By: Christie Zeb (she/her)

Waterloo co-op students are at the heart of Nfinite Nanotechnology’s efforts to revolutionize the packaging industry and eliminate plastic waste.

In 2021, Waterloo Engineering professor Kevin Musselman (he/him) teamed up with his graduate students, Chee Hau Teoh (he/him) (MASc ’20) and Jhi Yong Loke (he/him) (MASc ’21), to launch Nfinite Nanotechnology.

The startup was founded on a breakthrough nanocoating technology developed by Teoh and Loke during their master’s studies. This ultrathin, high-performance material enables consumer-packaged goods, like granola bar wraps and potato chip bags, to stay fresh longer while replacing traditional metalized plastic packaging with 100% recyclable paper packaging. 

Since its launch, Nfinite Nanotechnology has raised over $6.5 million USD in seed funding and worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, including household names like PepsiCo. By applying Nfinite’s coating material during packaging production, companies are empowered to embrace eco-friendly materials without sacrificing product freshness or shelf life. 

As the startup continues its mission to redefine packaging, it relies on highly skilled tech student talent to fuel innovation and scale its impact. Nfinite hires nanotechnology and mechanical engineering students from Waterloo to continuously improve its technology. 

A group photo of Nfinite Nanotechnology's founders, Dr. Kevin Musselman, Chee Hau Teoh (MASc ’20) and Jhi Yong Loke (MASc ’21)

Nfinite Nanotech's founding team, Dr. Kevin Musselman, Chee Hau Teoh (MASc ’20) and Jhi Yong Loke (MASc ’21)


Students lead innovation in sustainable technology

The team at Nfinite entrust co-op students with impactful projects, treat students like full-time employees and give them opportunities to lead initiatives. Students work on projects like optimizing the coating processes, solving production challenges and designing critical subsystems. 

Ethan Chan, Nanotechnology Engineering co-op student

Ethan Chan, Nanotechnology Engineering co-op student

During his co-op work term at Nfinite, Ethan Chan (he/him), a third-year Nanotechnology Engineering student, helped to improve coating processes for flexible materials using spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD), a specialized coating technique.

He studied how materials interact, applied a structured testing approach and improved the coating process, which significantly enhanced product quality.

Chan also collaborated with cross-functional teams at Nfinite to analyze experimental data and documented his findings in detailed technical reports.

“I had the opportunity to work with cutting-edge equipment, such as the SALD machine, which allowed me to develop optimized coating recipes and gain a deeper understanding of material science and thin-film technology,” says Chan.

Ana Matovic (she/her), a fourth-year Nanotechnology Engineering student, appreciated the opportunity to apply her classroom knowledge during her work term at Nfinite where she helped to improve the company’s sustainable barrier nanocoating. Matovic utilized her material science knowledge to help design and run experiments to improve coating adhesion, barrier properties and durability.

“My co-op experience at Nfinite Nanotechnology was amazing. While I previously had two other co-op positions before Nfinite, this was the first one where I had the opportunity to explore the impact of nanotechnology in industry,” says Matovic.

Headshot of Ana Matovic, Nanotechnology Engineering co-op student

Ana Matovic, Nanotechnology Engineering co-op student

The team at Nfinite value the innovative minds of Waterloo students. Students often come up with new ideas and fresh thinking that drive projects forward. During the company’s early stages, co-op students helped Nfinite to establish a chemical delivery system and supply chain that laid the groundwork for processes still in use today.

When our teams are heads down trying to figure solutions to problems, co-op students tend to think outside the box. They show up energetic and always open to learning.

Su Low, workplace experience manager at Nfinite Nanotech


A culture of innovation and mentorship 

Nfinite is committed to empowering co-op students, offering the support and resources students need to grow. From their first day, students undergo a structured onboarding process that introduces them to the company’s values and operations.

Headshot of Trupal Goti, engineering manager at Nfinite Nanotech

Trupal Goti, engineering manager at Nfinite Nanotech

Managers clearly define goals and expectations early on and provide regular feedback and check-ins to ensure students feel valued. Students are also assigned buddies to guide them through their co-op terms.

The company’s approach provides students with meaningful opportunities to lead and make a real impact.

“We don’t treat co-op students as just co-op students. Over time, they take on projects equivalent to those of a full-time position," says Trupal Goti (he/him), engineering manager at Nfinite Nanotechnology.

"We provide them with that level of exposure and have similar expectations—they should be ready to handle projects independently.”

Nfinite has hired students for roles such as nanocoating intern, chemistry research intern and mechanical engineering intern.

“Students have had nothing but positive things to say about their co-op experience with Nfinite, praising the availability of employer support, opportunities to expand their skillset and seamless integration of classroom and workplace learning,” says Olivia Roth, the University of Waterloo’s Co-operative and Experiential Education’s account manager for Nfinite.