Dr. Jesmy Jose, Post-Doctoral Fellow
Kerala, India
B.Sc. (Pure Chemistry), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India
M.Sc. (Pure Chemistry), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India
Ph.D. (Polymer Science), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India
Jesmy Jose obtained her Ph.D. in Polymer Science from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, India. Prior to joining Trent, she worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Université du Maine, Le Mans, France.
She has conducted research work at several European laboratories. Polymer structure characterization is her forte. Currently she is working in the field of processing-structure-property relationships in Polymeric Biomaterials.
Dr. Shaine Joseph, Research Programmer
Kottayam, Kerala, India
B.Sc. (Physics), Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
M.Sc. (Physics), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India
Ph.D. (Physics), University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA & University of Missouri-Rolla, USA
Shaine Joseph is a Physicist with advanced computational skills and experience. He obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from the joint program of University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA and University of Missouri-Rolla, USA. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
In the past, he worked as a software engineer in USA and served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, India.
His academic interests are Optics, Operations Research and Evolutionary Computation.
Dr. Leila Hojabri, Research Associate
Broujerd, Iran
B.Sc. (Pure Chemistry), Shahid Beheshti. Tehran, Iran
M.Sc. (Organic Chemistry), Tarbiat Modarres University. Tehran, Iran
Ph.D. (Organic Chemistry), Sharif University of Technology. Tehran, Iran
As an organic chemist, Dr. Leila Hojabri synthesizes biomaterials from agricultural sources – making products that are much “greener” than those from petroleum-based materials.
Dr. Hojabri is excited about the great potential of these materials to help make a more environmentally sustainable society. She would like to further explore synthesizing lubricants and waxes from lipid.
Dr. Hojabri is delighted to be able to work in such satisfying collaboration with other researchers in the group, and challenges herself to stay as up-to-date as possible on developments in her field in order to bring as much knowledge as possible to these collaborations. She really enjoys the opportunity to exchange information with the other researchers, and finds the process helps her to understand and appreciate her colleagues’ fields of inquiry.
With a firm commitment to both the environmental sciences and interdisciplinary approaches, Dr. Hojabri is excited, too, by the great potential for this kind of broad-reaching, world-changing research at Trent.
Coming from two years at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Dr. Hojabri finds Peterborough a green, beautiful and relatively peaceful place. As of her first fall in Ontario, she even likes the weather.
After amazing visits to Niagara Falls, Jasper and Banff, Leila and her family crave more travel. Next up: la belle province, Quebec.
Ali Mahdevari, Lab Manager
Tehran, Iran
B.Sc. (Chemical Engineering) Azad University of Tehran
Peering into his microscope, Ali Mahdevari sees evidence of the way biomaterials behave as temperatures change. Ali prepares samples and keeps lab equipment calibrated and maintained, ready to measure for key indicators like viscosity and shear rates; mechanical properties like modulus, creep, and coefficient of expansion; textural properties like hardness, spreadability, extrudability, and stickiness.
Ali enjoys a challenge. To him, new problems are just a way to finding new solutions, and to getting to know his equipment even better. Like any Lab Tech, Ali appreciates his colleagues’ collaboration in keeping the instruments and lab clean.
New to Peterborough, Ali is impressed by the natural beauty of the university campus and the Peterborough area. Not to be outshined by natural splendor, members of the community impress Ali and his family with their own warmth and kindness.
Ali tells us he enjoys spending time with his spouse, and we believe him. Their first child is on its way this year!
In her down time, Jiaqing enjoys reading gentle, finely crafted and invigorating novels; swimming; and watching rousing, fast-paced movies. She has a special penchant for popcorn.
Carolyn Payne, Laboratory Technician
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
BSc (Chemistry/Economics), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
As a local native of Peterborough and of Trent University, Carolyn brings many years of experience to the Biomaterials Group. She is a retired chemist from a local industry but has decided to keep her foot in the lab, so to speak. Carolyn helps keep the labs in good condition, performs testing, calibrates equipment, and trains the budding chemists.
She especially enjoys the multi-cultural experience and young people in the group.
In her spare time in the winter, you can find her on the ice playing hockey and in the summer you can find her paddling a kayak up a quiet stream.
John Breukelaar, Laboratory Technician
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Originally from Nijmegen,The Netherlands, John has had all his schooling in Canada, first in Nova Scotia and then in Ontario.
While teaching Physics at Trent University as the laboratory demonstrator for 35 years, John won the first Teaching Assistance Award at Trent University in 2007. John has recently joined the Biomaterials Group as the X-ray technician.
John enjoys hobbies such as stamp collecting and photography and outdoor activities such as wilderness hiking and canoeing.
