Emily Cranston

Assistant Professor

Dr. Cranston joined McMaster's Department of Chemical Engineering in 2011 and has over a decade of experience in the field of sustainable nanomaterials. Her PhD is from McGill University (2008) and her post-doctoral research was undertaken at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden. Dr. Cranston is an expert in tailoring interfacial properties of surfaces and colloids to control material properties and functionality. Her research aims to design high-performance materials to replace those that are based on non-renewable resources by learning from nature and using biological components. Currently, the bio-component of choice is nanocellulose. Specifically, this work includes investigating surface forces and adsorption phenomena using atomic force microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance gravimetry, and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, as well as modifying the surface chemistry of nanocellulose through covalent and non-covalent strategies to improve interfacial compatibility of nanocellulose with solvents and polymers. Future nano-enhanced products from nanocellulose may include paints & coatings, cosmetics, adhesives, composites, rheological modifiers and biomedical devices.