Jane Howe

Jane Howe is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto with joint appointments in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry. Her research focuses on in situ microscopy techniques, advanced materials characterization, and energy storage systems. Dr. Howe holds nine US patents related to electron microscopy and materials development, and has been recognized with two R&D 100 Awards for innovations in lithium battery technology and nano-structured carbon materials.

Before joining UofT, Jane worked as a Senior Applications Scientist at Hitachi High-Technologies (2012–2017) and served as a Staff Scientist and Principal Investigator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2001–2012). She earned her Ph.D. in Ceramic Science from Alfred University in 2001, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at ORNL. Her expertise spans materials processing, corrosion science, and advanced electron microscopy techniques, including in situ TEM and correlative microscopy.

Her research portfolio includes over 100 peer-reviewed publications, with recent work emphasizing nanomaterials for energy storage, corrosion-resistant coatings for nuclear fuel containers, and Bayesian optimization of carbon nanolattices. Jane’s lab also explores microbial interactions in anaerobic cultures and novel catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to materials science challenges.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Ceramic Science, Alfred University (2001)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2001–2008)
• Key Awards:
  • R&D 100 Award (2020s): Lithium Battery Technology
  • R&D 100 Award (2020s): Nano-Structured Carbon Materials
• Grants & Collaborations: Active in Canada’s nuclear fuel container materials research and US-Canada cross-border microscopy partnerships.