Name: Don Petkau
Email: petkau@cc.umanitoba.ca
Phone: 479-4084
Office: E1 358
Education: BSc Agricultural Engineering, MBA
Current Program: PhD 2005
Supervisor: Dr. M.G. (Ron) Britton
Research: Design Process

Name: Elsie Jordaan
Email: umjordaa@cc.umanitoba.ca
Tel(optional): 474 6428
Office: E3-507
Education: B.Eng in 2008, UofM
Current Program: Masters from 2008
Supervisor: Dr. Cicek
Research: Phosphorus removal and recovery from swine lagoons through struvite precipitation

Name: Joe Ackerman
Email: joe.ackerman@gmail.com
Tel: 474-6428
Office: 507 E2 EITC
Education: MSc Biosystems Engineering, U of Manitoba, BSc Environmental Studies U of Winnipeg
Current Program: PhD started in 2007
Supervisor: Dr. Nazim Cicek
Research: Phosphorus recovery from swine manure

Name: Mohammed Al-Amin Sadek
Email: umsadek@cc.umanitoba.ca
Office: E1-351A EITC
Education: M Eng, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, B Sc Agric Eng, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
Current Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Ying Chen
Research: Modeling of Bio-Fibre Post Decortication Process using Discrete Element Method

Name: Rumana Islam
Email: umislamr@cc.umanitoba.ca
Education: B.Sc. in Chemical engineering (BUET)M.Sc. in Biosystems Engineering (U of Manitoba)
Current Program: PhD in Biosystems Engineering, (From 2007)
Supervisor: Dr. David B. Levin
Research: Cellulosic biofuels production

Name: Ryan Sestric
Email: umsestri@cc.umanitoba.ca
Office: Biosystems Engineering
Education: B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry
Current: PhD, started from year 2009
Supervisor: Dr David Levin
Research: Algal biology; algae to biofuels; heterotrophic algae; molecular biology
Publications: coming soon!
Self-description: Originally, Ryan dreamed to one day become a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, but after turning 20 years old and no longer
fitting the age requirement, Ryan turned to science. In 2003, he saw his first Chlamydomonas cell and there began his passion for algae.
After graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree, he went to work for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado
as a Research Technician. Later, in the fall of 2009 he joined the University of Manitoba in the Biosystems Engineering Department to once
again work with the green slime.
Personal Blog/Website: www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Sestric/1375456454

Name: Shahnaz Parvin
Email: shanu425@gmail.com
Tel: 204-2986562
Office: E3- 386 EITC
Education: B Eng Agricultural Engineering, M.Sc  Biosystems Engineering
Current: Master, started from year 2009
Supervisor: Dr. Ying Chen
Research: Processing of fibre from hemp
Self-Description: I am very simple

Name: Umesh Ramachandran
e-mail: umramacu@cc.umanitoba.ca, umeshraman@hotmail.com
Phone: 204-9510891 (Mobile)
204-4746025 (Lab)
Education: M.Sc Biochemistry, University of Victoria, M.Sc Applied Microbiology, University of Madras, B.Sc, University of Madras
Current Program: PhD in Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba
Supervisor: Dr. David Levin
Research: Bioengineering for third generation biofuels and co-products from cellulosic biomass. The threat of global climate change associated with
greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion has created a sense of urgency to develop renewable fuels with lower carbon emissions. Biomass
that includes plants, animals, microbes and their waste products contribute approximately 14 % of the world's energy needs. Major objectives of my
research are to utilize bioprocess engineering, microbiology, biotechnology and genomics to enhance the efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass
conversion to biofuels (hydrogen, ethanol) and other essential bioproducts using "designer consortia" that will maximize substrate conversion to
desired end-products. Optimized synthesis of desired end-products requires clear elucidation of genomics (gene identification, expression and
functions), metabolism, and effect of growth conditions and end-product concentrations influence carbon flow and metabolic fluxes.

Name: Valery B. Agbor
Email: umagbor@cc.umanitoba.ca
Tel:4746025
Education: B.Sc in Microbiology, M.Sc. in Biotechnology
Current Program: Master/PhD, started from year 2009
Supervisor:Dr. David Levin
Research: Biofuels