Chemistry professor Subha Kalyaanamoorthy has been awarded $140,000 from the Government of Ontario’s Early Researcher Awards program to further her research in addressing two pressing environmental issues: carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industrial activities and the growing impact of plastic production and waste.
“Our government is investing in made-in-Ontario research that will protect our economy, jobs and workers,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “By driving cutting-edge research at our world-class postsecondary institutions, hospitals, and research institutions, people in Ontario, Canada and around the world will benefit from discoveries made in our own backyard.”
Her multidisciplinary project focuses on designing novel, robust enzymes that are both sustainable and highly efficient. These include engineered carbonic anhydrases for low-energy CO₂ capture and PET-hydrolyzing enzymes that enable the closed-loop recycling of plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Instead of relying solely on time-intensive laboratory screening, Dr. Kalyaanamoorthy’s team employs advanced computational methods to accelerate the discovery and optimization of high-performance biocatalysts. The ultimate goal is to develop scalable, enzyme-based technologies that contribute to Canada’s net-zero emissions targets and support the transition to a circular economy.
“The Early Researcher Award will support the recruitment of highly qualified personnel and provide critical resources to advance the research, positioning the University of Waterloo as a leader in climate innovation and sustainable technology development,” says Kalyaanamoorthy. “This award will help us push the boundaries of enzyme engineering and contribute transformative solutions to some of today’s most urgent environmental issues.”
Congratulations to Professor Kalyaanamoorthy, one of nine researchers at Waterloo to be named a 2025 Early Researcher Award recipient.