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Cao Thang Dinh received his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Laval University in 2010 and 2014, respectively. His graduate work focused on designing visible-light-driven nanostructured photocatalysts for water splitting and the decomposition of organic pollutants. After receiving his doctorate, Cao joined Sargent’s group at the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow. Here, he focused on developing catalysts and systems for the conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels and chemicals using renewable energy. Cao began his independent career in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University in July of 2019.

Cao is a Co-investigator on the Open Plastic. 

Graeme Howe received his Hon. B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Toronto. During his undergraduate studies, he had the opportunity to work with Prof. Dwight Seferos, learning to use computation to predict the properties and reactivities of small molecules. Graeme remained in Toronto to carry out his doctoral studies with Prof. Ron Kluger, studying the mechanisms of decarboxylation of thiamin-derived intermediates and aromatic acids. After receiving his doctorate in 2016, Graeme traveled south of the border to use physical organic chemistry to the study the mechanisms of unusual phosphotransferases under the supervision of Prof. Wilfred van der Donk at UIUC. Graeme began his independent career in the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University in July of 2019.

Graeme is a Co-investigator on the Open Plastic. 

Valerie Langlois is an Associate Professor at the Institut national de la research scientifique (INRS), Centre Eau Terre et Environment. She is particularly interested in the harmful effects on vertebrates chemicals found in aquatic environments. These substances can potentially act on all stages of cellular regulation of aquatic vertebrates, from hormone synthesis to target cell response, and consequently can alter vertebrate metabolism, development, and reproduction. The main theme of her research program is the identification of physiological responses and regulatory mechanisms in vertebrates when in the presence of environmental contaminants.

For over 10 years, she has been working with several academic and government partners to determine the adverse effects of these contaminants. She has expertise in ecotoxicology involving multiple species and novel molecular indicators, and will offer projects in ecotoxicogenomics using design of gene reporter cell assays to identify and characterize the presence of chemicals altering the endocrine system in vertebrates.

Valerie is a co-applicant on the LEADERS CREATE Program. 

Neal Scott's Full Profile 

Neal Scott is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at ³ÉÈË´óƬ. His research program strives to increase our understanding of the processes of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, and how human-induced disturbances influence these processes. He leads the Facility for Biogeochemical Research on Environmental Change and the Cryosphere (FaBRECC), where he and his students are working to improve understanding of critical processes in these biogeochemical cycles, how they are being altered by human activity, and how terrestrial ecosystems might be more effectively managed to help mitigate human impacts while still providing critical ecosystem services. He will will contribute expertise in biogeochemistry (processes and modelling), including development of ecosystem health indicators.

Neal is a co-applicant on the LEADERS CREATE Program. 

Dongmei Chen's Full Profile 

I was born and grew up in China. I received my B.A. in geography from Peking University, China, a master in GIS and remote sensing application from the Institute of Remote Sensing Application, Chinese Academic of Science. I got my Ph.D. in Geography from the joint doctoral program of San Diego State University and University of California at Santa Barbara in 2001. I had worked in ESRI as a GIS product specialist for one year before I came to ³ÉÈË´óƬ in 2002. My research areas focus on the understanding and modeling of interactions between human activities and the physical environment by using GIS and remote sensing techniques and spatial modeling approaches from local to regional scales.

Dongmei is a co-applicant on the LEADERS CREATE Program. 

We study how ecological and environmental change occurs in lakes over decades to millennia, from both natural (e.g., climate, fires) and human-based stressors (e.g. acidic deposition, nutrient enrichment, metal deposition, etc).   Our research encompasses understanding modern distributions of organisms and reconstructing past communities by exploiting the richness of the sedimentary record of lakes.  Understanding how lakes have changed over time helps us effectively manage aquatic systems. 

Brian is a co-applicant on the LEADERS CREATE Program. 

Prameet is a collaborator on the COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance Initiative. 

Michael is a collaborator on the Ontario Research Fund - Research Excellence. 

In 1996, Cathleen started her own research group at the University of New Brunswick. In 2002, she moved to Queen’s University. In 2013, Cathleen was offered a position as a member of the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) at Nagoya University where she runs a full-time satellite lab. Cathleen is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and the recipient of the 2019 Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award.

Cathleen is a collaborator on the Ontario Research Fund - Research Excellence.