Grad Student Position Details
Project Title
Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions
Degree Program
MSc
Supervisor
Tariq Siddique
Professorial Rank
Professor
Department
Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science
Project Start Date
05/01/2025
Project Description
The successful candidate will work on research project related to biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and mitigation of greenhouse gas emission under anaerobic conditions. PhD/MSc student will set up microcosms for hydrocarbon degradation under anaerobic conditions and continuously monitor the experiment for depletion of hydrocarbons. (S)he will also perform molecular analyses and metagenomics of microbial communities involved in biodegradation processes. We are seeking for a responsible student interested in the project.
Surface mining of oil sands has a significant environmental footprint. Currently oil sands tailings ponds contain more than 1 billion m3 of fluid fine tailings (FFT) that need to be reclaimed. Tailings ponds are anaerobic and harbor microbial communities that degrade residual hydrocarbons in FFT producing greenhouse gases (GHG), primarily methane. Reducing greenhouse gases emissions is a crucial challenge for industrial companies and the broader society. We proposed to reduce/prevent methane production and emissions from tailings ponds and end-pit lakes by (1) biodegrading the labile hydrocarbons (source of methane) and (2) oxidation of generated methane under different aerobic and anaerobic (nitrate-, sulfate- and iron-reducing) conditions.
Keywords
Contact Email
alsu@ualberta.ca
Other contact information
Project Website
Stipend Amount/year
$ 28,000.00