Simon Hesp

Simon Hesp is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Science. His research focuses on asphalt materials science, including low-temperature fracture behavior, polymer-modified binders, and pavement performance evaluation. He has led over 30 pavement trials across Ontario and collaborated with industry on sustainable materials innovations.

Education:

• Ph.D. (1991) – Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry – University of Toronto
• M.Sc. (1987) – Chemistry – University of Toronto
• Ing. (1985) – Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry – Hogere Technische School, Amsterdam

Research Interests:

• Materials engineering and resources engineering
• Functional materials in materials science
• Recycled plastics and bio-rejuvenation in asphalt
• Thermoreversible aging mechanisms
• Quality assurance testing protocols for asphalt binders

Awards & Recognition: No explicit prizes/fellowships are listed, though his extensive industry collaborations and >$10M in research funding highlight his impact.

Grants & Students:

• Secured ~$10M in research funding from government/industry
• Mentored ~100 undergraduate/graduate students
• Lab equipped with advanced asphalt characterization tools

Labs & Facilities: Specialized asphalt testing laboratory at Queen’s University with state-of-the-art equipment for rheological analysis, thermal characterization, and failure testing.