Tapping into wastewater for sustainable chemistry solutions
Faculty of Science Co-op Student of the Year, Allysa Greidanus, used her passion for complex chemistry problems to deliver results that advanced Canada’s deuterium refining efforts.
In the Murphy Lab at the University of Waterloo, fourth‑year Chemistry student, Allysa Greidanus, was responsible for advancing wastewater-purification research and development for deutraMed.
After discovering that the company's methods were ineffective at purifying 40 tons of wastewater, she developed processes to decontaminate industrial heavy water (D2O) waste that would eventually re-enter the global deuterated water economy.
Allysa reordered the purification steps and used a new catalyst for the ozone treatment to help purify the contaminated D2O. By employing techniques that are easily translated from an academic lab to an industrial facility, her efforts unlocked nearly $40 million in D2O resources.
Allysa directly impacted deuterium in both Ontario and across Canada. Her work will be the basis for an additional five years of collaboration between the Murphy Lab and deutraMed.
Q&A with Allysa
Tell me about a moment when you realized your work was making a real difference.
“When I first got successful results! Talking with the chief scientist at deutraMed and my boss, we were able to see that they met the purification standards, and they could actually be put through the purification process, which directly impacts the deuterium economy in Canada.”
In what ways did your supervisor support your learning or growth during your work term?
“My supervisor supported my learning growth by giving me lots of opportunities to work on my skills, specifically my communication and innovative skills. I was the only co-op student working on this project, so I had to learn how to decide what processes work, what doesn't and the reasons behind that. He also sent me to a conference which was a great opportunity for me to work on my presentation and networking skills.”
“In the Murphy Lab, it's a very family-like environment, we're always there to help each other and give advice. Whenever I got stuck, I was able to go to my colleagues and supervisor with my thoughts. It was helpful always having them available.”
If you were talking to another student, what skills would you tell them are important in the workplace?
“Some skills that I worked on in the Murphy lab included a lot of time management; we had to rush out results as soon as possible. Plus, communication skills, I would have to readily communicate my results to others so they would understand what’s going on in the project. It would definitely be important to have time management skills, some adaptability and a positive outlook all the time. If you use all those together, you're very likely to stay successful in whatever co-op job you have.”
If you could give one piece of advice to future co-op students, what would it be?
“Working in the research industry, co-op has given me a bunch of opportunities, especially this one. It's shown me how difficult it can be to make decisions and the importance of staying positive, as there's a lot of nos before you can get a yes.”
“If you want to work in research, just reach out to the profs and grad students, as they share great advice from their past experiences. That's what I did, and it worked. If the answer is no at first, don't be afraid to try and reach out again because you never know what will happen.”
How has this co-op experience shaped your goals, either academically or in your future career path?
“During this co-op, I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do after my undergrad and going into my fifth year, it was very important to figure that out. Working in this job, I found I really did have a passion for solving complex research problems. So, it solidified that I wanted to stay working in research, and I'm going to be continuing grad school here at Waterloo.”
What does receiving the Co-op Student of the Year Award mean to you?
“Winning this award means a lot. When I was interviewing for this co-op, I thought there was only a small chance I would get it. I took every moment to try and impress both deutraMed and Dr. Murphy. To see that all my efforts are really being recognized by both them and the University, it's quite an amazing experience. I’m glad that everyone else sees what a contribution I've been putting into the research.”
What's next for you?
“I'm going to be starting graduate school here at Waterloo in the fall, working towards my master's degree in Chemistry.”
“I’m going into Analytical Chemistry. I find that with that specialty, you can have real-world research problems to work on. I hope to continue working towards creating a better environment and breaking barriers, because it's what keeps me passionate. I get bored if I'm not challenged, and chemistry constantly challenges me. I'm happy to work in research because once I get past those obstacles, it's quite rewarding.”
