Saji George is an Associate Professor at McGill University's Macdonald Campus, affiliated with the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry. Their research focuses on sustainable nanotechnology applications for food and agricultural systems, emphasizing safety and environmental responsibility. Research Areas: Sustainable crop/livestock systems, safe food supply, human nutrition, bioaerosols, and antibacterial nanotechnology. Awards: Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Sustainable Nanotechnology for Food and Agriculture. Contact: Email saji.george@mcgill.ca or call 514-398-7920.
Dr. Yunfei Jiang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. Her research focuses on improving crop resilience to climate change and sustainable agronomic practices in Atlantic Canada, with expertise in agronomy, crop physiology, and environmental stress responses. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Saskatchewan (2017), an M.Sc. from Dalhousie University (2013), and a B.Sc. in Horticulture from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (2010). Her research includes evaluating enhanced efficiency fertilizers, biochar, and intercropping systems to enhance soil health and crop yields. She teaches courses such as AGRN2001 (Cereal-Based Cropping Systems) and PLSC2001 (Plant Propagation Techniques). Funding and awards details, along with her graduate students' projects, are available on her lab website at jiangdal.ca . Dr. Jiang is affiliated with professional organizations including the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists and the American Society of Agronomy. Her lab, the Agronomy and Crop Physiology (ACP) Lab, emphasizes sustainable agriculture and crop adaptation to environmental challenges. Contact her via email at yunfei.jiang@dal.ca or visit her lab's address: PO Box 550, Truro, NS B2N 5E3.
Joel Weadge is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Wilfrid Laurier University , Waterloo, Ontario. His research focuses on bacterial biofilms, glycobiology, and protein structure-function relationships. Contact: jweadge@wlu.ca , Office: BA425 (Bricker Academic). Education: PhD in Microbiology (University of Guelph, 2006) BSc (Hons) in Microbiology (University of Guelph, 2000) Research Interests center on bacterial biofilms as virulence factors in pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella . Key areas include: Structural and functional characterization of biofilm proteins (cellulose, curli fimbriae) Enzymology of carbohydrate modifications (acetylation, phosphoethanolamine transfer) Developing therapeutics targeting biofilm synthesis Biopolymer applications for medical/industrial use Publications highlight studies on Pseudomonas and Salmonella biofilm mechanisms, glycosyltransferases, and carbohydrate-active enzymes, with methodologies spanning X-ray crystallography to high-throughput biofilm profiling. Labs and Teams: The Weadge Lab investigates biofilm roles in food/water security and oral health, utilizing enzymology, mass spectrometry, and structural biology. Current members include graduate students, technicians, and research assistants.
Dr. Amir Hakami is a Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Carleton University , where he leads the Carleton Atmospheric Modelling Group . His research focuses on advanced air quality modeling techniques to inform environmental policy. Degrees: B.Sc. (Polytechnic of Tehran), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Georgia Tech), Postdoc (Caltech) Contact: Office 3454 Mackenzie Building, Phone: 613-520-2600 ext. 8609, Email: amir.hakami@carleton.ca Research Interests: Air quality modeling at multiple spatial scales Adjoint sensitivity analysis for atmospheric response Inverse modeling and data assimilation techniques Uncertainty quantification in environmental systems Interdisciplinary applications in policy, public health, and economics Teaching: Courses include Environmental Engineering Systems Modeling , Contaminant Transport , and Air Pollution & Emissions Control at undergraduate and graduate levels. Research Group: The group includes Ph.D. candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and alumni working on topics ranging from atmospheric chemistry to sustainable energy systems. Members come from diverse backgrounds in engineering, science, and policy disciplines.
