Valerie Ward (She/Her)

Valerie Ward is an assistant professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Waterloo. Her primary focus is the use of microalgae, metabolic engineering, and ionic liquid based separations in biological systems. Professor Ward has made significant contributions to the development of direct catalysis of wet biomass to biodiesel using ionic liquids, metabolic engineering of microorganisms for isoprenoid production, and bioprocess development for recombinant protein purification.

• Biochemical engineering
• Industrial biotechnology
• Synthetic biology
• Metabolic engineering
• Microalgae biotechnology
• Recombinant protein production
• Ionic Liquids

• 2018, Post-doctoral Fellowship Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
• 2016, Doctorate Chemical Engineering, Western University, Canada
• 2012, Master of Applied Science Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada
• 2009, Bachelor of Science (BSc) Biology, University of Waterloo, Canada

• BME 285 - Engineering Biology
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2023
• CHE 102 - Chemistry for Engineers
  • Taught in 2020
• CHE 161 - Engineering Biology
  • Taught in 2019, 2020, 2021
• CHE 383 - Chemical Engineering Design Workshop
  • Taught in 2023
• CHE 482 - Group Design Project
  • Taught in 2024
• CHE 663 - Bioseparations
  • Taught in 2021, 2023, 2024

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• , , , , 2017
• , , , , 2016
• , , , , 2016
• , , , , 2016
• , , , , 2016

• Chemical Engineering team semi-finalists in Deep Space Food Challenge
• Researchers awarded $874,000 for tools, equipment
• Engineering research bids win New Frontiers funding