Shirley Tang

Professor

Location: QNC 4618

Phone: 519-888-4567 x38037

Biography

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

Research Interests

Nanobiomaterial
Nanobioelectronics
Graphene
Carbon nanotube
Nanocomposite
Disease Detection and Modeling
Epidemiology and Digital Health
Smart Materials
Biomaterials, Polymers and Bioplastics
AI assisted Materials Development
Thernostic Materials
Bionanotechnology and Biosensors
Devices and Analytical Methods
Smart and Functional Materials
Molecular Therapeutics and Theranostics
Nanomaterials
3D Bioprinting

Education

1999, PhD, Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
1993, BSc, Chemistry, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Awards

2022, Research Leaders Award, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
2022, Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Women’s Executive Network (WXN)
2021, Research Leaders Award, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
2018, Outstanding Achievements of Women in Nanosciences: Mid-Career Award, NanoOntario
2012, Stars in Global Health, Grand Challenges Canada
2008, Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Leader’s Opportunity Award
1998, Who’s Who in American Women Award
1993, Honored Graduate, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
1989-1993, Distinguished Undergraduate Scholarship, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China

Service

2018-present, Associate Dean of Science (Research), Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo
2014-2017, Director, Nanotechnology Engineering Program, University of Waterloo
2012-2014, Chemistry Representative, Faculty of Science Foundation

Professional Associations

International Journal of Bioprinting, Editorship, Special Issue: “Convergence of 3D Bioprinting and Nanotechnology”
Exploration of BioMat-X, Editorial Board Member
Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC)
Canadian Biomaterials Society (CBS)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Materials Research Society (MRS)
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), Technical Committee Member of the Bionanotechnology and BioMEMS (BNM) Technical Community

Affiliations and Volunteer Work

Member, Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Member, The Water Institute
Member, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology
Member, Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research

Teaching*

CHEM 750 - Selected Topics in Physical Chemistry
- Taught in 2024
NE 486 - Biosensors
- Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

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

Selected/Recent Publications

View all Shirley Tang's publications on Google Scholar.
“Recent Advances and Challenges: Translational Research of Minimally Invasive Wearable Biochemical Sensors”, I. Ausri, Y. Zilberman-Simakov, X. S. Tang*, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, submitted (2022).
“Micro-Extrusion 3D Printing of Hydrophilic and Rapidly Curing Silicone-based Materials Mimicking the Mechanical and Multizonal Structure of the Articular Cartilage”, H. Golzar, Y. Wu, X. S. Tang*, Advanced Healthcare Materials, submitted (2022).
“Highly Accurate Heart Failure Classification Using Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Biosensors and Machine Learning Assisted Data Analysis”, Z. Guo, R. Tian, W. Xu, D. Yip, M. Radyk, F. B. Santos, A. Yip, T. Chen*, X. S. Tang*, Biosensors and Bioelectronics X, 12, 100187 (2022).
“Embedded 3D Printing of Ultrasound-Compatible Arterial Phantoms with Biomimetic Elasticity”, Y. Wu, A. Chee, H. Golzar, A. Yu, X. S. Tang*, Advanced Functional Materials, 32, 2110153 (2022).
“Development of a Hybrid Nanoink for 3D Bioprinting of Heterogeneous Tumor Models”, A. C. Burkholder-Wenger, H. Golzar, Y. Wu, X. S. Tang*, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 8, 777-785 (2022).

Patents

“3D printable, UV-curable, hydrophilic viscoelastic silicone”, X. S. Tang, H. Golzar, Provisional Patent #63/475328, November 1, 2022.
“Biosensors comprising a gate-keeper membrane”, X. S. Tang, U. S. Patent 10883983, January 5, 2021.
“Biosensor for the detection of an analyte”, X. S. Tang, PCT international Application No. CA2019050595, May 3, 2019.
“Carbon nanotube coatings for visible and ir camouflage”, US Patent Application No. 13/637119.