Dr. Cristina Rosell is a Professor and Head of the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba. Her research focuses on grain-based food innovation, starch properties, and sustainable bakery processes. Education: PhD and BSc in Pharmacy from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain Dr. Rosell specializes in cereal science, enzymatic food modification, and gluten-free product development. Her current projects include optimizing bakery processes with computational tools, tracing rice supply chains via blockchain, and integrating bioactives into gluten-free foods. Her work bridges food chemistry, nutritional science, and industrial bakery technology. Her recent research trends emphasize gluten-free bread using legume and root starches, starch-plant compound interactions , and sustainable food processing via microwave-assisted extraction, high-pressure treatments, and fermentation. Key subfields include dough rheology, polyphenol bioactivity, and techno-functional ingredient development. Dr. Rosell’s teaching includes graduate seminars in food science (HNSC 7130). She supervises graduate students in breadmaking, starch hydrolysis, and functional food design. Her lab explores grain quality, enzymatic treatments, and bakery product optimization through interdisciplinary approaches combining chemistry, nutrition, and process engineering.
Orlando Rojas is a Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), holding joint appointments in the Departments of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry, and Wood Science. He leads the Biobased Colloids and Materials (BiCMat) research group and directs the Bioproducts Institute . His research focuses on sustainable development through renewable materials, including nanopolysaccharides, bacterial nanocellulose, lignins, and multiphase systems. Rojas has advised over 50 PhD students and 40+ MS students, with a h-index of 90 (Google Scholar). Key Roles/Positions : Canada Excellence Research Chair in Renewable Materials Adjunct Professor at NC State University (USA) and Dalian Polytechnic University (China) Director of FinnCERES Flagship (Finland) Research Interests : Development of bio-based materials for energy, healthcare, and environmental applications. Key areas include nanocellulose functionalization, lignin valorization, and bioinspired materials. His work integrates colloidal science, multiphase systems, and sustainable manufacturing. Grants & Awards : ERC Advanced Grant and Horizon H2020 funding 2013 ACS Fellow, 2015 Tappi Nanotechnology Award First Latin-American recipient of the Anselme Payen Award (ACS) Labs & Collaborations : Active partnerships with Aalto University (Finland) and institutions globally. Leads the BiCMat group spanning UBC and FinnCERES, focusing on bio-based materials and sustainable technologies.
Amanda Giang serves as Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, holding a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Modelling for Policy. She maintains a joint appointment with the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES). Her educational background includes a B.A.Sc. from the University of Toronto, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from MIT, with postdoctoral training at MIT and Harvard. Dr. Giang's research employs interdisciplinary approaches to develop modeling tools for environmental policy analysis, focusing on pollution assessment, environmental injustice, and the intersection of air quality, decarbonization, and equity. Her work emphasizes action-oriented partnerships with community organizations and government health/environment agencies. Current projects address freight transport decarbonization equity, cumulative impact assessment methodologies for overburdened communities, and holistic environmental impact evaluation in technology design. Her recent publications demonstrate expertise across environmental modeling, policy analysis, and justice frameworks, with significant contributions to understanding spatial inequities in environmental risk distribution and developing community-engaged research methodologies. UBC Killam Research Prize, 2023 Dr. Giang actively collaborates with community groups and government authorities through her LEAP (Learning, Environmental Assessment, and Policy) research group. Her work integrates technical modeling with real-world policy applications, particularly in urban environmental planning contexts where equity considerations are paramount. She has developed innovative frameworks for cumulative impact assessment and environmental justice analysis that directly inform regulatory decision-making processes. Her research laboratory focuses on developing open-source modeling tools for environmental policy analysis while maintaining strong community partnerships that ensure research addresses pressing local environmental justice concerns.
