Valerie Ward

Valerie Ward is an assistant professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Waterloo. Her research encompasses on the development of novel bioprocesses for applications in bioresource engineering and biorefining. 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 and the metabolic engineering of microorganisms for isoprenoid production.

• Biochemical engineering
• Biomedical engineering
• Industrial biotechnology
• Metabolic engineering
• Microalgae biotechnology
• Microalgae cultivation
• Isoprenoid biosynthesis
• Ionic liquid bases bioprocesses
• Ionic liquid based bioseparations
• Metabolic engineering of isoprenoids

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

• Ward, V.; Munch, G.; Cecik, N.; Rehmann, L. (2017) Direct conversion of the oleaginous yeast Rhodospordium diobovatum to biodiesel using the ionic liquid [C2mim][EtSO4]. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng: 5(6), 5562-5570. (Accepted in 2017)
• Orr, V; Plechkova, N.V; Seddon, K.R; Rehmann, L (2016) Disruption and wet extraction of the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris using room-temperature ionic liquids. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng: 4(2) 591-600. (Accepted in 2016)
• Orr, V, Rehmann, L (2016) Improvement of the Nile Red fluorescence assay for determination of total lipid content in microalgae independent of chlorophyll content. J Appl Phycol:28, 2181-2189. (Accepted in 2016)
• Orr, V*; Luque*; L; Chen, S; Westerhof, R; Oudenhoven, S; van Rossum, G; Kersten, S; Berruti, F; Rehmann, L (2016) Lipid accumulation from pinewood pyrolysates by Rhodosporidium diobavotum and Chlorella vulgaris for biodiesel production. Bioresource Technol:214, 660-669. (Accepted in 2016)
• Orr, V*; Gao, K*; Rehmann, L (2016) Butanol fermentation from microalgae derived carbohydrates after ionic liquid extraction. Bioresource Technol:206, 77-85. (Accepted in 2016)

• Engineering research bids win New Frontiers funding