The department's small class-sizes, engaging teaching practices, and hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art facilities empower our students to solve real-world problems.
The Department of Chemical Engineering is a vibrant center of collaborative research addressing some of the most pressing challenges in energy and materials. Our faculty members are engaged in a diverse array of research in areas such as machine learning and process systems engineering, CO2 capture and conversion, polymer engineering, renewable energy, synthetic biology, environmental remediation, and materials science that push the boundaries of innovation.
Find out more by exploring the programs, research and news stories on this site.
News
Water-based nanotech formulation enables cleaner, more efficient pesticide delivery
A research group led by Professor Michael Tam has developed a new water-based pesticide delivery formulation that dramatically improves how pesticides stick to plant leaves even in wind and rain.
Early field trials conducted with an industrial partner in Singapore demonstrated the potential of the technology. Cabbage plots were seeded with insect pests and the water-based formulation outperformed conventional pesticide systems, delivering better pest control using less active ingredients.
Current pesticide delivery systems rely on chemicals and solvents to help pesticide droplets stay on plant leaves and spread, which can be harmful to the environment.
Standard practice is crops are protected by pesticides via liquid sprays using nozzles, mist sprays or from airplanes as a result, pesticides do not always reach their intended target, bouncing off plant leaves, drifting into the air or washing into soil and waterways leading to economic loss for farmers and environmental contamination.
Boxin Zhao elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
Professor Boxin Zhao has been elected as a Fellow by the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE). CAE Fellows are nominated and elected by their peers in recognition of their outstanding achievements and lifelong contributions to the field of engineering.
“I’m honored to be elected as a CAE Fellow because this recognition goes beyond academia to engineering practice. I’m grateful that my work is acknowledged by engineers working in industry and across society,” says Zhao.
Zhao’s research centers on creating advanced functional materials aimed at addressing pressing industrial and environmental challenges, with a particular focus on understanding and engineering surface adhesion and interfacial interactions.
His research group has utilized polymer nanotechnology to create smart materials that interact with light, heat, and humidity, enabling novel applications in advanced manufacturing, including soft robotics and flexible electrical devices.
Milad Kamkar is recognized for his contributions to advanced manufacturing
The Department of Chemical Engineering is proud to announce that Professor Milad Kamkar is one of the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineering Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineering (SME).
This award recognizes early career engineers who have made exceptional contributions and accomplishments in the manufacturing industry.
“This award is deeply meaningful to me because my research group is focussed on fabricating advanced materials via novel manufacturing techniques. Manufacturing is the area where I hope my research will make a tangible real-life impact. Receiving this recognition from the most relevant society in the field affirms we are on the right track,” says Kamkar. “I was also humbled to be nominated by both my former supervisors, Professors Orlando Rojas and Uttandaraman Sundararaj.”
Kamkar’s group has developed several novel manufacturing techniques over the last several years. His research group has created the following novel manufacturing techniques: droplet templating, chaotic direct ink writing , Janus liquids/aerogels, liquid in liquid printing, and liquid streaming. In addition, his group also develops novel functional links for 3D printing.