Energy - Water - Environment
The most challenging issues that humanity has is related to water, energy and the environment. My research directions are linking all three areas together. My research program encompasses transformation processes of organic matter in natural and engineered water systems, soil, sediments and fossil fuels. This contributes to addressing sustainable supply of energy, clean water and mitigation of climate change drivers and effects. The studies include generation and alteration processes of fossil fuels, routes to petroleum production and enhanced oil recovery strategies including the development of disruptive climate-neutral energy approaches. Restoring and recycling of petroleum production wastewater and controls and implication of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquifers, soils and marine systems are my research motivations. This research largely benefits from my developments of various analytical methods and software around ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. Most of my studies are multidisciplinary, collaborative, and have strong positive synergies with research in the Department of Geoscience, other U of C departments, and nationally and internationally.