Shirley Tang

• Nanobiomaterial
• Nanobioelectronics
• Graphene
• Carbon nanotube
• Nanocomposite

Shirley Tang's research interests encompass nanomaterials and nanodevices for biology and medicine, bio-molecule assisted nanomaterial self-assembly, and the health and environmental effects of engineered nanomaterials. Her lab is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments tailored for nanocarbon-based synthesis and characterization and a biosafety II cell culture lab dedicated to the investigation of nanocarbon-biosystem interactions. Her current projects include 

• Nanoporous Membranes and Nanofluidic Devices
• Carbon Nanotube Biosensors
• Synthesis of 3D Hierarchical Materials
• Nano-Bio Hybrids for Tissue Engineering and Medicine

Shirley teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Recent course offerings have included topics in bioelectronics, nanostructured materials, nanoelectronics, nanoscale biosystems and quantum mechanics.

• “Reduced Graphene Oxide-GelMA Hybrid Hydrogels as Scaffolds for Cardiac Tissue Engineering”, S. R. Shin, C. Zihlmann, M. Akbari, P. Assawes, L. Cheung, K. Zhang, V. Manoharan, Y. S. Zhang, M. Yuksekkaya, K. Wan, M. Nikkhah, M. R. Dokmeci, X. S. Tang*, A. Khademhosseini*, Small, 12, 2677-3689 (2016). [*co-corresponding authors contributed equally to this work]
• “Diffusive Transport of Two Charge Equivalent and Structurally Similar Ruthenium Complex Ions Through Graphene Oxide Membranes”, M. Coleman, X. S. Tang*, Nano Research, 8, 1128-1138 (2015).
• “Analyte-Dependent Sensing Mechanisms: The Fabrication and Characterization of a 32-Channel SWCNT-TF Chemiresistive Sensors”, A. Ward, A. Petrie, J. F. Honek, X. S. Tang*, IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine, 8, 29-37 (2014).
• “Effective reduction of graphene oxide by a fluorinating agent: diethylaminosulfur trifluoride”, X. Gao, X. S. Tang*, Carbon, 76, 133-140 (2014).
• “Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Carbon Nanotube and Metal Oxide Hybrid Mesoporous Architectures”, M. Mazloumi, S. Shadmehr, Y. Yangom, L. F. Nazar, X. S. Tang*, ACS Nano, 7, 4281-4288 (2013).

• “Nanobiosensors with electrochemical transducer coupled with gate-keeper membrane”, X. S. Tang, Chinese Patent Application, November, 2015.

• Stars in Global Health, Grand Challenges Canada, 2012

• Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Leader’s Opportunity Award, 2008

• Who’s Who in American Women Award, 1998

• Honored Graduate, HuaZhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1993

• Distinguished Undergraduate Scholarship, HUST, 1989-1993

• ​Member of the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology
• Member of the Water Institute
• Member of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
• Member of Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research

• Director, Nanotechnology Engineering Program, 2014–present

• Faculty of Science Foundation – Chemistry representative, 2012-14

The following news stories have featured Shirley Tang's research:

• October 20, 2014:  Food Safety:  Waterloo nanotech device tests for bacteria

• February 12, 2013:  Improving lives at nano-scale

1999 Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

1993 B.S., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China