Zoya Leonenko

Zoya Leonenko
Professor | University Research Chair
Location: PHY 354

Biography

Dr. Leonenko joined University of Waterloo in 2007 and leads a nanoscale biophysics research group which uses atomic force microscopy (AFM), Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and other physical methods, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and nanopore electrophysiology (BLM) to study biophysics of lipid membranes and membrane – protein interactions, applications of lipid membranes in bio-nanotechnology, molecular neuroscience and quantum biology.

Research Interests

  • Biophysics

  • Molecular neuroscience

  • Neurodegenerative diseases

  • Nanotechnology

  • Application of lipid films in biomedical nanotechnology

  • Atomic force microscopy

  • Kelvin probe force microscopy

  • Single molecule force spectroscopy

  • Drug discovery, design & delivery

  • Quantum biology

  • Quantum effects in neuroscience

Scholarly Research

Education

  • 1996, PhD Chemical Physics, Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia

  • 1985, Diploma, Physical Chemistry, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia

Awards

  • 2020 – 2027, University Research Chair

  • 2012, Invited Professorship Award, University of Burgundy

  • 2007 – 2012, NSERC University Faculty Award

Service

  • 2019 – 2021, Biophysical Society of Canada President

Professional Associations

  • 2014 – Present, Biophysical Society of Canada

  • 2007 – Present, Canadian Association of Physicists

  • 2007 – Present, American Physical Society

  • 2003 – Present, Biophysical Society (International)

Affiliations and Volunteer Work

  • Professor, Department of Biology, University of Waterloo

  • Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo

  • Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (Member)

  • Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (Member)

Teaching*

  • BIOL 280 - Introduction to Biophysics
    • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
  • NANO 701 - Fundamentals of Nanotechnology
    • Taught in 2021
  • PHYS 280 - Introduction to Biophysics
    • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

Selected/Recent Publications