Patricia Dolez

Patricia Dolez, PhD, PEng, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on protective clothing, nanotechnologies, smart textiles, and sustainable materials, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration with industry partners and end-users. She co-directs the iSMART (Smart Network Centre) Commercialization initiative and chairs the Canadian Advisory Committee on ISO/TC 94/SC 13 (Protective Clothing).

Her research explores protective clothing innovations, nanotechnology applications in textiles, and the development of recycled materials. Projects include self-decontaminating PPE, lyocell fiber production from Canadian cellulose sources, and standardized testing for e-textiles. She teaches courses on protective materials, nanotechnologies, and textile science, and has edited influential books such as *Advanced Characterization and Testing of Textiles* and *Nanoengineering: Global Approaches to Health and Safety Issues*.

Key initiatives include the ‘Sustainable Innovation for Clothing, Textiles, and PPE’ platform, aiming to enhance safety and comfort through material innovation. Her work addresses challenges like aging behavior in fire-protective fabrics and hydrothermal degradation effects. She collaborates with companies like Mark’s Work Wearhouse and TechFibre Industries to advance Canada’s technical textile sector.

Dr. Dolez’s contributions span academic leadership, industry partnerships, and global standards development, with a focus on translating research into practical solutions for occupational safety and environmental sustainability.