Neil is a Professor of Chemistry and the Canada Research Chair in Materials Science at Simon Fraser University. He is also the Executive Director of 4D LABS, a $65M research centre for advanced materials and nano-scale devices and CTO of SWITCH Materials Inc., a company he founded to commercialize his molecular switching technology.
education
Ph.D. – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA – Chemistry (1994)
B.Sc. – University of Toronto, Toronto, ON – Chemistry (1989)
address
Department of Chemistry
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
Canada
phone
778-782-8061
email
nbranda@sfu.ca
education
Ph.D. – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA – Chemistry (1994)
B.Sc. – University of Toronto, Toronto, ON – Chemistry (1989)
address
Department of Chemistry
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6
Canada
phone
778-782-8061
nbranda@sfu.ca
Current Professional Positions
Professor – Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University (since 2004)
Canada Research Chair in Materials Science (Tier I) – Simon Fraser University (since 2006)
Executive Director – 4D LABS (since 2007)
Founder & Chief Technology Officer – SWITCH Materials, Inc. (since 2007)
Affiliated Investigator – Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (since 2005)
Associate Faculty Member – Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University (since 2003)
Previous Professional Positions
Founder & Director – NanoCommunity Canada Research Network (2008-2013)
Director, Molecular Systems – 4D LABS (2004-2007)
Associate Professor – Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University (2001-2004)
Canada Research Chair in Materials Science (Tier II) – Simon Fraser University (2001-2004)
Assistant Professor – Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta (1996-2001)
NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellow – Laboratoire de Chimie Supramoleculaire, Université Louis Pasteur (1994-1996)
Education
Ph.D. – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA – Chemistry (1994)
B.Sc. – University of Toronto, Toronto, ON – Chemistry & Biochemistry (1989)
Awards and Honours
Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Materials Science (2013)
Beilstein Inaugural Lecturer – Regensburg, Germany (2012)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship (2009)
New Journal of Chemistry Award Lecturer – Rennes, France (2008)
Canadian Who’s Who Biographee (2007)
Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 (2006)
Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Materials Science (2006)
E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2005)
INNOVATEC Guest Chair – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/Universitaet Regensburg (2004)
Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Materials Science (2001-2005)
ICNC/UPAC Travel Award (2001)
Delta Chi Teacher’s Excellence Award (2001)
Petro-Canada Young Innovators Award (2000)
Ichikizaki Award for Young Chemists (1999)
Research Innovation Award, Research Corporation (1998)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Post-Doctoral Fellowship (1994-1996)
Publications
You can view all of Neil’s publications on the 'publications' page of this web site.
Invited Book Chapters
Patents
Press Highlights
in Science & Business magazines
ACCN – Canadian Chemical News (September/October 2013)
Chemical & Engineering News (October 2013)
RSC Chemistry World (May 2013)
RSC Chemistry World (September 2011)
New Scientist (Vol. 24, February 2010)
Chemical & Engineering News (October 2009)
Science News (October 23, 2009)
Business in Vancouver (May 2007)
BC Business Magazine (December 2006)
Northwest Science & Technology Magazine – Seattle, WA (winter 2006 issue)
NOW Newspaper – Business to Business (November 2006)
L’Actualité chimique canadienne – Canadian Chemical News – Chemical Shifts (September 2001)
in books
Nanocosm by William Illsey Atkinson, Viking Canada, Toronto, 2003 10-page research profile in the recently published book on nanotechnology
in scientific journals
Nature Chemistry – Research Highlight (June 2012)
Synfacts – Research Highlight (2012, 8, 0730)
Nature Chemistry – Research Highlight (October 30, 2009)
ACS Chemical Biology – Spotlight (2009, 4, 891-892)
Synfacts – Research Highlight (2007, 1, 0044)
on TV or on-line video
Germany’s N-TV News (February 2010)
Leading Edge: Innovation in BC – Knowledge Network TV – first aired February 2006.