Dr. David Burton is a Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. He serves as Director of the Centre for Sustainable Soil Management and leads initiatives in soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable agricultural practices. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in soil science, nutrient management, and climate change. Research focuses on microbial metabolism in soil, nitrogen cycling, and the environmental impacts of agricultural practices. He co-founded the Atlantic Soil Health Lab and manages the Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab. Key affiliations include the Canadian Society of Soil Science (Fellow), Soil Conservation Council of Canada, and Fertilizer Canada's 4R Research Network. Recent work emphasizes soil's role in climate resilience, including presentations on regenerative farming and soil carbon sequestration. He collaborates with government and industry to develop climate-smart soil management policies and tools for nitrogen management optimization. Awards: Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science Labs: Centre for Sustainable Soil Management, Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab, Atlantic Soil Health Lab Grants: NSERC CREATE Climate Smart Soils
Jennifer Lynes is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo in the Department of Environment and Business, where she co-directs the Sustainability & Financial Management program. She also serves as Chair of REEP Green Solutions and co-founded the North American Sustainable Concerts Working Group. Current roles: Associate Professor, Co-Director (Sustainability & Financial Management), REEP Green Solutions Chair Education background: Marketing and Environmental Studies Her research bridges business and environmental sustainability, focusing on: Social and community-based green marketing Youth environmental engagement programs Residential energy conservation behavior Sustainable tourism and hospitality practices Recent publications analyze: Water efficiency programs and behavioral change Electric vehicle adoption strategies Textile waste management in fashion consumption Sustainable eating behaviors in Canadian universities Scientific recognition includes: Emerald Publishing Group Highly Commended Paper (2014) She teaches courses such as: ENBUS 102: Introduction to Environment and Business ENBUS 309: Applied Social Marketing ENBUS 630: Enterprise Strategies for Social Accountability
Simone D. Castellarin is a Professor in the Department of Applied Biology at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and holds the Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Viticulture. His research focuses on the molecular and physiological mechanisms governing berry ripening and composition in grapes, blueberries, and raspberries, with emphasis on genomic regulation under environmental stressors like heatwaves and drought. PhD in Plant Biology from the University of Udine (2007) Postdoctoral training at Hochschule Geisenheim University and University of California Davis Research areas include terpene biosynthesis, jasmonate signaling, cuticular wax dynamics, and agronomic strategies for climate change mitigation. Key projects involve remote sensing for vineyard zoning , hormone application effects , and genetic studies of berry quality traits . His work spans collaborations with industry bodies like the BC Wine and Grape Council and academic partners including the Cantu Lab at UC Davis. Recent publications highlight genomic analyses of terpene synthases, water deficit impacts on metabolites, and postharvest quality assessments. Awards include the 2009 Rudolf Hermanns Prize for viticultural research. He supervises numerous PhD and Master's students, and leads the Castellarin Lab at UBC's Wine Research Centre.
Dr. Rachel Scholes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on protecting human and environmental health through the study of contaminants in urban water systems, with an emphasis on optimizing contaminant removal in engineered and nature-based treatment systems. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research interests include environmental chemistry, trace contaminants, water reuse, nature-based treatment systems, and stormwater treatment. She teaches courses such as ENVE 301 (Environmental Engineering Intermediate Design Project) and CIVL 562 (Environmental Data Collection and Analysis). Her lab, Scholes Lab, actively investigates contaminant dynamics in constructed wetlands, bioretention systems, and subsurface treatment environments. Key research contributions include enhancing contaminant removal via Fe (III)-EDTA-amended wetlands, studying 6PPD-quinone dynamics in salmon streams, and optimizing pharmaceutical attenuation in benthic wetland biomats. Her work bridges fundamental environmental chemistry with applied engineering solutions for sustainable water management. Dr. Scholes' lab collaborates on projects funded by grants focused on urban water systems, green infrastructure, and contaminant fate. She advises students through the Scholes Lab (www.scholeslab.org), which emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.
Helen Jarvie is a Professor of Water and Global Environmental Change at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She holds adjunct and visiting professor positions at the University of Arkansas (Fluvial Sciences), Plymouth University (Environmental Chemistry), and the University of Tokyo (Water Quality Science), and is a UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Fellow. Her research centers on river-system biogeochemistry, with intense focus on nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) cycling, eutrophication, and water quality across watershed-to-global scales. She investigates how climate variability, land-use change, and human activities drive water-quality impairment, and develops strategies for improved nutrient stewardship to build resilience in water resources. Her work uniquely bridges the critical tension between phosphorus-dependent food security and water-quality protection, given phosphate rock's non-renewable status. Analysis of her 2015-2019 publications reveals dominant trends in phosphorus dynamics research, spanning watershed management, global phosphorus budgets, and the water-energy-food nexus. Key themes include unintended consequences of agricultural conservation practices on soluble phosphorus loads, stoichiometric responses to hydrologic extremes, and sustainable phosphorus stewardship frameworks addressing eutrophication while ensuring resource security for future food production.
