Reddy’s research aims to develop paper-based microfluidic devices that can make certain kinds of medical and chemical testing faster, cheaper, and easier to do. In practical terms, the work points toward tools that could one day support at-home health testing, point-of-care diagnostics, and more accessible screening for things like infection or drug levels, especially in places with limited lab infrastructure.

The approach relies on controlling how tiny amounts of liquid move through specially treated paper. At NanoFabrication Kingston, a facility created by Queen's University and CMC Microsystems that supports microsystems and nanotechnologies research, Reddy uses a specialized laser to pattern paper, so samples collect and dry in precise, repeatable spots rather than spreading unpredictably. That control is key to making the results reliable enough for real-world use.

”Dan developed an innovative approach using patterned and textured surfaces to capture small volumes of fluid. He fabricated surfaces with hydrophobic (water-fearing) and hydrophilic (water-loving) regions that spontaneously produce precise droplets, ranging from nanolitres to microlitres, when dipped into a liquid,” says Richard Oleschuk, professor and Reddy’s faculty supervisor. “The method has significant ramifications for chemical and clinical analysis and has attracted industrial interest.”  
 

Building leadership opportunities for chemistry students

The Vanier award also created space for Reddy to take on work outside the lab. At Queen’s, he founded and led a student chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS) after noticing a gap in professional development opportunities for chemistry students.

“Dan’s leadership extends far beyond the laboratory and has significantly elevated the Queen’s community's profile on both national and international stages,” says P. Andrew Evans, professor, Canada Research Chair, and Alfred R. Bader Chair of Organic Chemistry. “He exemplifies the rare combination of intellectual depth, strategic vision, and personal integrity that defines truly exceptional academic leaders.”

Reddy worked to build the chapter into what he describes as an incubator for student leaders. It now hosts seminars, student awards, and networking opportunities while connecting Queen’s students to a wider international community of chemists.

In his role as chapter president, Reddy successfully pushed for an ACS Historic Chemical Landmark designation for Alfred Bader, one of the highest honours bestowed by the ACS and the first to be awarded in Canada in more than 20 years. Faculty, students, members of the Bader family, and two-time Nobel Prize laureate K. Barry Sharpless were present for the plaque unveiling ceremony. Sharpless, whose work has reshaped modern chemistry and who credited Bader in his second Nobel acceptance speech, also spoke as part of the two-day event.

“I felt this drive to get this Landmark for Alfred Bader because I felt he deserved it,” says Reddy. “All around me was appreciation of his philanthropy and his contributions to art and culture, but there was less recognition of his contributions to chemistry, and none of that would have been possible without it.”

Reddy recently completed his PhD defence and is now thinking about what comes next. That includes the future of the ACS chapter he helped build and the next steps in his career.

“I hope people will see that getting involved this way is a chance for students to grow as leaders and contribute to the community,” says Reddy, who’s working to hand ACS chapter leadership over to the next generation of students. “Doing it, you realize how much comes from collaboration and from being open to new ideas. I saw that in the incredible work of the chemistry faculty, at conferences, and in the lab. The opportunities I found here opened up connections, research opportunities, and new directions to explore, so I’m excited to turn the page and see what’s next.”