معرفی
Dr. Laura Wells is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Queen's University, affiliated with Smith Engineering. She holds cross-appointments at the Centre for Health Innovation and Queen's University Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on developing polymeric materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering, particularly in ophthalmic applications and wound healing contexts. She earned her B.A.Sc. from Queen's University, followed by M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from McMaster University. Her postdoctoral training at the University of Toronto under Dr. Michael Sefton advanced her work on therapeutic polymers for vascular healing.
Dr. Wells' research interests include smart biomaterials that respond to biological/physical stimuli, cell-material interactions, and the design of instructive/responsive polymers. Her work bridges fundamental polymer science with translational biomedical applications. Key research themes include ophthalmic drug delivery systems, photoresponsive materials, and biomaterials for medical device integration.
Her academic achievements include a CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship and NSERC scholarship. She has published extensively on topics ranging from polymeric intraocular lenses to microfluidic platforms for reproductive biology studies. Her lab's innovations address unmet clinical needs in biomedical devices, emphasizing gender equity in medical technology design.
Dr. Wells collaborates across disciplines, contributing to initiatives like the AngioChip biodegradable scaffold for organ-on-a-chip systems. Her work balances rigorous basic science with applied engineering solutions for healthcare challenges.
