Our Team
About Us
We are a diverse group of researchers all interested in making advances in science and medical application using responsive polymer-based systems.
If you are interested in joining our group or learning more about what we do, contact us.
Dr. Michael Serpe
Michael J. Serpe received his B.S. at the University of Central Florida in 2000. He received his Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2004 with Professor Andrew Lyon. There he developed novel polymeric materials for applications in drug delivery, microoptic arrays, and photonics. After a one year conducting research in industry, he joined the group of Professor Stephen Craig at Duke University in 2006. There he used single-molecule force spectroscopy to investigate reversible polymer bridging between surfaces.
He joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta as an Assistant Professor in 2009 and was awarded early tenure and promoted to Associate Professor in 2013. On July, 1, 2018, Prof. Serpe was promoted to Full Professor.
Prof. Serpe has been named a Grand Challenges Canada Rising Star in Global Health, received the 2013 Petro Canada Young Innovator Award, and has been named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine for 2013-2014.
Post Doctoral Fellows
Completed his B.Sc. Honors in Biochemistry and PhD in Chemistry at the University of Alberta. His current research focuses on developing stimuli-responsive polymer-based biomaterials for controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. He enjoys swimming, listening to music, reading and video gaming when not in the lab.
Nicholas completed his BSc in 2018 and PhD in Chemistry in 2025, both at the University of Alberta. His PhD research focused the use of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based sensor arrays for detecting small molecule targets such as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Cannabis extracts. Current research studies the development and optimization of novel biosensors for point-of-care applications. Outside of the lab, he is a hockey fan and collects model aircrafts as a hobby.
Reazul completed his B.Pharm. (2011) and M.Pharm. (2013) in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Dhaka and later worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology for four years. He is a registered pharmacist in Bangladesh. He earned his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Alberta in 2025 and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Serpe Lab, where his research focuses on the design of bioanalytical sensors for viruses, small molecules, and water-quality monitoring using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based etalon platforms and molecularly imprinted polymers. Outside the lab, he enjoys cricket, table tennis, badminton, and watching movies.
Graduate Students
Stephanie received her B.Sc. in Chemistry (2018) and her MSc. (2021) at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
During her undergraduate studies and her masters, she worked on developing new polymeric systems using a cellulose derivative for the adsorption of an organic water pollutant.
She joined Dr. Serpe´s group in 2022. Her research interests include the development of polymer-based systems focusing on water remediation.
She loves music and making new friends. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing acoustic guitar, going for a walk, and reading.
Xiaochen received his B.Sc. degree in chemistry from the University of Alberta in 2020. He is interested in the sensor projects (designs and applications) based on pNIPAm microgels. He is a big fan of badminton and video games.
Nathan earned his BSc in Chemistry from the Concordia University of Edmonton. His current research focuses on the development of stimuli-responsive polymers for controlled drug delivery. Additionally, he works on advancing 3D-printable bioinks for tissue engineering applications. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing volleyball and indoor rock climbing.
Ye received her B.Sc degree in chemistry from University of Waterloo and Shandong Normal University 2+2 program in 2024. She is really interested in research of drug delivery and biosensors. Outside the lab, she loves reading and jogging.
Shea completed his B.Sc. majoring in biological sciences at the University of Alberta in 2024. During his undergraduate studies, he focused on using an autonomous sensor to measure sugar content in raw grapes for harvest optimization. He loves listening to music, playing video games, hanging out with family, and watching sports.
Erica received a B.A. double majoring in Chemistry and Philosophy, and a B.Sc in Biology from Manhattanville University in 2023, where she also played NCAA Div III ice hockey. During her undergraduate studies she researched the antibacterial properties of terpenes on cariogenic oral bacteria. She is interested in the incorporation of inorganic and nanoparticle materials into drug delivery and biosensing systems. Outside of the lab, she continues to play hockey and loves to read.
Michaela received her B.Sc. in Chemistry with Specialization at the University of Alberta. During her undergrad, she completed an internship at ALS Canada, performing chemical analysis of environmental samples. After receiving the 2024 Gold Medal in Chemistry, she joined the Serpe group and began researching DNA detection using etalons made of acrylic acid modified microgels. She loves forensics, dancing, creative writing, and music composition.