Valerie Ward (She/Her)

Valerie Ward is an Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Microalgae Biomanufacturing in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Ward’s research focuses on using synthetic biology and metabolic engineering tools to design more efficient and economical biomanufacturing processes. This includes production of isoprenoids like carotenoids or production of recombinant proteins and therapeutic products in bacteria, microalgae, and mammalian cell culture.

• 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

• 2024 - Canada Research Chair – Tier 2 – Microalgae Biomanufacturing

• 2019 - Editor’s Choice for most notable articles – Bioengineering & Biotechnology

• 2017 - NSERC Post Doctoral Fellowship (PDF)

• 2015 - E.D.J Murray Biochemical Engineering Graduate Scholarship

• 2014 - NSERC Canadian Alexander Graham Bell Graduate Scholarship (CGS-D)

• Interim Director of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research

• Associate Editor of Algal Research

• BME 285 - Engineering Biology
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2023
• CHE 102 - Chemistry for Engineers
  • Taught in 2020
• CHE 161 - Engineering Biology
  • Taught in 2020, 2021
• CHE 383 - Chemical Engineering Design Workshop
  • Taught in 2023, 2025
• CHE 482 - Group Design Project
  • Taught in 2024, 2025
• CHE 663 - Bioseparations
  • Taught in 2021, 2023, 2024

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

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