Meet Our Partners

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering
Dr. Tizazu Mekonnen
Research Summary
Functional polymers, sustainable polymers and nanomaterials, polymer modification, multiphase and multifunctional polymers, polymer processing, nanocomposites
Education
● 2013, Doctorate, Bioresource Engineering, University of Alberta
● 2009, Master of Science, Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa University
Research interests
● Bioplastics
● Polymer blends and composites
● Polymer modifications and processing
● Rubber processing and modifications
● Biodegradable and compostable polymers
● Nanostructured polymers
● Polymer structure-property and applications development
● Dispersion Rheology & dynamics of colloidal nanomaterials
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Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Hyung-Sool Lee
Research Summary
Fundamentals and applications of microbial electrochemical cells
Education
● 2005, Doctorate, Environmental Biotechnology; Bioenergy, Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University
● 2000, Master of Engineering, Environmental engineering; Biological nitrogen removal, Inha University
● 1998, Bachelor of Science (BSc), Environmental Engineering, Inha University
Research interests
● Microbial fuel cells
● Microbial electrolysis cells
● Biohydrogen
● Fermentation
● Biochemicals
● Bioreduction of oxidized contaminants
● Thermodynamics in bacterial metabolism
● Kinetics in bacterial metabolisms
● Model development in biofilm systems
● Microbial ecology
● Bio-energy production
● Microbial ecology in engineered biological systems
● Bioelectrochemistry
● Model development for microbial reactions
● Production of bio-energy and bio-chemicals from biomass
● Nutrients recovery from organic waste and seawater
● Thermodynamic/kinetic analyses on microbial metabolisms in engineered and natural systems
● Electricity H2 and CH4

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering
Dr. Arvind Gupta
Research Summary
Polymer synthesis, biocomposite processing and production, development of biocomposite through reactive extrusion process, recycling of olefin and polyesters, biodegradable polymer synthesis, processing, characterization and production.
Education
● 2017, Doctorate, Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, India
● 2011, Master of Technology, Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India
Research interests
● Biocomposites
● Polymer synthesis
● Polymer blend and composite
● Polymer characterization
● Polymer processing
● Reactive extrusion
● Biodegradable polymer synthesis and processing
● Polymer-natural fiber processing
● Polymer recycling
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr. Tim Abbot
Research Summary
Bioprocess optimization, resource recovery from organic waste, bioplastics, biological treatment of trace organic contaminants.
Education
● 2020, Doctorate, Civil Engineering, UBC Bioreactor Technology Research Group, University of British Columbia
● 2014, Master of Applied Science (MASc.), Civil Engineering, UBC Bioreactor Technology Research
Group, University of British Columbia
● 2013, Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc.), Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
● 2009, Honours Diploma, Civil Engineering Technology, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Research interests
● Environmental engineering
● Circular economy
● Bioreactor and bioprocess engineering and design
● Bioplastic and biochemical production from organic matter
● Biomethane & biohydrogen production ● Biological treatment
● Trace organic contaminants
● Environmental analytical chemistry
● Biological nutrient removal
● Anaerobic & aerobic digestion
● Fermentation