Brian Amsden is re-appointed as Head of the Chemical Engineering department at Queen’s University.
Dr. Amsden, B.A.Sc. (University of Waterloo), M.A.Sc. (University of Toronto) and Ph.D. (Queen’s University), obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in the area of therapeutic protein delivery from hydrogels and polymer microspheres. Prior to joining Queen’s in 2000, Amsden was a Research Associate with Angiotech Pharmaceuticals in Vancouver and an Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Alberta.
Amsden is the Donald and Joan McGeachy Chair in Biomedical Engineering, Director of the CONNECT! NSERC CREATE Program in Soft Connective Tissue Engineering/Therapy, and a member of the Centre for Health Innovation Advisory Board. Amsden’s multidisciplinary work focuses on the creation of effective biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for biomedical applications.
Amsden is a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada and a Fellow of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering and has also received a number of awards including the Ontario Centres of Excellence Mind to Market Award, the Queen’s University Chancellor’s Research Award, and the Premier’s Research Excellence Award.
As demonstrated through his first term, Amsden was recognized by the selection committee for his strong strategic leadership style, the ability to tackle difficult problems and build consensus for the benefit of the department.
The focus of the next term for Amsden will be continuing with efforts to increase research intensity within the department, with emphasis on collaboration and faculty engagement. Amsden will also lead the department in identifying opportunities to engage the undergraduate population and promote excellence in graduate research.
The appointment is effective July 1, 2022 for a 5-year term.
