Recipient of the Premier's Research Excellence Award, and holder of a Canada Research Chair in Nano-Biomaterials, Chen has greatly contributed to theoretical underpinnings and practical applications in low dimensional thermodynamics, interfacial and nanostructure design and fabrication, peptide self/co-assembly, and energy storage and conversion. Peptide biopharmaceutics, drug and gene delivery, protein-lipid membrane interactions, emulsification, coating, plating, thin films, and eco-friendly batteries are special areas of his excellent contributions. His work on peptide mediated short interfering RNA delivery and rechargeable hybrid aqueous batteries resulted in large scale commercialization.