Scientific Director
Dr. Jian Liu
Jian Liu completed a B.Eng. degree in Metallic Materials Engineering at Sichuan University in 2006, an M.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering at University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2009, and a Ph.D. in Materials Science at the University of Western Ontario in 2013 with Prof. Xueliang (Andy) Sun.
Prior to joining UBC in Jan 2017, he was a postdoctoral fellow in Energy and Environment Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL, 2015-2016), and Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2014-2015). Dr. Liu is the recipient of the prestigious NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2014-2016), a PNNL Alternated-Sponsored Fellowship (2015-2016), the Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (2013-2014), and the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad (2013). His expertise focuses on Advanced nanofabrication; Nanomaterials and nanotechnology; Energy storage systems; Next-generation batteries.
Dr. Liu leads Cleantech Centres’s research activities, overall budget, and operations.
Operations
Dr. AYSE ALEMDAR THOMSON, Research Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives MANAGER
Ayse is a research and business development professional with over twenty years of multidisciplinary experience in product innovation – from conceptualization to commercialization. She manages the research and operational activities of the Centre. She works closely with the Director for Research and Industry Partnerships to execute the overall vision of the Cleantech Centre research innovation strategy, including cultivating, negotiating, closing, and implementing research funding and business partnerships with external industry partners. Ayse holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physics.
COLIN WILSON, RESEARCH & INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS Director
Colin Wilson is the Director of Research & Industry Partnerships for the School of Engineering at UBC Okanagan. Before joining UBC, Colin’s industrial experience included twenty years in the Pharmaceutical sector as well as ten years in financial management. He received his undergrad degree in business in Alberta and his MBA and CPA in British Columbia.
DR. Storm Dragonson, LAB TECHNICIAN
Storm did his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry on uranium and lanthanide dicyanoaurate coordination polymers, attempting to find their uses as sensors and light-emitting materials. He uses the skills he learned during this time to provide technical support in the Cleantech Centre Research Facility, including sample preparations, equipment usage and maintenance. He also assists with chemical safety for the Cleantech Centre and the wider School of Engineering.