Principal Investigator
Postdoc, Wyss Institute at Harvard (2015-2017)
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, MIT (2015)
B.A.Sc. Chemical Engineering, University of Ottawa (2010)
B.Sc. Biochemistry, University of Ottawa (2010)
Noémie-Manuelle Dorval Courchesne, ing., Ph.D.
Canada Research Chair in Biologically-Derived Materials
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, McGill University
After earning a double degree in Biotechnology (Chemical Engineering & Biochemistry) from the University of Ottawa, Prof. Dorval Courchesne spent a few years in Boston to pursue graduate studies. She completed her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the groups of Paula Hammond and Angela Belcher. She then worked as an FRQNT postdoctoral fellow at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. She joined the Department of Chemical Engineering at McGill University in August 2017. Since 2021, she holds the Canada Research Chair in Biologically-Derived Materials.
Prof. Dorval Courchesne authored several publications and hold patents in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology and materials science. She believes that biologically-derived materials have a tremendous potential to improve the functionalities of various devices for environmental and biomedical applications. She aims at developing novel methods for engineering and assembling functional protein-based materials and devices. She is also broadly interested in composite materials, sustainable material alternatives and bio-inspired technologies.
Prof. Dorval Courchesne is a member of the Québec Center for Advanced Materials (QCAM/CQMF); the Research Center for High Performance Polymer and Composite Systems (CREPEC); the Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Engineering, and Applications (PROTEO); the McGill Institute for Advanced Materials (MIAM); the McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI); and the Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED). She is also part of an NSERC CREATE program in Sustainable Electronics and Eco-Design (SEED).
Recent honours to Prof. Dorval Courchesne include: the Christophe Pierre Award for Research Excellence (Early Career) in the Faculty of Engineering at McGill (2020), an Emerging Leader in Chemical Engineering title by the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering (2020), a Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Scholars Award in the Engineering category (2022), and a Prix du Québec (Prix Hubert-Reeves, Relève Scientifique) (2024).
Lab Group
July 2025
December 2024
July 2025
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Mario Alfonso Arenas Garcia
Postdoc
Mario recently finished his PhD with us, which consisted in the synthesis and integration of nanomaterials in curli fibers for the enhancement of electrical conductivity and antimicrobial properties. He has worked on many different elements which include genetic engineering, protein expression/purification, electrical conductivity, composite formulation, and material assays. As a postdoc, he will be focused on the generation of new curli-based composites and aid new graduate students gain their foot in our lab. Previously, he did a B.Sc. in Biotechnology in Mexico and his M.Sc. in Biochemical Engineering in England. He (still) enjoys spending his time trying out new foods and attending concerts!
E-mail: mario.arenasgarcia(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6080
PhD Students
Daniel Modafferi
Daniel joined the group as a PhD student in Chemical Engineering. He is the recipient of an FRQNT Doctoral Research Scholarship and a Vadasz Scholar MEDA Award. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry as a member of the Co-op program, and an M.Sc. in Physics at Concordia University, in Montreal. He continues to dismiss barriers between classical scientific disciplines and fields, as he applies his interdisciplinary knowledge to develop new bioelectronic materials from proteins, for the application of wearable or implantable electronic devices. His interests include, but are not restricted to, piano playing, the outdoors, and baking (eating).
E-mail: daniel.modafferi(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6130
Xin Xiao
Xin is the recipient of a MEDA award and a CREATE SEED scholarship. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Polymer Material Science and Engineering in Shanghai, China and her Master's degree in Medical Materials in London, UK. After university, Xin has worked in the medical device and pharmaceutical industry for 7 years, and she is determined to pursue further her PhD in Chemical Engineering at McGill University. She is co-supervised by Prof. Dorval Courchesne and Prof. Moraes. Her project involves the design and biosynthesis of tissue-adhesive protein fibers, for the application of ultra-soft self-healing bioactive microelectrode arrays for brain organoids. Outside the lab, she enjoys acrylic painting, swimming, and traveling. She has a 3-year old cat (British short hair) and a 1-year old dog in China, hopefully she can bring them here someday!
E-mail: xin.xiao2(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6080
Lucie Dehon
Lucie is a PhD student in Wood and Biobased Materials Engineering at Université Laval, Québec. Her project lies in the development of biobased adhesives from protein residues for developing innovative wood panels. She completed her undergrads and holds an M.Sc. in Forensic Science and Analytical Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. During her master’s degree, she unravelled potential allosteric sites for drug binding on snake venom enzymes to aid treating snake envenomation side effects and to develop new pharmaceutical drugs based on snake venom enzymes. Her hobbies include playing the piano, drawing original comics and running up hills.
