Michele C. Loewen

Michele C. Loewen serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Ottawa and Queen's University, while holding a Senior Research Officer position at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Her work bridges academic research and industrial applications in enzyme engineering and fungal pathogenesis.

Her research program focuses on two interconnected domains: developing industrial enzyme technologies for bioprocessing waste streams in mining, forestry, and textiles industries, and investigating molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogens like Fusarium graminearum and biocontrol agents such as Clonostachys rosea. Employing genetic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and structural biology methodologies, her lab addresses climate-impacted crop diseases and sustainable resource recovery.

Analysis of her recent publications (2021-2022) reveals a dual emphasis on environmental biotechnology—particularly selenium effluent treatment using engineered enzymes—and plant-microbe interactions, where transcriptomic studies decode wheat defense responses against Fusarium and genomic resources advance biocontrol applications. These works demonstrate integration of biochemical, analytical, and computational approaches across agricultural and environmental challenges.

Dr. Loewen actively mentors eight graduate students and research associates across both universities, including Ph.D. candidates at Queen's and M.Sc. students at uOttawa, supported by NRC infrastructure. Her collaborative research leverages institutional partnerships though specific grant details remain unlisted in available materials.

The Loewen (MC) Lab operates at the NRC with advanced capabilities in liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, protein crystallography, and metabolomic profiling. Current projects investigate fungal signal transduction pathways, enzyme-electrode interactions for wastewater treatment, and climate-resilient biocontrol strategies, maintaining strong ties with academic partners through adjunct appointments.