Emily D. Cranston is a Canadian chemist who is a professor at the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a Public university, public research university with campuses near University of British Columbia Vancouver, Vancouver and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada ...

and President’s Excellence Chair in Forest Bioproducts. She investigates nanocellulose and hybrid bio-based materials. Cranston is an NSERC E.W.R. Steacie fellow and was awarded the Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry lectureship in 2018 and the Tappi NanoDivision Technical Award in 2021.

Early life and education

Cranston was born in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

. After completing high school, she moved to

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

. She was an undergraduate student at

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

, where she studied chemistry and worked on multi-media tools for teaching chemistry and studied biodegradable polymers. She earned her doctorate under the supervision of Derek Gray. Her doctoral research developed multi-layer polyelectrolyte films that contained nano crystalline cellulose. She then moved to the

KTH Royal Institute of Technology KTH Royal Institute of Technology (), abbreviated KTH, is a Public university, public research university in Stockholm, Sweden. KTH conducts research and education in Institute of technology, engineering and technology and is Sweden's largest te ...

, where she worked as a postdoctoral scholar investigating the properties of cellulose.

Research and career

Cranston returned to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

in 2011, and joined the faculty at

McMaster University McMaster University (McMaster or Mac) is a public research university in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main McMaster campus is on of land near the residential neighbourhoods of Ainslie Wood, Ontario, Ainslie Wood and Westdale, Ontario, Westd ...

. Her research considers the colloid and surface chemistry of biopolymers. She has particularly focused on the development of nanocellulose microstructures that can be used in a broad range of applications, including packaging, electrical components and cosmetics. Nanocellulose is produced from wood pulp, and possesses an exceptionally high mechanical strength. In particular, Cranston looks to improve compatibility between the components in composites, to understand their potential toxicity and standardised metrological measurements.

Awards and honours

* 2016 KINGFA Young Investigator’s Award * 2018 Kavli Foundation Emerging Leader in Chemistry Lecturer * 2021 E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship * 2021 Tappi NanoDivision Technical Award

Selected publications

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cranston, Emily Living people People from the Halifax Regional Municipality McGill University alumni Academic staff of the University of British Columbia 21st-century Canadian chemists Canadian women chemists Year of birth missing (living people)