Dr. Richard Hughes, Research Associate (Analytical)
Peterborough, Ontario
M.Sc. (Trent) Physical Chemistry
Ph.D. (Queen's) Physical Chemistry
Dr. Richard Hughes believes that eight heads tackling a problem are much better than one. While he might know a lot more about physical chemistry and number crunching than he does about animal anatomy, Dr. Hughes does know that he deeply enjoys being part of a dynamic team.
As a Trent graduate (M.Sc., 1980), Dr. Hughes is especially pleased to see developments in biomaterials occurring here, at an institution with such commitment to both environmental sciences and interdisciplinary approaches. In his work on the biomaterials team, Dr. Hughes helps fellow team members by using mass spectrometry to better understand the structure of compounds of interest. Dr. Hughes is co-author of one of the enduring authorities on Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry.
Being part of a team where each team member gets support, advice and help from the others makes work on the biomaterials team feel like a microcosm of the way things should be headed. And how fitting to have such a sustainable, supportive work structure when working so intensely in a field so tied to environmental sustainability!
Believing that any move away from petroleum is a step in the right direction, Dr. Hughes is excited to contribute his knowledge of Physical Chemistry to help establishing future research paths for the team.
Outside of work, you can find Dr. Hughes online, sometimes hopping so far down a chain of web links that he happily loses sight of why he started. He also enjoys catching up with his grown children, cycling on the extensive system of local bike paths, and enjoying favourite movies.
Luciana de Souza Guedes, Graduate Student
Sao Paulo, Brazil
B.Sc. (Chemical engineering), Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz (Brazil)
Post-graduate certificate in Cosmetics, Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz (Brazil)
With a background in the fundamentals of skin structure, raw materials for cosmetic products, quality control and marketing, Luciana de Souza Guedes works to better understand that nano-particles can transport active ingredients like vitamin E in anti-aging cosmetics.
She is excited about the many ways in which biomaterials and nanotechnology research can be applied in the real world, and enjoys her professional focus in the cosmetics industry.
In her work, Luciana is happiest when engaged in a hands-on research, running experiments and gaining knowledge of physics and chemistry at the particle level.
Along with her pursuit of technical and academic excellence, Luciana looks forward to building meaningful friendships with colleagues and fellow students. She revels in being part of such a culturally and academically diverse community.
Luciana takes pleasure in getting to know new places, and looks forward to visiting Canadian cultural hotspots including Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec. Something of a culture hound, Luciana likes to dance the salsa, and can’t wait for her next opportunity to learn a few new steps!
Lila Derick Ajumni, Graduate Student
Bamenda, Cameroon
BSc (Geology), Université de Yaoundé I - Yaoundé, Cameroon
MSc-Maitrise (Geology), Université de Yaoundé I -Yaoundé. Cameroon
Master (Environmental Science & Policy), Clark University, Massachusetts, United States
With a background in natural sciences and a repertoire of interdisciplinary study on two continents; Derick believes that the sustainable economic growth of any society is powered by a clean environment, in which water quality, health and eco-social values are indispensable criteria for success. He strives to use approaches that differ from the norm to confront the complex issues of waste management, while providing alternative financially feasible options.
Derick’s interest in the Biomaterials program flares as the program strives to synthesize more environmentally 'friendly' polymers for use in the manufacture of lubricants. With an itch to solve issues with plastic waste and pollutants, getting involved in this program couldn't be but a real advantage.
The program presses to completely merge the thin line between corporate R&D and Academic Research with the aim to synthesize products that are further developed into 'green' commodities for the consumer stream. Products that don’t resist the recycling capabilities of our natural environment. He got involved in the research group because of its multidisciplinary nature.
The group has talents from Physics and Astrophysics, Chemistry (Organic & Inorganic), Engineering, Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences. With the flow of information and ideas within such a group, ideas and feedback gets passed along and various perspectives are reviewed.
When not purposefully hurrying through the hallways of Trent University’s Graduate Building from one end to the other, Derick enjoys playing soccer, watching Movies, and hiking in warm weather.
Arun Gopinath, Graduate Student
Kerala, India
B.Sc. (Physics), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India
M.Sc. (Physics), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India
Arun loves to live life to the fullest! With a good academic background in Physics and an interest in structure - property relations of bio-molecules, Arun has come to Canada armed with a BSc. & MSc. in Physics from Kerala, India, to fulfill his research dreams.
He knows that he is in the right place with the Trent Center for Biomaterials Research because the group’s attitude towards work inspires him. He aspires to be an exceptional scientist with seminal publications.
He is an avid reader and loves to read books on history and science. In his free time he loves to catch up with a good movie and enjoys playing the game of Cricket.