on radio
As It Happens – CBC Radio (Friday, November 20, 2009)
National Public Radio (NPR) – Talk of the Nation clip of the week – viewed 4829 times in the first day (December 4, 2009)
Susan Soltero – Univision Radio – Puerto Rico (November 23, 2009)
in local newspapers & releases
SFU News (November 5, 2009)
SFU News (May 17, 2007)
SFU News (November 17, 2005)
SFU News (April 7, 2005)
NSERC News (March 31, 2005)
SFU Summit (2004)
SFU News (June 14, 2001)
Research Corporation Bulletin (Spring 1998 issue)
in Canadian newspapers
Edmonton Journal (November 21, 2009)
National Post (November 20, 2009)
Vancouver Sun (November 19, 2009)
Calgary Herald (November 19, 2009)
The Montreal Gazette (November 19, 2009)
Global News (November 19, 2009)
The Globe & Mail (May 29, 2006)
The Vancouver Sun (April 21, 2005)
The Vancouver Sun (Front Page, February 5, 2003)
The Edmonton Journal (January 12, 1998)
in international news
Italy’s La Reppublica (February 2010)
Italy’s Il Messagerro (February 2010)
Italy’s Napoli Notizie (February 2010)
Vietnam’s DTNews (February 2010)
Uruguay’s La Republica (February 2010)
Iran’ Iran Daily (February 2010)
UK’s Daily Mail (November 22, 2009)
msNBC (November 20, 2009)
India’s Hindustan Times (November 20, 2009)
BBC News (November 19, 2009)
UK’s Daily Telegraph (November 19, 2009)
abc News (December 12, 2009)
The Asian Pacific Post – April 7, 2005.
on the web (scientific, popular & discussion groups)
Over 70 articles in international sites (Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, UK, USA) including: WWF News Today, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, the Smithsonian, National Geographic and Yahoo news.
Professor – Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University (since 2004)
Canada Research Chair in Materials Science (Tier I) – Simon Fraser University (since 2006)
Executive Director – 4D LABS (since 2007)
Founder & Chief Technology Officer – SWITCH Materials, Inc. (since 2007)
Affiliated Investigator – Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (since 2005)
Associate Faculty Member – Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University (since 2003)
Previous Professional Positions
Founder & Director – NanoCommunity Canada Research Network (2008-2013)
Director, Molecular Systems – 4D LABS (2004-2007)
Associate Professor – Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University (2001-2004)
Canada Research Chair in Materials Science (Tier II) – Simon Fraser University (2001-2004)
Assistant Professor – Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta (1996-2001)
NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellow – Laboratoire de Chimie Supramoleculaire, Université Louis Pasteur (1994-1996)
Education
Ph.D. – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA – Chemistry (1994)
B.Sc. – University of Toronto, Toronto, ON – Chemistry & Biochemistry (1989)
Awards and Honours
Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Materials Science (2013)
Beilstein Inaugural Lecturer – Regensburg, Germany (2012)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship (2009)
New Journal of Chemistry Award Lecturer – Rennes, France (2008)
Canadian Who’s Who Biographee (2007)
Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 (2006)
Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Materials Science (2006)
E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2005)
INNOVATEC Guest Chair – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/Universitaet Regensburg (2004)
Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Materials Science (2001-2005)
ICNC/UPAC Travel Award (2001)
Delta Chi Teacher’s Excellence Award (2001)
Petro-Canada Young Innovators Award (2000)
Ichikizaki Award for Young Chemists (1999)
Research Innovation Award, Research Corporation (1998)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Post-Doctoral Fellowship (1994-1996)
Publications
You can view all of Neil’s publications on the 'publications' page of this web site.
Invited Book Chapters
- "Photochromic Materials in Biochemistry" Wilson, D.; Branda, N. R. Photochromic Materials: Preparation, Properties and Applications (edited by J. Zhang and H. Tian) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, in press.
- "Multifunctional Diarylethylenes" Warford, C.; Lemieux, V.; Branda, N. R. Molecular Switches (edited by B. L. Feringa and W. R. Browne) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, Chapter 1, pp 3-35.
- "Photoresponsive Thiophene-Based Molecules and Materials" Ubaghs, L.; Sud, D.; Branda, N. R. Thiophene-Based Materials for Electronics and Photonics (edited by I. Perepichka and D. Perepichka) 2009, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, Vol. 2, Chapter 21, pp 783-812.
- "Electrochemically Induced Ring-Closing and Ring-Opening Reactions of Photochromic Dithienylalkenes" Peters, A.; Branda, N. R. Mechanistic and Synthetic Aspects of Organic and Biological Electrochemistry (edited by D. G. Peters, J. Simonet and H. Tanaka) 2003, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. New Jersey, pp 85-88.
Patents
- "Novel Photochromic Polymers and Methods of Synthesizing Same" Branda, N. R.; Myles, A. J. CA2416016 (issued 26-01-2010), US7041763 (issued 9-05-2006), JP2002-512261 (pending, filed 13-07-2001).
- "Photochromic and Electrochromic Compounds and Methods of Synthesizing and Using Same" Branda, N. R.; Peters, A.; Wigglesworth, A. J. CA2494920 (pending, filed 11-08-2003), JP4410108 (issued 20-11-2009), US7777055 (issued 17-08-2010).
