Dr. Linda Campbell

The fresh water ecosystems in Ontario are of immense value, economically, environmentally and socially. Despite this importance, the complex interactions of human-caused stressors, including non-native species and contaminants, remain poorly understood. Metal and mercury contamination of aquatic ecosystems is a global issue, with numerous documented health and ecosystem impacts, while spreading non-native aquatic species are having an impact on numerous Ontario Lakes.  Dr. Linda Campbell, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and School of Environmental Studies at Queen’s University, leads a research team who investigate how contaminants are moving through aquatic ecosystems affected by non-native species. The research will provide strategies for management of Ontario lakes to prevent or reduce negative impacts from non-indigenous species.

Dr. Pascale Champagne

Useful products such as biofuels, biofibers and biopharmaceuticals are made of organic materials that can be extracted from abundant eco-friendly sources such as organic waste materials. Dr. Pascale Champagne, an assistant professor with the Department of Civil Engineering at Queen’s University, is developing economically viable biomass conversion processes using livestock manures.  Her research, which may be applied to other organic waste materials, will contribute to innovative and sustainable waste management approaches, and advance Ontario’s bio-based economy.

Dr. James Fraser

Ontario has a history of innovation in photonics - the use of light for transmitting information. Dr. James Fraser, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy at Queen’s University, is building on that history by investigating carbon nanotubes, sheets of carbon atoms rolled into a tube with a diameter of one billionth of a meter. Their size provides them with intriguing optical and electronic properties but it also makes them hard to study. Dr. Fraser intends to create “movies” of how a single nanotube works on very fast time scales, which may lay the foundation for new optoelectronic devices that perform better and cost less to produce.

Dr. Kunal Karan

Fuel cells hold the promise of providing clean energy but lowering their production cost is essential if there is to be wide-scale commercialization. To help realize this goal, Dr. Kunal Karan, an assistant professor of Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University, is developing low-cost polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. His research will help maintain the leadership of Ontario fuel cell companies in this emerging technological field.

Dr. Caroline Pukall

While impressive advances have been made in our understanding of chronic pain, some types of pain, namely vulvodynia - genital pain that affects one in every six women - remain poorly understood. Dr. Caroline Pukall, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University, is gaining greater knowledge of this condition. Her goal is to develop effective treatments to provide pain relief and improve the quality of life of affected women.

Dr. Steven Smith

On the surface, the development of renewable fuel sources and the ability to combat bacterial infection in a timely manner - both issues of concern to the public - appear to have little in common. But both these areas involve bacterial proteins called enzymes, which carry out chemical reactions efficiently. To better understand how these molecules function, Dr. Steven Smith, an associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Queen’s University, is studying their structure and identifying the molecules they interact with. The results will help in the design of more efficient systems for the production of ethanol, a green fuel, and new targets for antimicrobial treatment.

Dr. David Zechel

Dr. David Zechel, an assistant professor of the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University, is interested in unusual enzyme reactions. One enzyme system he is investigating, called carbon-phosphorous lyase, is capable of degrading the stable bond found in toxic organophosphonates, such as, herbicides and chemical warfare reagents.  Such enzymes may be used in environmental remediation.  In addition, he is investigating enzymes that are involved in the biosynthesis of a class of natural products called indolocarbazoles, which might be used in the synthesis of new anticancer drugs.