Getting More out of Engineered Microbial Bioprocesses for Resource Recovery

A Warren Distinguished Lecture with 
Ryan Ziels

Civil Engineering
University of British Columbia Vancouver

ABSTRACT
Microbes are the workhorses behind engineered biological treatment technologies; yet, a majority of microorganisms inhabiting these systems remains uncultivated. This knowledge gap of the microbes driving engineered water treatment hinders our ability to accurately model system behavior and optimize performance. Here, Ziels presents about several methodological developments in molecular biology approaches and their application to biological water treatment systems. Specifically, Ziels  overviews advances in how we can rapidly monitor microbial communities, how we can tell what substrates they are consuming, and also how we can learn new information about rare but important members of these bioprocesses. Finally, Ziels discusses new frameworks for engineering bioprocess models that account for microbial diversity and incorporate molecular measurements. Taken together, these new approaches provide a path forward for developing sound engineering strategies to manage microbiomes for circular resource recovery from waste materials.

SPEAKER
Ryan Ziels joined UBC Civil Engineering in 2017 after receiving his PhD and MSc degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington. He holds affiliate positions in UBC’s Environmental Engineering and Genome Science and Technology programs. His research focuses on resource recovery via biological waste treatment processes to benefit human and environmental health. He was awarded the International Water Association and International Society of Microbial Ecology Rising Star Award in 2024 for his innovative work advancing our understanding of microbial ecology within engineered water treatment processes.