden, Michael Cunningham, Robin Hutchinson, Marianna Kontopoulou, Tim McKenna (CRC Tier I), Kim McAuley, Scott Parent, Ron Neufeld and Kim Woodhouse)
  > Polymer & Reaction Engineering

• Biomedical Engineering: Tissue engineering including scaffolds for adipose and muscle tissue regeneration, mechanical stimulation to promote regeneration, interaction between surfaces and cells in regeneration, oral delivery of insulin and polymer gel dosimeters. Researchers: Brian Amsden, Lauren Flynn, Ron Neufeld, Kim Woodhouse and Steve Waldman (CRC Tier II).
  > Biomedical Engineering

• Process Systems Engineering: Process control, optimization and applied statistics, including extremum-seeking control, parameter estimation in nonlinear dynamic models, diagnostics for statistical model building and parameter estimation, and systems biology. Researchers: Martin Guay, Tom Harris, Kim McAuley and Jim McLellan.
  > Process Control and Applied Statistics

• Fuel Cells: PEM and solid oxide fuel cells, alternative feeds to fuel cells including conversion of agricultural or municipal waste, low platinum electrodes, control of fuel cell systems and parameter estimation for fuel cell models. Researchers: Kunal Karan, Jim McLellan and Brant Peppley (CRC Tier I)
  > Emerging Technology

• Molecular Assembly for Nanostructures: Assembly using non-uniform electric fields and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Researcher: Aris Docoslis (CRC Tier II)
  > Emerging Technology

• Natural Composites and Recycled Materials: Composites made from natural fibres and recycled plastics with emphasis on local solutions. Researcher: Caroline Baillie (DuPont Chair in Engineering Education Research and Design).

• Engineering Education: Threshold concepts and social justice in engineering education. Researcher: Caroline Baillie (DuPont Chair in Engineering Education Research and Design).