Congratulations to Assistant Professors, Kevin De France, Rachel Baker, Research Development Coordinator Sophie Felleiter, and alumni Allison Turner and Scott Compeau who have been selected as this year’s Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40 Award recipients.
Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40 celebrates the exceptional achievements and contributions of individuals under the age of 40 who are making a significant impact in their profession and the greater Kingston community. This initiative aims to recognize and honour talented, innovative and inspiring young leaders who are shaping the future of Kingston.
Pictured from left to right, Kevin De France, Rachel Baker and Sophie Felleiter.
Dr. Kevin De France joined Queen’s University in 2022 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Prior to his appointment at Queen’s, Kevin earned his PhD from McMaster University and was an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow in The Cellulose & Wood Materials Lab at Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science & Technology. He is an expert in the design of sustainable materials from cellulose and protein, with considerable experience in the valorization of biomass byproducts. Kevin’s research program encompasses the design of sustainable bio-based materials in fields spanning agricultural, biomedical, coatings & packaging, and environmental sectors. The development of high-performance bio-based materials as a practical replacement for petroleum-based products represents one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century. Consequentially, this field is rapidly growing and shows immense potential for bringing about lasting environmental, economic, and societal impact to Canada and globally. His interdisciplinary research program focuses on the design of cellulose- and protein-based nanomaterial ‘building blocks’ such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and protein nanofibers (PNFs). He uses principles of materials chemistry, engineering, and nanobiotechnology, with the end goal of replacing petroleum-based products with high-performance renewable materials for a greener future.
Born and raised in Kingston, Dr. Rachel Baker completed her Undergraduate Degree in Engineering Chemistry at Queen’s University. After completing a PhD at the University of Toronto (funded by competitive NSERC Canadian Graduate Scholarship and the Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship) and a postdoctoral fellowship at CalTech, Rachel returned to Kingston as the inaugural Robins Family Assistant Professor of Engineering Chemistry, where she has already made an impact as an early researcher. Rachel is an up-and-coming early researcher in interdisciplinary research of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. Her research program involves the development of carbon-neutral and carbon-negative chemical processes, using renewable electricity as an energy source and sustainable materials as building blocks. The program focuses on pairing together electrochemical reactions, and understanding their mechanistic pathways, to decrease waste and better prepare these processes for industrial implementation. Ultimately, the research in the Baker Lab will reduce the carbon footprint of the chemical industry while maintaining production of valuable chemical goods.
An experienced researcher and administrator, Sophie Felleiter is an exceptional example of a young professional in Kingston and specifically the Queen’s community. After receiving her Master's in Microbiology from Queen’s, Sophie transitioned into research administration roles at Public Health Ontario and KFL&A Public Health working closely with the Medical Officer of Health to establish Kingston as the hub for pioneering clinical Lyme Disease research. Following this she returned to Queen’s where she supported the establishment of the Beaty Water Research Centre. She is currently a Research Development Officer for the Department of Chemical Engineering. Here with her collegial approach, she has been a critical contributor to several large grants, effectively helping to facilitate millions in funding to faculty in natural sciences, engineering, health research and more. She has had a tremendous positive impact on the Queen’s research community and is an active volunteer in the local Science Fair, passing on her passion for science that contributes to environmental and human wellbeing.
Pictured left to right, Allison Turner and Scott Compeau.
In addition, two alumni, Allison Turner and Scott Compeau also received the recognition. Allison received a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering in 2008, and completed her Masters (2010) with former Assistant Professor, Dr. Lauren Flynn on Matrix-Derived Microcarriers for Adipose Tissue Engineering. She is the Co-Founder and Director of Product Development at PnuVax Incorporated, a pharmaceutical company in Kingston that is dedicated to the production of high-quality biopharmaceuticals for the promotion of public health worldwide. She is a regular mentor in the Queen’s and Kingston community, have been invited to be a mentor for the DDQIC’s pitch competition and Mitacs Invention to Innovation program. Scott also received a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering in 2008. He went on to complete a Bachelors in Education (2011), Masters in Engineering Education (2015) and finally PhD in Education (2021) all at Queen’s University. He was the Engineering Outreach Lead in Smith Engineering from 2015-2023, and Manager of Connections Engineering Outreach from 2018-2023. He is now the Associate Director of Innovation and Educations Program and the Boys and Girls Club South East branch. He is passionate about increasing the quality and quantity of STEM learning opportunities for children and youth within our Kingston community.
The recipients will be recognized at an awards gala on September 18.
Read more about the winners here.