E-mail: lucie.dehon.1(at)ulaval.ca
David Uriel Zamora Cisneros
Born and raised in Mexico City, where he completed his bachelor’s degree and M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering at UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) and UAM (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana), respectively, David was awarded a CONACYT scholarship to pursue his doctoral studies abroad. Now he is a Ph.D. candidate in the Materials Modeling Research Group and in the Dorval Lab in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and in the Harrington Lab in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University. His project involves the in-silico study of liquid crystals, their presence in biological systems just as the one seen in the mussel byssus, and the founding principles that lead them to their transformation into materials with remarkable properties. When not involved in research or at McGill, you can find him at some cafe/food places trying out new food or enjoying a cup of coffee while he lurks through the immeasurable music realm looking for new songs/bands or the next concert in town. His interests besides music are drawing, reading, and long walks.
E-mail: david.zamoracisneros(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6190
Xinxin Hao
Xinxin is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering, focusing on the fabrication of soft electrodes for tissues. In his undergrad, he worked on developing composite bioinks for living cells and composite conductive biomaterials. He completed his bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from McGill University in May 2023. He is the recipient of a FRQNT scholarship, MEITA award and a CREATE SEED scholarship.
Email: xinxin.hao(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6130
Gustavo Zamudio Cortes
Gustavo is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering and a recipient of the McGill Engineering International Tuition Award (MEITA). He earned his Bachelor's degree in Biological Engineering from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, where he worked with novel E. coli strains to produce recombinant bioadhesive proteins. During his Master's in Chemical Engineering at Universidad Iberoamericana, he developed protocols for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from various Bacillus strains. When he's not in the lab, Gustavo enjoys running, cycling, and hiking. He is also passionate about space exploration, LEGO, and technology.
Email: gustavo.zamudiocortes(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6130
Master Students
Rebecca Yan
Rebecca is a Master of Science student in Chemical Engineering and is working on the fabrication of bio-based fibres for the synthesis of textile yarn. She has received a scholarship from the CREATE SEED (Collaborative Research and Training Experience in Sustainable Electronics and Eco-Design) for her master’s degree. During her BSc in Chemistry, she worked on synthesizing aqueous nanoclusters for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and optimizing the synthesis of deuterated dopamine. Outside of the lab, Rebecca likes to listen to podcasts, read fiction books, watch new movies, and spend time with her friends and family!
Email: rebecca.yan(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6290
Jing Yang
Jing is a MEng student in Chemical Engineering. She completed her bachelor’s degree in ChemBio from McMaster University in May 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she helped design a new chemical sensor which can help monitor alkalinity in water and could be a potential candidate for water quality testing. In her free time, she enjoys walking, museums and nature.
E-mail: jing.yang6(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6080
Israel Edamkue
Israel is an applied Master’s candidate in Biotechnology at McGill University. He is currently undertaking an internship in the Dorval Lab. His research will focus on enhancing the yield and purity of bacterial protein fibers, which will serve as biomaterials components. He holds an undergraduate degree in Microbiology, during which he contributed to research on the bioremediation of crude oil-contaminated soils in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Israel aims to explore diverse fields within biotechnology, particularly in applied biological systems.
Outside the lab, he enjoys flying drones and is a photography enthusiast. He also loves exploring new places for great food and unique experiences.
E-mail: israel.edamkue(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6130
Weijia Zhang
Weijia is a Master of Science student in Chemical Engineering, working on characterizing charge transport mechanisms in different types of conductive protein fibers. She completed her BASc in Chemical Engineering at the University of British Columbia in May 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she contributed to developing wood foams with increased bio-based components by partially or completely replacing the polymer binder (PVA) with pulp fibers. Outside the lab, Weijia enjoys reading detective novels, hiking, and spending time with dogs and cats.
E-mail: weijia.zhang(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: 6290
Shaogang Ling
Shaogang is a Master of Science student in Biological & Biomedical Engineering, working on engineered living bacterial adhesive for wound healing. He is co-supervised by Prof. Dorval Courchesne and Prof. Jianyu Li. He completed his BS in Neurobiology, Physiololgy, and Behavior major at the University of California, Davis in September 2021. After university, Shaogang has worked in a molecular biology lab at UC Davis and studied neurodevelopment in mice for 3 years. His interests include video games, guitar, and cooking (eating).
E-mail: shaogang.ling(at)mail.mcgill.ca
Office: Wong 6080
Undergraduate Students
Henry Stephenson
Henry is a bioengineering undergraduate student working on a project to develop responsive textiles. His research background is primarily in immunology and synthetic biology, though he’s excited to expand his skills with biologically derived materials. He is part of the McGill iGEM undergraduate research team in addition to his work at Dorval Lab. Henry hopes to leverage his research background and a minor in Management to benefit the world through the innovations of biotechnology and molecular biology. Beyond research, Henry loves practicing piano (especially Chopin), linguistics and language learning, and playing pickup soccer with friends.
Andra Scripcariu
Andra is an undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering working on the fabrication of biohybrid composite materials. She hopes to use her experience in the CHEM-E car design team and her previous field researching experience in marine biology to make a difference in the Dorval Lab's research on composite materials containing protein fibers. In her free time, she likes rock climbing, trying new foods and making clothes!
