Dr. Xu (Shine) Zhang

Shine completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Prof. Janusz Pawliszyn. He subsequently began working in the Servos Lab, where he applied solid-phase microextraction (SPME) techniques for measuring pharmaceuticals in fish and aquatic systems. His early research focused on the development of space-resolved SPME methods for biological matrices, enabling improved spatial characterization of contaminant distribution within organisms. He applied these approaches to study the bioconcentration of pharmaceuticals in rainbow trout, providing new insight into internal exposure patterns using advanced microextraction-based analytical methods.

Building on this foundation, he expanded his research through collaborations with Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (Norman Zhou), where he began working on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanomaterials, and with Chemistry (Jian Liu), where he developed work on gold nanoparticles. These collaborations led to research in photocatalytic degradation processes, water treatment applications, and the removal of pharmaceuticals from environmental systems. As part of his CIHR fellowship, he also spent a term at Harvard University conducting research, gaining further experience in biomedical applications and nanotechnology and strengthening his focus on translational approaches at the interface of environmental and health sciences.

Over time, his research evolved into broader interests in nanotechnology-based environmental and biomedical applications, including nanomedicine, where he continues to explore multifunctional material platforms for both environmental remediation and health-related technologies.

He is currently a professor at Cape Breton University (CBU) and holds the Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Healthy Environments and Communities, where he leads a research program focused on developing innovative technologies and generating new knowledge to improve environmental protection, including water treatment and environment-related health sciences. He also frequently co-supervises MSc and PhD students with Mark Servos. Dr. Zhang is a Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute Associate Member, contributing to the development of multifunctional material and device platforms for cancer diagnostics and treatment based on nanotechnology.