Fil-Canadian is youngest scientist to head multimillion dollar research facility

Dr. Phil De Luna, 29, was named  to the 2021 Bay Street Bull 30X30. PCN

The youngest scientist to head a multimillion dollar research facility was recently honored with two top awards recognizing his excellence and leadership in the field.

Dr. Phil De Luna was named  to the 2021 Bay Street Bull 30X30. The 2021 Bay Street Bull 30X30 guide showcases a group of path-blazing individuals who are redefining the way Canadians do business and champion their communities.

From social media savants and industry-transforming entrepreneurs to game-changing entertainers and health care heroes, each of this year’s inductees is challenging Canadians to think (and work) differently for a brighter future.

De Luna was also named to the 2021 Clean50 Individual awards selected from 16 diverse categories in industries, academia, different levels of government, thought leaders and advocates, and are based on accomplishments over the prior two years.

Meant to celebrate Canada’s sustainability heroes, the awards aim to accelerate collaboration towards a job-rich, cleaner, healthier, innovation-based, low-carbon economy supporting all Canadians.

A proven research scientist with over 42 published papers, the  29-year-old De Luna  is program director of the National Research Council of Canada, where he directs the Materials for Clean Fuels Challenge Program with a budget of $57 million over seven years.

He leads a 40- person world class team whose mandate is to develop transformative technologies to help Canada achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

They are seeking ways to make renewable fuels and chemicals from air and water via three thrusts: CO2 conversion, H2 production, and AI-accelerated materials discovery. To date, the team has over 20 collaborative projects with 15 world leading universities and start-up companies in Canada and abroad including five  patents.