Beyza Ozbaran
Beyza is a chemical engineering undergraduate student currently working on the production and testing of conductive proteins derived from M13 bacteriophage. She was a recipient of a scholarship from the CREATE SEED (Sustainable Electronics and Eco-Design) program for the summer 2024, and is a recipient of a SURE award for the summer 2025. She’s hoping to use her passion for bioelectronics to create a more sustainable future. In her free time, she likes to go on long walks, read, and draw while listening to music.
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Julia Maria de Medeiros Dantas, Postdoc 2025. in
Dalia Saldanha, PhD 2024. in
Masoud Aminzare, PhD 2024. in
Omar Jimenez Castaneda, MSc (thesis) 2024. in
Slah Hidouri, Postdoc 2024. in
Kingsley Wong, MSc (thesis), 2023. in
Simon Rowat, MSc (thesis), 2023. in
Zahra Abdali, PhD 2022, Postdoc 2023. in
Angie Cai, MSc (thesis), 2022. in
Amy Chow, MEng (project), 2022. in
Catrina Huyer, MEng (thesis), 2021. in
Raed Gharbi, MEng (thesis), 2020. in
Jiawei Yan, MEng (project), 2020. in
Saadia Wasim, MEng (thesis), 2019. in
Bita Janfeshan, Postdoc, 2018. in
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Reefah Kabir, NSERC USRA/SURE and BIEN 471 projects, McGill University, Summer-Fall 2024 in
Elsa Baxter, NSERC USRA/SURE project, McGill University, Summer 2024 in
Yolanda Zheng, SURE/EUL and CHEE 495 research projects, McGill University, Fall 2022-Winter 2024 in
Ghia El-Zoubeir, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2024 in
José Moro Gutierrez, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2024 in
Matthew Pyo, UG research project (CHEE 495), McGill University, Fall 2023-Winter 2024 in
Sharon Wu, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Fall 2023 in
Juliana Ferraro, SURE/EUL & CHEE 494 projects, McGill University, Winter 2020-Fall 2023 in
Leila Megevand, UG research project (CHEE 495), McGill University, Fall 2022 - Winter 2023 in
Jennifer Jiang, NSERC USRA/SURE & BIEN 471 projects, McGill University, Summer 2021-Winter 2023 in
Graham Townsend, SURE/EUL and CHEE 494 projects, McGill University, Fall 2020 - Summer 2022 in
Riley Sun, UG research project (CHEE 495), McGill University, Winter 2022 - Summer 2022 in
Alina Yuan, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2022
Dukun Zhao, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2022 in
Hajar Diouri, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2022 in
Sophia Roy, SURE/EUL & UG research projects, McGill University, Winter 2019 - Winter 2022. in
Pew Dey, UG research project (BIEN 471), McGill University, Summer 2021. in
Coralie Jabra Khabbaz, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2021. in
Gregory Brock, NSERC USRA/SURE project, McGill University, Summer 2020. in
Ziqi Zheng, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Summer 2019 - Fall 2020.
Armita Amini, NSERC USRA/SURE & CHEE 494 projects, McGill University, Summer 2018 - Fall 2020. in
Robert Chen, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter - Fall 2020. in
Lei Wang, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter - Summer 2020.
James Li, NSERC USRA/SURE project, McGill University, Summer 2020.
Oliver Xie, NSERC USRA/SURE & CHEE 494 projects, McGill University, Fall 2017 - Summer 2020. in
Yangshixing Li, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2019 - Spring 2020. in
Cathy Zhou, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter-Fall 2019. in
Xiaodan Zhu, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Fall 2018-Fall 2019. in
Liam Curtis, UG research project (CHEE 494),McGill University, Fall 2019. in
Aastha Goyal, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Fall 2019. in
Johan Alberti, Visiting student, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse, Summer 2019. in
Alexander Bevacqua, NSERC USRA/SURE project, McGill University, Summer 2019. in
Elia Benchekroun-Jolicoeur, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Summer 2019. in
Shurui Feng, Visiting student, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Summer 2019. in
Scott Jiang, UG research project (CHEE 494),McGill University, Fall 2018-Winter 2019 in
Alexandra Jacobson, UG research project (CHEE 496), McGill University, Winter 2019. in
Jonathan Ong, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Fall 2018-Winter 2019. in
Jessica Tian, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Winter 2018-Winter 2019. in
Nolwenn Cousineau, NSERC USRA/SURE project,McGill University, Summer 2018. in
Alexander Lambert, SURE project,McGill University, Summer 2018. in
Nidhi Kamath, Visiting student, Manipal Institute of Technology, January-June 2018.
Honghan Zhu, UG research project, McGill University, Fall 2017-Winter 2018 in
Esther Xu, UG research project (CHEE 494), McGill University, Fall 2017-Winter 2018