Curtis Suttle is a Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Science. He also holds affiliations with Earth and Ocean Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology, and the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries. His research focuses on marine virology and the ecological roles of viruses in aquatic ecosystems, particularly their impact on phytoplankton and microbial communities. Dr. Suttle received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from UBC, was a Coastal Marine Scholar at SUNY StonyBrook (1987-88), and served as Assistant/Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin (1988-96) before returning to UBC. His research program investigates the biology and ecology of viruses that infect microalgae and cyanobacteria. Key areas include discerning viral effects on primary productivity, isolating novel marine viruses, developing molecular identification methods, and studying viral distribution patterns. His work has revealed that viruses can occur in seawater at concentrations exceeding 10 5 ml -1 , with cyanophage concentrations reaching 10 6 infectious units ml -1 in coastal waters. Dr. Suttle's team has developed PCR primers specific for viral DNA polymerase genes, showing these viruses belong to a single family related to herpes viruses. Recent publications show a strong focus on marine viral ecology, with particular attention to oyster microbiomes, viral taxonomy, and the role of viruses in marine ecosystems. His research spans from coastal environments to the deepest ocean trenches, examining viral diversity across environmental gradients and investigating viral impacts on carbon cycling and marine food webs. Dr. Suttle leads an active research group with several post-doctoral associates, research scientists, and graduate students. His team conducts field work at multiple locations including the Naica Mine in Mexico, Pavilion Lake in British Columbia, Saanich Inlet, and the Strait of Georgia. Current projects include collaborations with the Hakai Institute, Line P Research Cruise, and CASES (Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study). His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding viral roles in marine ecosystems, particularly through expeditions to extreme environments like the Naica crystal caves and deep ocean trenches. Ongoing research explores viral impacts on microbial community structure, carbon cycling, and ecosystem function across diverse marine habitats.
Ken Oakes is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Cape Breton University (CBU) and holds the Industrial Research Chair in Environmental Remediation. He specializes in environmental toxicology, nanotechnology, and aquatic ecosystems. With a Ph.D. from the University of Guelph and postdoctoral training at the University of Waterloo, his research focuses on reactive oxygen species, water treatment, and pollution mitigation. He has over 60 peer-reviewed publications and supervised numerous graduate/undergraduate theses. Key research areas include photocatalytic water treatment using TiO₂ composites, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for contaminant detection, and transdermal drug delivery via polymeric microneedles. His work addresses industrial effluent impacts on marine ecosystems and sustainable antifouling technologies. Recent studies investigate nanomaterials for environmental remediation and biomedical applications. Dr. Oakes has contributed to projects assessing pulp mill effluent effects on coastal ecosystems, copper-based Fenton chemistry for biofilm removal, and uranium extraction from water. His lab develops innovative solutions for environmental challenges, combining engineering, chemistry, and biology disciplines. Funding sources include industrial partnerships and academic grants focused on clean technologies.
Rene Van Acker is a Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the Ontario Agricultural College (University of Guelph). Currently serving as Interim President of the University of Guelph, he previously held the Dean and Associate Dean External positions at OAC, and chaired the Department of Plant Agriculture. With a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from University of Guelph and a PhD from University of Reading , his leadership has transformed OAC through strategic initiatives like Our Shared Priorities and OAC Space Visioning Plan . Co-founded Arrell Food Institute and Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming Established over 20 externally funded chairs and raised $90M+ for OAC Led creation of B.Sc. in Indigenous Environmental Science and other innovative programs His research focuses on agroecology , organic farming systems , weed science , and temperate forest garden systems . Recent publications examine herbicide effects on crops, microbial community dynamics in agroforestry, and novel crop establishment methods. Key projects include evaluating compost applications and woodchip mulching impacts on apple orchard productivity and soil microbial abundance . As an active faculty member, he supervises graduate students , co-teaches OAC capstone courses , and serves on university committees including Budget Committee and Micro-credentials Committee . Externally, he contributes to Rural Ontario Institute and leads the Deans Council (Agriculture, Food & Veterinary Medicine).
