Dr. Michael Tam, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo, is a leading researcher in the field of sustainable nanomaterials. With an academic path that has taken him from Australia to Singapore and now to Canada, Dr. Tam has built a career at the intersection of chemical engineering, nanotechnology, and green innovation. Dr. Tam sat down with the Chemical Institute of Canada to discuss his career journey, research, and vision for the future of sustainable materials.
Chemical Institute of Canada: Thank you for sitting down with us. We wanted to know what led you to study chemical engineering?
Dr. Michael Tam: This is an interesting question. When I first went to study at Monash University in Australia, I enrolled in the common engineering program in the first year. It is only in the second year that we choose the engineering discipline to study. My original plan was to study Civil Engineering, as there are many job openings in Malaysia, where I was from. However, my best subject in Year 1 was Chemistry, so I decided to go with my heart and pursue Chemical Engineering. It turned out to be an excellent decision.
CIC: How did your international experience shape your career?
Dr. Tam: My career in the industry began after I earned my degree in Chemical Engineering. I served as a Service Engineer at Alfa Laval, where I gained hands-on experience in the palm oil and edible oil refinery sector. Seeking to deepen my technical expertise and pursue a passion for innovation, I returned to academia to undertake doctoral research at Monash University.
CIC: What brought you to the University of Waterloo?
Dr. Tam: My academic journey began with a postdoc in Professor Robert Pelton’s lab, diving into the world of colloids and polymers for industrial applications. This was followed by a 15-year tenure at Nanyang Technological University, which provided a fantastic foundation in teaching and research. A pivotal conversation about new opportunities at the University of Waterloo led me to join in 2007. I was brought on to help teach the innovative Nanotechnology Engineering program, merging my foundational knowledge in chemical engineering with the emerging field of nanoscale science.
CIC: Can you explain your research focus in simple terms?
Dr. Tam: My research advances the development of sustainable nanomaterials, such as cellulose nanocrystals, for various advanced engineering applications. We use green chemistry to create smart, nanostructured systems with targeted functionalities. Our novel materials are designed for use in diverse sectors, including cosmetics, food, agriculture, and personal care.
CIC: What are functional colloids, and why are they important?
Dr. Tam: Functional colloids are a class of soft nanostructures designed for dispersion in aqueous media. They are functionalized with surface moieties that impart specific, stimuli-responsive characteristics (e.g., to temperature or pH). These colloids can also possess surface charges (positive or negative), facilitating specific binding to molecules or substrates through electrostatic interactions
CIC: How can nanomaterials contribute to sustainability?
Dr. Tam: Nanomaterials by themselves may not be sustainable. However, my research focuses on sustainable nanomaterials, particularly those derived from forests and agricultural biomass. The nanomaterials extracted from these natural sources are sustainable and renewable.
CIC: Which of your research projects are you most proud of?
Dr. Tam: The two projects that I am happy with are: (1) water-harvesting using coatings prepared from natural waxes and cellulose nanocrystals. It can capture 5L of water /m2 h, and (2) adsorbents derived from natural materials for the removal of organic pollutants and heavy metals.
CIC: What trends do you see in nanotechnology research today?
Dr. Tam: A major trend is sustainable, circular nanomaterial design. We must pioneer green manufacturing and create fully recyclable products to safeguard our environment.
CIC: What advice do you have for young researchers?
Dr. Tam: To the next generation of researchers: these challenging times are your greatest opportunity. Thrive by staying open-minded, collaborating across disciplines, and asking the big questions. Ground your work in integrity, eschew shortcuts, and always be generous in crediting your collaborators.
CIC: What’s next for your research?
Dr. Tam: My current goal is to bridge the gap between research and practice by working with industry partners to implement my work in real-world settings, from non-profits to new ventures.
CIC: What is the topic of your plenary talk at CSChE in Montreal?
Dr. Tam: In my plenary talk, I will be discussing the application of sustainable nanomaterials for applications in water, biomedical science, and agriculture. I will outline how cellulose nanocrystals can be functionalized to possess unique properties suitable for these applications.
CIC: What do you hope people take away from your talk?
Dr. Tam: I hope that people will learn that it is important to develop a toolbox of ideas that can be translated to solve multi-faceted problems if one can define the problems correctly. All problems have a solution, and it is up to us to figure how a way towards a solution.
CIC: Do you plan on attending x2026 in Toronto in 2026?
Dr. Tam: I was invited Professor Ning Yan (University of Toronto) to assist in organizing a symposium on Sustainable Bio-based Products and Circular Materials.
Dr. Tam’s plenary lecture at CSChE 2025 in Montréal drew wide attention from students, academics, and industry professionals alike, highlighting the transformative potential of sustainable nanomaterials across sectors from water treatment to agriculture. His ability to weave together personal experience, cutting-edge research, and a call to action for greener innovation left a lasting impression on attendees.
As the chemical engineering community looks ahead to x2026 in Toronto, Dr. Tam’s insights will continue to resonate, reminding us that the path to sustainable solutions lies in collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to translating research into real-world impact.