Vanessa Gordon

Vanessa Gordon is a Chemistry PhD student in the DelRe Lab at the City University of New York (CUNY), with research based at the Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) and City College. She holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Concordia University, where she first explored nanoscience in a senior research project on self-assembled up-converting nanoparticles.
Before beginning her PhD, Vanessa spent nearly a decade at Sun Chemical, where she worked as a Formulation Chemist and Project Leader. She developed sustainable polymer and coating systems for consumer goods, replacing fossil-based and inorganic additives with bio-derived, recyclable materials. She led cross-functional R&D teams, oversaw customer-facing product launches, and contributed to patented and commercialized solutions targeting microplastic pollution and recyclability barriers.
At CUNY, Vanessa is developing sequence-specific polypeptide-based biopolymers that replicate the durability of conventional plastics while enabling environmentally responsive degradation. Her work merges polymer synthesis with nanoscale design to contribute to next-generation sustainable materials.
Outside of the lab, she enjoys traveling, going to shows around the city, and picking her next novel to read with her book club!