The Faculty of ALES is fortifying its research and teaching in bioresources.
John Wolodko, a senior bioresources researcher, is the Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures Strategic Chair in Bio and Industrial Materials in ALES. He started October 15.
In this new position, he will assist in creating stronger links between ALES' researchers and Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures. AITF is the arm of Alberta Innovates that helps develop and deliver new bioresource technologies in the province's agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, environment, health and pipeline sectors.
Bioresources are biologically based materials and processes that are sustainable and biodegradable. They can be used to crate a variety of products including fuels, solvents, high value chemicals, adhesives, construction materials, plastics and more.
ALES researchers have already expanded the understanding of the science behind bio-based products and are engaging in applied research to create new technologies and solutions. Wolodko's appointment creates immense potential for more graduate training and research focused on an emerging area of demand from industry: bio-based goods made from materials using agriculture and forest products, said Ruurd Zijlstra, Chair of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science.
"John brings specific experience into ALES for the study of bio and industrial materials that we currently do not have," he said.
Wolodko will start by recruiting students and post doctoral fellows to tackle research projects at Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures, alongside its engineers and scientists. That will allow the students to fulfil their educational requirements while becoming familiar with AITF's methods, clients and client needs.
Wolodko has been an adjunct professor at the U of A for the past decade. Most recently, he was executive director of pipelines at AITF, and prior to that director of the materials and reliability in oil sands industry consortium (also known as MARIOS).
Among his accomplishments at AITF was helping to develop the organization's biocomposites program, which used agriculture and forest products to create new composite materials for consumer goods, building products and automotive parts.
Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures is one of the four corporations that make up Alberta Innovates, an integrated collaboration of government, industry and academia that cuts red tape to develop solutions to global challenges, with an eye to growing and diversifying Alberta's economy. The others are AI-Bio Solutions, AI-Health Solutions and AI-Energy & Environment Solutions.
Wolodko's chair is a joint appointment in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science and the Department of Renewable Resources in the Faculty of ALES.
John Wolodko, a senior bioresources researcher, is the Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures Strategic Chair in Bio and Industrial Materials in ALES. He started October 15.
In this new position, he will assist in creating stronger links between ALES' researchers and Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures. AITF is the arm of Alberta Innovates that helps develop and deliver new bioresource technologies in the province's agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, environment, health and pipeline sectors.
Bioresources are biologically based materials and processes that are sustainable and biodegradable. They can be used to crate a variety of products including fuels, solvents, high value chemicals, adhesives, construction materials, plastics and more.
ALES researchers have already expanded the understanding of the science behind bio-based products and are engaging in applied research to create new technologies and solutions. Wolodko's appointment creates immense potential for more graduate training and research focused on an emerging area of demand from industry: bio-based goods made from materials using agriculture and forest products, said Ruurd Zijlstra, Chair of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science.
"John brings specific experience into ALES for the study of bio and industrial materials that we currently do not have," he said.
Wolodko will start by recruiting students and post doctoral fellows to tackle research projects at Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures, alongside its engineers and scientists. That will allow the students to fulfil their educational requirements while becoming familiar with AITF's methods, clients and client needs.
Wolodko has been an adjunct professor at the U of A for the past decade. Most recently, he was executive director of pipelines at AITF, and prior to that director of the materials and reliability in oil sands industry consortium (also known as MARIOS).
Among his accomplishments at AITF was helping to develop the organization's biocomposites program, which used agriculture and forest products to create new composite materials for consumer goods, building products and automotive parts.
Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures is one of the four corporations that make up Alberta Innovates, an integrated collaboration of government, industry and academia that cuts red tape to develop solutions to global challenges, with an eye to growing and diversifying Alberta's economy. The others are AI-Bio Solutions, AI-Health Solutions and AI-Energy & Environment Solutions.
Wolodko's chair is a joint appointment in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science and the Department of Renewable Resources in the Faculty of ALES.