Heather Canavan

 

Heather Canavan
Assistant Professor
Centennial Engineering Center - Room 2059

505 277.8026
canavan@unm.edu

 

Education:

  • Ph.D. The George Washington University, Physical Chemistry, 2002
  • M.Ph. The George Washington University, Physical Chemistry, 2000
  • B.A. University of California, Santa Barbara Biology, 1996

 

Research

  • Stimulus-responsive materials
  • Cell/surface interactions
  • Biomedical Engineering

 

Professional Experience

  • 2005 - Present: Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical & Nuclear Engineering and Department of Chemistry • University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.
  • 2002 - 05: Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Departments of Chemical & Bioengineering, National ESCA & Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC/BIO) • University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
  • 1994 - 97: Chemist, Chemistry Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM.
  • 1991-94: Staff Research Assistant, Chemistry Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM.

Teaching

  • ChNE 302 Undergraduate Thermodynamics • Spring 2008.
  • ChNE 499/361 Undergraduate Biomolecular Engineering • Fall 2008.
  • ChNE 542 Graduate Thermodynamics • Fall 2008.


Ongoing Research Support:

  • 3M Corporation, 2006-2008
    Development of a Regenerable Cell-based Biological Sensor using a "Smart" Polymer Microfluidic Chip.
  • Sandia-University Reserach Program (SURP), 2006-2008
    Development of a Cell-based "Smart" Microfluidic Sensor
  • National Science Foundation (NSF), 2006-2011
    UNM-Harvard: Partners for Leadership to Enhance Biomaterials

Selected Publications:

  • Reed, J.A.; Lucero, A.E.; Cooperstein, M.; Canavan, H.E.; "The Effects of Cell Culture Parameters on Cell Release Kinetics from pNIPAM," Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics, 6 (2), 81-88 (2008).
  • Canavan, H.E.; Stanton, M.; Lopez, K.; Grubin, C.; Graham, D.J., " 'Finger Kits': An Interactive Demonstration of Biomaterials and Engineering for Elementary School Students," Chemical Engineering Education, 42 (3), 125-131 (2008).
  • Canavan, H.E.; Cheng, X.; Graham, D.J.; Ratner, B.D.; and Castner, D.G., "Comparison of Native Extracellular Matrix with Adsorbed Protein Films using Mass Spectrometry," cover art of Langmuir, 23 (1), 50-56 (2007).
  • Canavan, H.E.; Cheng, X.; Graham, D.J.; Castner, D.G.; and Ratner, B.D., "A Plasma-deposited Surface for Cell Sheet Engineering: Advantages over Mechanical Dissociation of Cells," Plasma Processes and Polymers, 3 (6-7), 516-523, (2006).
  • Cheng, X.; Canavan, H.E.; Castner, D.G.; and Ratner, B.D., "Protein Interaction with Plasma Polymerized N-Isopropyl Acrylamide," Biointerphases, 1 (1), 61-72 (2006).
  • Canavan, H.E.; Cheng, X.; Graham, D.J.; Ratner, B.D.; and Castner, D.G., "Cell Sheet Detachment Affects the Extracellular Matrix: A Surface Science Study Comparing Thermal Lift-off, Enzymatic and Mechanical Methods," Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 75A (1), 1-13 (2005).
  • Cheng, X.; Canavan, H.E.; Stein, M.J.; Hull, J.R.; Hull, J.R.; Kweskin, S.J.; Wagner, M.S.; Somorjai, G.A.; Castner, D.G.; and Ratner, B.D., "Surface Chemical and Mechanical Properties of Plasma Polymerized N-isopropylacrylamide," Langmuir, 21 (17) 7833-7841 (2005).

Total Publications in Career:

  • 12 refereed publications, 7 in preparation, 1 submitted, 1 chapter, 12 non-refereed publications