Elizabeth Gillies is an international leader in the development of new designs to control the degradation of polymers. She developed a new class of polymers that unzip upon stimulation by light, heat, pH, or redox change. These unique polymers are currently being applied to release drugs at specific sites in the body, as traceless inks for 3D printing, and as replacements for conventional non-degradable plastics. She has mentored > 110 trainees, and published 142 papers with > 9600 citations. She received an NSERC EWR Steacie Fellowship, Canada Research Chair, membership in the RSC College, and two Engineering Teaching Awards.