Phillip Choi, BASc, MASc, PhD, PEng, FCIC, FEIC, FRSC (UK)

Area of Study / Keywords

Mathematical and Molecular Modeling Materials Characterization and Processing Inverse gas Chromatography Polymer Properties Biopolymer Properties Polymer Dynamics Polymer Solution Thermodynamics Polymeric Drug Carriers Intelligent Fertilizers Molecular Simulation Solvent Extraction of Oilsands Solvent Recovery Utilization of Protein Wastes

About

I am a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta.  I am a registered professional engineer in the province of Alberta and a Federal Court approved Expert Witness in Polymer Science and Engineering.  I am also elected Fellows of the Chemical Institute of Canada and Engineering Institute of Canada.  I received his BASc in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and his MASc and PhD, both in Chemical Engineering, from the University of Waterloo.  During the period of 1990 – 1995, I was a visiting scientist at Xerox Research Centre of Canada.  Upon completion of my doctoral degree, I worked as a Development Chemist for Sternson Construction Ltd. in Branford, Ontario.  My current research interests lie in the areas of polymer dynamics, design/development of synthetic and bio-based polymers for applications involving controlled release of small molecules and solvent extraction of oil sands.  I have authoured and co-authoured 3 book chapters, 142 referred journal publications and 1 US patent.  I am also a coauthor of a textbook entitled “The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering,” 3rd edition (2013) published by Elsevier. I was named the McCalla Professorship in 2007 and won the Faculty of Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2008 at the University of Alberta recognizing his dedication to undergraduate education.  I received a National Young Innovator Award from Petro Canada Inc. in 2001 and an international IUPAC Travel Award in 2002, respectively, recognizing my work on polymer research. I spent the 2003/04 sabbatical leave in the Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio and the 2013/14 one in the applied research centre of NOVA Chemicals Corporation in Calgary, Alberta.

Research

The long-term objective of my research program is on the design/development of sustainable materials used for various chemical engineering applications. To do so, we study structure-property relationships of such materials using molecular simulation methods and carry out the corresponding experimental work on preparing and characterizing them. Research activities encompass areas such as design of development of a polymer free volume theory for the description of polymer dynamics, polyethylene with difference branching characteristics, design of block copolymers used in nanoscopic drug delivery systems and controlled release fertilizer, chemical conversion of waste proteins into plastics and adhesives and solvent extraction of oil sands. 

Keywords: Biopolymers, Controlled Release, Cross linking of Proteins, Diffusion in Polymers, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Polymer Interfaces, Polymer Solution Thermodynamics, Renewable Energy, Rotational Isomeric State, Sustainability, Polymer Free Volume Theory

Teaching

My teaching interest lies in chemical engineering thermodynamics, polymer properties, polymer characterization and bio-based polymers.