Shawn Chahal received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from McGill University in 2022. His research focused on the environmental impacts and applications of carbon-based nanomaterials, in particular, carbon dots and microplastics. Following his doctorate, he completed two postdoctoral appointments at McGill University, developing advanced machine learning models for food authentication applications and bioprocess modelling.
He joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Ottawa in 2025. His research focuses on the development of digital twins powered by deep learning for recombinant protein production in bacterial, yeast, and mammalian cell systems. By integrating chemometric and machine learning approaches, his work aims to enable predictive control, bioprocess optimization, and scale-up modelling in biomanufacturing, ultimately reducing production costs and accelerating the development timelines of life-saving biologics.