Zoya Leonenko

Professor, University Research Chair

Zoya Leonenko's research focuses on the study of biophysics of lipids and lipid-protein interactions.

Contact information
Office: PHY 354
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 38273

Expertise

Biophysics of lipids and lipid-protein interactions
The role of structural changes and physical properties of lipid template in controlling biological processes and diseases
Application of lipid films in biomedical nanotechnology
Fluorescence and atomic force microscopy
Kelvin probe force microscopy
Single molecule force spectroscopy

Scope: Biophysics of lipids and lipid-protein interactions; role of structural changes and physical properties of lipid monolayers and bilayers in controlling biological processes and diseases; application of lipid films in biomedical nanotechnology

Current Research Projects: role of lipid membrane in amyloid toxicity in relation to Alzheimer's Disease; testing amyloid inhibitor drugs using single molecule atomic force spectroscopy, interaction of antimicrobial peptides with lipid membrane and lung surfactant; lipid-based drug delivery systems, developing novel biosensing platforms using lipid membrane and surface enhanced spectroscopy

Methods: Optical, Fluorescence and Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) and AFM-based Force Measurements; Langmuir-Blodgett Monolayer Technique; Surface Enhanced Spectroscopy; Novel Biological Applications of Frequency Modulation KPFM (FM-KPFM) Technique
Research is funded by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Ontario Ministry of Research & Innovation

Dr. Zoya Leonenko and her research group are actively looking for commercial partners. Please contact Dr. Zoya Leonenko at zleonenk@uwaterloo.ca

Professor Leonenko teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Course offerings have included

Please see Zoya Leonenko's Google Scholar profile for a current list of her peer-reviewed articles.

1995 Second Prize, Ph.D. student competition in Chemical Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
1992-1996 Ph.D. Scholarship, Russian Academy of Sciences
2002 Eli Lilly Conference Travel Award
2005 IUPAB Conference Travel Award
2005 NATA Advanced Study Institute Participant
2006 Invited Professorship Award, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France
2008-2012 NSERC University Faculty Award
2011 Invited Professorship Award, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France