Dr. Jun-Ray Macairan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Trent University. He completed his B.Sc. in Biochemistry in 2016, followed by a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Concordia University in 2021, where he was recognized as both valedictorian and the recipient of the Governor General's Gold Medal. Under the supervision of Dr. Rafik Naccache, his doctoral work focused on designing carbon dot nanomaterials for applications in bioimaging and chemical sensing.
Following his Ph.D., he pursued postdoctoral research at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Nathalie Tufenkji, where he developed innovative techniques to investigate the environmental fate and impacts of micro- and nanoplastics. His interdisciplinary approach bridged analytical chemistry with environmental science to address the challenges posed by emerging contaminants.
At Trent, Dr. Jun-Ray Macairan leads a research program centered on three interconnected areas: (1) understanding the behavior and effects of organic and inorganic pollutants in natural systems; (2) developing sustainable, carbon dot-based technologies for the detection of environmental contaminants; and (3) advancing green remediation strategies using nanocellulose-based materials. His work contributes to both fundamental science and practical solutions for environmental monitoring and cleanup.