- "Photochromic and Electrochromic Compounds and Synthesis and Use Thereof" Branda, N. R.; Wuestenberg, B.; Lemieux, V.; Adams, M.; Gauthier, S. J. CA2609887 (pending, filed 25-05-2006), EP1888553 (pending, filed 25-05-2006), US2010190868 (pending, filed 25-05-2006).
- "Variable Transmittance Optical Filter and Uses Thereof" Branda, N. R.; Lam, D. WO2010/0315693 (pending, filed 10-06-2010) (US, CA, CN, KR, EP, IN, JP).
- "Variable Transmittance Optical Devices" Branda, N. R.; Lam, D.; Smitt, M. P.; von Hahn, P. A. WO (pending, filed 15-12-2011).
- "Variable Transmittance Optical Filter with Substantially Co-Planar Electrode System" Branda, N. R.; Lam, D. WO (pending, filed 15-12-2011).
- "Diarylethene Compounds and Uses Thereof" Branda, N. R.; Finden, J. G.; Gauthier, S. J.; Sviridov, S.; Hayek, A.; Senior, J. D.; Hope-Ross, K. A.; Spantulescu, A. US Provisional 61/541841 (filed 30-09-2011).
- "Optical Filter Stack" Branda, N. R.; Sargent, J. R.; Shippam, C. E.; Smitt, M. P. US Provisional 61/589153 (filed 20-01-2012).
- "Optical Filter with Light Source" Branda, N. R.; Finden, J. G.; Sargent, J. R. US Provisional 61/602203 (filed 23-02-2012).
Press Highlights
in Science & Business magazines
ACCN – Canadian Chemical News (September/October 2013)
Chemical & Engineering News (October 2013)
RSC Chemistry World (May 2013)
RSC Chemistry World (September 2011)
New Scientist (Vol. 24, February 2010)
Chemical & Engineering News (October 2009)
Science News (October 23, 2009)
Business in Vancouver (May 2007)
BC Business Magazine (December 2006)
Northwest Science & Technology Magazine – Seattle, WA (winter 2006 issue)
NOW Newspaper – Business to Business (November 2006)
L’Actualité chimique canadienne – Canadian Chemical News – Chemical Shifts (September 2001)
in books
Nanocosm by William Illsey Atkinson, Viking Canada, Toronto, 2003 10-page research profile in the recently published book on nanotechnology
in scientific journals
Nature Chemistry – Research Highlight (June 2012)
Synfacts – Research Highlight (2012, 8, 0730)
Nature Chemistry – Research Highlight (October 30, 2009)
ACS Chemical Biology – Spotlight (2009, 4, 891-892)
Synfacts – Research Highlight (2007, 1, 0044)
on TV or on-line video
Germany’s N-TV News (February 2010)
Leading Edge: Innovation in BC – Knowledge Network TV – first aired February 2006.
on radio
As It Happens – CBC Radio (Friday, November 20, 2009)
National Public Radio (NPR) – Talk of the Nation clip of the week – viewed 4829 times in the first day (December 4, 2009)
Susan Soltero – Univision Radio – Puerto Rico (November 23, 2009)
in local newspapers & releases
SFU News (November 5, 2009)
SFU News (May 17, 2007)
SFU News (November 17, 2005)
SFU News (April 7, 2005)
NSERC News (March 31, 2005)
SFU Summit (2004)
SFU News (June 14, 2001)
Research Corporation Bulletin (Spring 1998 issue)
in Canadian newspapers
Edmonton Journal (November 21, 2009)
National Post (November 20, 2009)
Vancouver Sun (November 19, 2009)
Calgary Herald (November 19, 2009)
The Montreal Gazette (November 19, 2009)
Global News (November 19, 2009)
The Globe & Mail (May 29, 2006)
The Vancouver Sun (April 21, 2005)
The Vancouver Sun (Front Page, February 5, 2003)
The Edmonton Journal (January 12, 1998)
in international news
Italy’s La Reppublica (February 2010)
Italy’s Il Messagerro (February 2010)
Italy’s Napoli Notizie (February 2010)
Vietnam’s DTNews (February 2010)
Uruguay’s La Republica (February 2010)
Iran’ Iran Daily (February 2010)
UK’s Daily Mail (November 22, 2009)
msNBC (November 20, 2009)
India’s Hindustan Times (November 20, 2009)
BBC News (November 19, 2009)
UK’s Daily Telegraph (November 19, 2009)
abc News (December 12, 2009)
The Asian Pacific Post – April 7, 2005.
on the web (scientific, popular & discussion groups)
Over 70 articles in international sites (Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, UK, USA) including: WWF News Today, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, the Smithsonian, National Geographic and Yahoo news.