Education & Academic Positions
Biography
Dr. Kevin De France (he/him) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. His lab focuses on the design and development of sustainable materials from biomass, with a specific interest in cellulose- and protein-based materials. The work in the De France Lab is highly interdisciplinary, spanning materials chemistry, engineering, and biotechnology, with the end goal of replacing petroleum-based products with high-performance renewable materials in the agricultural, packaging, water treatment, energy systems, and biomedical sectors. Kevin is the recipient of the 2024 Queen’s University Undergraduate Research Mentorship Award for exceptional dedication to student supervision, and was recognized as a member of the 2024 Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40 for professional achievements, innovation, and ability to lead and inspire. In his free time, Kevin loves spending time outdoors, hiking, running, playing squash, or enjoying some good food.
The development of high-performance sustainable materials as a practical replacement for non-renewable products represents one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. To this end, the primary research interests of our group surround the rational design and assembly of functional materials from a variety of biomass sources. Prominent examples of this include the extraction and assembly of materials from canola meal (supported by an inter-institutional $3.2M NSERC Sustainable Agriculture Grant, which Dr. De France leads) and microalgae. A typical workflow in the De France Lab encompasses the synthesis and modification of nanomaterial ‘building blocks’ from cellulose or proteins – two of the most abundant natural polymers on Earth. We then utilize these building blocks (for example: cellulose nanocrystals and protein nanofibers) in the bottom-up fabrication of materials such as hydrogels, aerogels, emulsions, and films for a variety of applications. An emphasis is placed on understanding and leveraging structure-function relationships between individual building blocks and fabricated material assemblies in order to improve key performance metrics such as mechanical strength, adhesive potential, and structural ordering. Taken together, the design and engineering of sustainable materials from biomass represents a significant milestone towards a collective greener future.
Unlocking Canola Meal: https://www.meal2materials.ca/
CHEE 229: Cell Based Engineering Principles
CHEE 872: Polymeric Biomaterials
For a complete list of publications,
Please see Kevin’s Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Oe2clE4AAAAJ&hl=en
The De France Lab is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. All suitable applicants are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have experience in biomaterials science, macromolecular chemistry, or a related discipline, and a familiarity in a chemical laboratory setting. Prospective candidates are encouraged to email kevin.defrance@queensu.ca for more information. Please include your CV, academic transcript, and a brief description of research interests. Additional information can be found below based on applicant level.
Undergraduate Positions
Canadian undergraduate students interested in performing summer or thesis-based research projects in the De France Lab should email kevin.defrance@queensu.ca to discuss potential opportunities. Students seeking a summer position are encouraged to apply for the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) program (applications are typically due in early February).
Graduate Positions
We are always interested in recruiting highly motivated graduate students for both Master and Ph.D. degrees, working in the area of sustainable materials from nanocellulose and protein amyloids. Please email kevin.defrance@queensu.ca with your CV, transcript, and letter of intent to learn more about the opportunities in our group. For more information on grad school at Queen’s University, please see the following links:
How to apply for graduate studies at Queen’s
Graduate Studies in Chemical Engineering at Queen's
International Students - School of Graduate Studies
Postdocs
We currently have no funded postdoctoral positions. However, self-funded prospective candidates are encouraged to apply. For more information about postdoctoral studies at Queen’s and funding opportunities, please see the following links:
Office of Post-Doctoral Training
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships