Our Team
XLYNX Materials is a world leader in the growing field of materials-based diazirine chemistry.
Meet some of the team making it happen.
Dr. Jeremy Wulff
Scientific Co-Founder
Dr. Jeremy Wulff is the Scientific Co-Founder of XLYNX Materials and a Full Professor in the Chemistry Department at the University of Victoria. Jeremy’s laboratory pioneered the invention of the world’s first universal crosslinking reagents for polymers; a breakthrough published in Science (2019) that serves as the foundational technology for XLYNX.
With over 100 published papers and 12 patents to his name, Jeremy is a recognized leader in the global scientific community. His career is marked by prestigious honors, including the UVic Faculty of Science Research Excellence and Teaching Excellence awards, as well as a Canada Research Chair and a Michael Smith Health Research BC career award.
At the University of Victoria, Jeremy manages over $7 million in operating funds, leading a research team of postdocs and students. His work extends across a diverse global network of collaborators, applying his discoveries to fields as varied as protein crystallography and high-performance anti-ballistic armour. At XLYNX, he provides the deep scientific oversight necessary to push the boundaries of what modern materials can achieve.
Robert Niven
CEO & President
Robert Niven is the CEO & President of XLYNX Materials, leading the strategic growth and commercialization of the company’s disruptive diazirine crosslinking technologies.
Prior to joining XLYNX, Robert was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CarbonCure Technologies, the global leader in carbon dioxide (CO₂) utilization for the concrete industry. Under his leadership, CarbonCure achieved international acclaim for its impact on industrial sustainability, winning the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE and being named Cleantech Group’s North American Company of the Year.
Rob brings this deep experience in scaling hard-tech innovations to XLYNX, focusing on high-value applications in semiconductor packaging, microelectronics, and advanced polymer manufacturing.
Rob holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering from McGill University and a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
Dr. Stefania F. Musolino
Director of Technology
Dr. Stefania Musolino is the Director of Technology at XLYNX Materials and has been instrumental to the company’s growth since its inception. With over ten years of experience as a synthetic chemist, she has effectively led the Research and Development team in product innovation.
Dr. Musolino has managed various R&D projects from concept to commercialization, notably developing PFAS-free diazirine crosslinkers that are now vital to the company’s offerings.
She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of St Andrews, UK, and an MSc in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from the University of Pisa, Italy. Her post-doctoral research at the University of Victoria, Canada, focused on innovative crosslinking diazirine materials, further enhancing her expertise in the field.
Connor Ive
Business Development Manager
Connor Ive is the Business Development Manager at XLYNX Materials, where he spearheads technological adoption. With a background rooted in early-stage commercialization, Connor excels at bridging the gap between innovative R&D and market-ready success. He brings a proven track record from multiple startups, where he played an integral role in transitioning complex technologies from research phases into sustainable commercial entities.
A graduate of the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Commerce, Connor specializes in guiding international partners through the critical pipeline from proof-of-concept to full-scale production. At XLYNX, he is dedicated to cultivating strategic partnerships and ensuring global customers can seamlessly integrate and scale the next generation of materials science solutions.
Travis Janke
Operations Manager
Travis Janke is the Director of Operations at XLYNX Materials, where he oversees production, contract management, and regulatory planning as the company scales its advanced reagent manufacturing. With close to two decades of experience in engineering and operations leadership, Travis excels at translating complex technical requirements into reliable, scalable operations.
A graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering and a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation from Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Travis’s career is defined by his work bringing advanced technologies to market. His background includes significant roles at CarbonCure Technologies, where he led product development for carbon utilization technologies in the cement and concrete industry, and Modern Hydrogen, where he served as Vice President of Engineering overseeing engineering and manufacturing operations. At XLYNX, Travis leverages his engineering depth and operational leadership to launch the company’s new Technical Account Management program and support customer success as XLYNX scales globally.
