Dr. Christopher Backhouse accepts the position as Associate Director for the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Dr. Christopher Backhouse accepts the position as Associate Director for the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology.

He will be taking over for previous Centre Associate Director Dr. Karim Karim. 

Christopher Backhouse has served on the CBB Board of Directors since 2016, the WIN Board of Directors since 2012, is a professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, and has developed quantum and biomedical devices and their instrumentation, both in industry and in academic research. His present activities are largely focused upon lab-on-chip devices and applications, with particular interests in CMOS integration and quantum applications to biological systems. In 2011, he moved from the  University of Alberta to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. From 2012-2014 he was  the Director of the Nanotechnology Engineering program.

Chris believes that the CBB has an important role to play with the many biotechnology/nanobiotechnology activities at the UW - although the level of research activity is high and diverse, that diversity has not facilitated international recognition, nor communication. At the same time, this area seems poised for significant growth - the strengthening of the community and its communication would facilitate that growth.  Chris looks forward to aiding this effort and feels that it is of critical importance.  

Chris will be retire his role on the CBB Board of Directors in order to facilitate his new duties and efforts in his position as Associate Director for a three (3) year period starting January 2018.