Gillies Research Group

Beth completed her undergraduate studies in Chemistry at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and then a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley working with Jean Fréchet. She then did a postdoctoral fellowship at the European Institute of Chemistry and Biology, Université de Bordeaux, France, working with Ivan Huc. She then began at Western University, jointly appointed to the Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering. She is a Canada Research Chair in Polymeric Biomaterials, a member of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists and a member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Beth is currently serving as an Associate Editor of the ACS journal Biomacromolecules. Outside of work, her hobbies are hiking, downhill skiing, and playing jazz guitar.

Gilles Arsenault received his BSc in Chemistry from Mount Allison University and his PhD in Organic Chemistry from Guelph. His industrial career includes 28 years in the synthetic polymer industry where he held various positions in many business units (HNBR, PBR, SBR, Butyl) in R&D, Manufacturing, Analytical laboratory, and Regulatory Affairs. He also spent 6 years (2003-2008) at Wellington Laboratories as the Synthetic Group manager where he helped develop and market new mass-labeled PFAS environmental analytical standards. He retired in December 2020 and is now an Adjunct Professor at the Chemistry Department at the University of Western Ontario where he offers his time giving occasional chemistry lectures in Polymer, Industrial and Analytical BSc courses. He is also collaborating with Prof. Gillies on various polymer projects and is providing industrial chemistry seminars to her students.

Aneta completed her BSc and Master’s of Chemistry Degrees at Western and has worked jointly for the Gillies Research Group and for the for departmental facilities including X-ray and NMR spectroscopy for a number of years. In the Gillies group, Aneta is currently responsible for operation and maintenance of chromatography systems, spectrophotometers and other instrumentation. She also leads the group’s mammalian cell culture work.

Ece, originally from Istanbul, Turkey, earned her B.Sc. in Chemistry from Yildiz Technical University. During her undergraduate studies, she led a government-funded project on novel metallo-phthalocyanines for photodynamic therapy of cancer. For her graduation thesis, Ece worked on liquid crystals. She joined the Gillies group in Fall 2024. Her current research focuses on biodegradable polymers for the treatment of osteoarthritis and their synthesis via RAFT polymerization. In her free time, she enjoys looking at the sparkly crystals she has synthesized.

Chuanfeng was born in Beijing, China and came to Canada in 2014 to New Brunswick. He obtained his B.Sc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from University of Toronto (St George) in 2021. He then joined Prof. Elizabeth Gillies' group as a chemistry M.Sc. student in the same year and transferred into the PhD program in 2022. He is currently working on exploring applications of self-immolative poly(ethyl glyoxylate) derivatives in biomedical related fields.

Chia-Hsin is a Master of Engineering student in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Western University, specializing in the Engineering in Medicine program. Originally from Taiwan, a small mountainous island, she has a background in biomedical science and environmental biology. Her interests lie in biomedical devices, biomechanical modeling, and healthcare innovation. She is currently working on developing infection-resistant antibiotic coatings for medical implants. Outside of research, she enjoys creative writing, photography, and simply taking time to see the world.

William grew up in Lima, Peru where he obtained Bachelor and Master’s of Chemistry degrees. After this, he decided to move to Canada where he did his PhD studies at the University of Alberta. His thesis focused on the synthesis of inorganic polymers towards the deposition of electronic materials of interest. As part of his postdoc in the Gillies group, he is working on self-immolative and biodegradable polymers. Besides chemistry, he enjoys going out to eat with friends, playing boardgames, and listening to music.

Saman earned her undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University in India. Following her studies, she gained valuable experience as a Research Assistant at the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), India. In the fall of 2023, Saman joined the program as a direct-entry candidate in Biomedical Engineering. Her doctoral research centres on addressing orthopaedic device-related infections. Specifically, Saman’s thesis explores the potential of combining induction heating with antibiotic therapy to effectively eliminate biofilms from implant surfaces. Outside of her academic pursuits, Saman is passionate about playing badminton, which helps her maintain a healthy balance between her rigorous research schedule and personal interests.

Raveesh is from London, Ontario, and is currently going into his third year pursing an Honour’s Specialization in Chemistry at Western. He joined the Gillies group in the summer of 2025 as a part of the Undergraduate Student Research Internship. He is working on developing polycations to facilitate cartilage repair and regeneration to help treat osteoarthritis. He is interested in synthetic organic chemistry and polymer chemistry. Outside of school, Raveesh loves to travel, watch basketball, spend time outdoors, and watch a lot of movies!

Negin completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Amirkabir University in Iran. Shortly after, she pursued a Master of Engineering from Queen’s University in Canada, where she pivoted to drug delivery and biomaterials. She joined Gillies group in January 2025 for her PhD in Biomedical Engineering, where she is working on self-immolative polymers for nucleic acid delivery. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and backpacking.

Sherry completed her Bachelor of Science at Queen’s University in Chemistry with a Biology minor. She joined the Gillies group in September 2022. Her research focus on different self-immolative polymers with some emphasis on bio-biased materials. In her free time, she enjoys reading and crocheting.

Micah recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and has worked with the Gillies Research Group for three NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards, as well as her undergraduate thesis. Her current research focuses on the development of polythioesters for use in targeted drug delivery systems. As someone living with Lupus, Micah brings a personal perspective to her work. The potential of targeted therapies to improve quality of life is not just an academic interest—it’s a lived reality! This connection has made the research especially meaningful and motivating to her! Outside of the lab, Micah enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the outdoors whenever possible!

Born and raised in Eskisehir, Turkey, Burak received his BSc and MSc in Chemistry from Hacettepe University in Ankara, where his graduate work focused on the selective enrichment and mass spectrometric analysis of glycopeptides. He completed his PhD at Istanbul Technical University, where he developed mechanically reinforced hyaluronic acid hydrogels and self-healing rubber materials. At Western, he is working on self-immolative poly(ethyl glyoxylate)-based polymers and hydrogels. His research bridges polymer synthesis, soft materials, and responsive networks. Outside the lab, he enjoys swimming, hiking, and loud metal music.

Jaehak received his B.Sc. in Environmental Chemistry from Stony Brook University, SUNY, in December 2017. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research in Dr. Rudick’s group, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of liquid crystal-forming star-branched mesogens. Following graduation, Jaehak served as a sniper in the military, then worked in industry for a year. He began his PhD in Organic and Polymer Chemistry in September 2021, where his research focuses on the synthesis of biodegradable polymers for polyelectrolyte-based drug delivery systems and the development of in vacuo glycation techniques. Outside of the lab, Jaehak enjoys calligraphy, photography, and drawing.