Innovative commercial technologies start with research leadership.
Each 4D LABS group leader has a strong track record and an established research program. At 4D LABS, they combine expertise on projects that none can do alone.
4D LABS RESEARCH GROUP
Neil Branda Molecular Systems ↓
As a 2005 NSERC Steacie Fellowship winner and a Canada Research Chair in Materials Science, Neil Branda has been recognized as one of Canada's leading young scientists.
He designs novel organic materials based on research in molecular switching, molecular recognition and supramolecular chemistry.
Neil received his B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral fellow at l'Université Louis Pasteur before joining the faculty at the University of Alberta. He subsequently moved to Simon Fraser University where he is a Professor of Chemistry.
As a 2005 NSERC Steacie Fellowship winner and a Canada Research Chair in Materials Science, Neil Branda has been recognized as one of Canada's leading young scientists.He designs novel organic materials based on research in molecular switching, molecular recognition and supramolecular chemistry.
Neil received his B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postdoctoral fellow at l'Université Louis Pasteur before joining the faculty at the University of Alberta. He subsequently moved to Simon Fraser University where he is a Professor of Chemistry.
Byron Gates Nanostructured Systems ↓
As a Canada Research Chair in Surface Chemistry, Byron Gates brings tremendous expertise in materials synthesis and soft lithography to 4D LABS.
His current interests include developing new approaches to biosensing, bioimaging, self-assembly, and nanofabrication.
Byron received his B.Sc. from Western Washington University and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University where he is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry.
As a Canada Research Chair in Surface Chemistry, Byron Gates brings tremendous expertise in materials synthesis and soft lithography to 4D LABS.His current interests include developing new approaches to biosensing, bioimaging, self-assembly, and nanofabrication.
Byron received his B.Sc. from Western Washington University and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University where he is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry.
Steve Holdcroft Polymer Science and Fuel Cells ↓
Steven Holdcroft is a leader in the field of proton conducting polymers for fuel cells and organic polymers for organic light emitting devices and photovoltaics. He is also an expert in fuel cells and electronic plastics.
His research is on the leading edge of polymer chemistry and electrochemistry; and ionic and electronic charge transport in polymeric media.
Steve received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Salford, UK, and his graduate degree from Simon Fraser University. He was Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, before joining the SFU faculty as a Professor of Chemistry. Since 2001 he has been affiliated with the National Research Council Canada-Institute For Fuel Cell Innovation, where he leads a team undertaking fuel cell research.
Steven Holdcroft is a leader in the field of proton conducting polymers for fuel cells and organic polymers for organic light emitting devices and photovoltaics. He is also an expert in fuel cells and electronic plastics.His research is on the leading edge of polymer chemistry and electrochemistry; and ionic and electronic charge transport in polymeric media.
Steve received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Salford, UK, and his graduate degree from Simon Fraser University. He was Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, before joining the SFU faculty as a Professor of Chemistry. Since 2001 he has been affiliated with the National Research Council Canada-Institute For Fuel Cell Innovation, where he leads a team undertaking fuel cell research.
Karen Kavanagh Electronic and Semiconducting Materials ↓
Karen Kavanagh has been recognized with the 2006 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, an NSERC University Faculty Award and as an NSF Presidential Young Investigator.
Her research is focused on structure-property correlations in electronic materials. She has extensive expertise in a range of materials characterization techniques including: scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), high resolution x-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM).
Karen received her B.Sc. in Chemical Physics from Queen's University and her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then at IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center. She moved through the ranks from Assistant to full Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego before moving to Simon Fraser University where she is a Professor of Physics.
Karen Kavanagh has been recognized with the 2006 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, an NSERC University Faculty Award and as an NSF Presidential Young Investigator.Her research is focused on structure-property correlations in electronic materials. She has extensive expertise in a range of materials characterization techniques including: scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), high resolution x-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM).
Karen received her B.Sc. in Chemical Physics from Queen's University and her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then at IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center. She moved through the ranks from Assistant to full Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego before moving to Simon Fraser University where she is a Professor of Physics.
Gary Leach Photonic Systems ↓
Gary Leach is an expert in advanced spectroscopy, photonics and nanoscale imaging. He is a leader in the development of new nonlinear optical techniques to probe surface structure and dynamics.
