Nick Virgilio

Nick Virgilio is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. His research focuses on soft matter interfaces, polymer blends, and advanced hydrogel systems for biomedical and catalytic applications.

• Director, Research Laboratory on Surfaces, Interfaces and Soft Matter
• Member, Research Center for High-Performance Polymer and Composite Systems (CREPEC)

Research interests include interfacial phenomena in multiphase systems, self-assembly of soft materials, nanoparticle-hydrogel composites, Pickering emulsions, and polymer microstructure engineering.

Scientific awards include the 2010 Canadian Macromolecular Science Thesis Prize and the 2004 Polytechnique Montréal Master's Thesis Award.

Recent publications highlight his work in macroporous hydrogels for cancer cell capture, nanoparticle synthesis in soft matrices, and interfacial control of polymer blends. His studies frequently appear in high-impact journals like ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Green Chemistry, and Macromolecules.

Students under his supervision have explored topics from biofilm mechanics to lunar environment polymer systems across 4 PhD and 6 Master’s theses completed or ongoing.