His research is on the leading edge of surface and interface chemistry, the nonlinear optical properties of materials and the photoni and magnetic properties of layered and nanoscale materials.
Gary received his undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Toronto and his graduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Toronto. He was Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado, before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University where he is an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Gary Leach is an expert in advanced spectroscopy, photonics and nanoscale imaging. He is a leader in the development of new nonlinear optical techniques to probe surface structure and dynamics.His research is on the leading edge of surface and interface chemistry, the nonlinear optical properties of materials and the photoni and magnetic properties of layered and nanoscale materials.
Gary received his undergraduate degree in Physics from the University of Toronto and his graduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Toronto. He was Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellow at the University of Colorado, before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University where he is an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Vance Williams Organic Materials ↓
Vance's research focuses on the design, synthesis and study of new materials that are both functional and dynamic. This work can be broadly categorized into two major avenues of inquiry: (a) understanding how molecular structure relates to the self-assembly of columnar liquid crystals, and (b) the design of new materials whose properties can be altered through the application of external stimuli such as light.
Vance's research interests include liquid crystals, conjugated polymers, organic synthesis, self-assembly and molecular recognition.
Vance received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Queen's University before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University, where he is an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Vance's research focuses on the design, synthesis and study of new materials that are both functional and dynamic. This work can be broadly categorized into two major avenues of inquiry: (a) understanding how molecular structure relates to the self-assembly of columnar liquid crystals, and (b) the design of new materials whose properties can be altered through the application of external stimuli such as light.Vance's research interests include liquid crystals, conjugated polymers, organic synthesis, self-assembly and molecular recognition.
Vance received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Queen's University before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University, where he is an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Zuo-Guang Ye Solid-State Materials ↓
Recognized as a world leader in the growth and characterization of novel single crystals, Zuo-Guang Ye is a major contributor to the ONR and DARPA research programs on innovative piezoelectric single crystals.
His research interests are in the areas of solid-state functional materials, including piezo- and ferroelectrics, relaxor ferroelectrics and magnetoelectrics.
Zuo received his B.Sc. from the Polytechnic University of Hefei and his Ph.D. from l'Université de Bordeaux. He was a postdoctoral fellow at l'Université de Geneve, before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University where he is a Professor of Chemistry.
Recognized as a world leader in the growth and characterization of novel single crystals, Zuo-Guang Ye is a major contributor to the ONR and DARPA research programs on innovative piezoelectric single crystals.His research interests are in the areas of solid-state functional materials, including piezo- and ferroelectrics, relaxor ferroelectrics and magnetoelectrics.
Zuo received his B.Sc. from the Polytechnic University of Hefei and his Ph.D. from l'Université de Bordeaux. He was a postdoctoral fellow at l'Université de Geneve, before joining the faculty at Simon Fraser University where he is a Professor of Chemistry.
Hogan Yu Electroanalysis ↓
As the 2004 Canadian Society of Chemistry Fred Beamish Award winner, Hogan Yu brings tremendous expertise in materials characterization, particularly electrochemical and analytical spectroscopic skills, to 4D LABS.
His current interests include surface modification with self-assembled monolayers, fabrication of nanostructured materials and development of biosensing devices.
Hogan received his B.Sc. from Shandong University (Ji'nan) and his Ph.D. from Peking University (Beijing). He was a postdoctoral fellow at California Institute of Technology and worked at NRC Steacie Institute of Molecular Sciences before joining Simon Fraser University where he is an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
As the 2004 Canadian Society of Chemistry Fred Beamish Award winner, Hogan Yu brings tremendous expertise in materials characterization, particularly electrochemical and analytical spectroscopic skills, to 4D LABS.His current interests include surface modification with self-assembled monolayers, fabrication of nanostructured materials and development of biosensing devices.
Hogan received his B.Sc. from Shandong University (Ji'nan) and his Ph.D. from Peking University (Beijing). He was a postdoctoral fellow at California Institute of Technology and worked at NRC Steacie Institute of Molecular Sciences before joining Simon Fraser University where he is an Associate Professor of Chemistry.
