research team
Augustine Osei, MSc (Post Doctoral Fellow)
Dr. Osei is working on developing a soil conditioner based on aplaca waste fibre and manure. He is working with a local alpaca farmer on this project. He is also writing several manuscripts from his PhD thesis which he recently defended. Dr. Osei is also actively seeking employment in the academic or governmental sector.
Dr. Osei is working on developing a soil conditioner based on aplaca waste fibre and manure. He is working with a local alpaca farmer on this project. He is also writing several manuscripts from his PhD thesis which he recently defended. Dr. Osei is also actively seeking employment in the academic or governmental sector.
Akintayo Afolabi, MSc (PhD Student)
Akintayo began his PhD studies with the Soil Ecosystem Dynamics Group in September 2023. His research concentrates on assessing greenhouse gas emissions and investigating the correlation between these emissions and soil properties within the BioSoil North project in Labrador, particularly focusing on newly and recently converted land from forest to agriculture. He will also use biophysical models to predict future changes in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon stabilization post conversion from boreal forest to agriculture. His research is supported by NSERC-Alliance.
Akintayo began his PhD studies with the Soil Ecosystem Dynamics Group in September 2023. His research concentrates on assessing greenhouse gas emissions and investigating the correlation between these emissions and soil properties within the BioSoil North project in Labrador, particularly focusing on newly and recently converted land from forest to agriculture. He will also use biophysical models to predict future changes in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon stabilization post conversion from boreal forest to agriculture. His research is supported by NSERC-Alliance.
Aman Dhinsda, BSc (MES Student)
Aman has been an integral part of the Soil Ecosystem Dynamics Lab since September 2022, serving as a laboratory technician. Before he began his master's studies, he was a field technician in Goose Bay, Labrador, from June to October 2023. During this time, Aman contributed to the newly funded BioSoil North Project (NSERC Alliance), focusing on soil quality and plant nutrient acquisition in northern agroecosystems. As a graduate student, he is testing various organic amendments at different stages post land conversion from boreal forest to agriculture. He already presented his work at the annual meeting of the Soil Science Society of America, and is working on submitting more abstracts to present his research results in 2024 and beyond. We are thrilled to have Aman on the team, both as a technician and as a graduate student. His research endeavors is supported by NSERC-Alliance funding.
Aman has been an integral part of the Soil Ecosystem Dynamics Lab since September 2022, serving as a laboratory technician. Before he began his master's studies, he was a field technician in Goose Bay, Labrador, from June to October 2023. During this time, Aman contributed to the newly funded BioSoil North Project (NSERC Alliance), focusing on soil quality and plant nutrient acquisition in northern agroecosystems. As a graduate student, he is testing various organic amendments at different stages post land conversion from boreal forest to agriculture. He already presented his work at the annual meeting of the Soil Science Society of America, and is working on submitting more abstracts to present his research results in 2024 and beyond. We are thrilled to have Aman on the team, both as a technician and as a graduate student. His research endeavors is supported by NSERC-Alliance funding.
Alexandra MacIsaac, BA (MES Student)
Alex started her Masters program in September 2022. She spent September to November 2023 in Costa Rica for field work. Her research focuses on the impact of biodiversity on climate change resilience in tropical agroforestry systems. Her research is funded by a SSHRC Scholarship.
Alex started her Masters program in September 2022. She spent September to November 2023 in Costa Rica for field work. Her research focuses on the impact of biodiversity on climate change resilience in tropical agroforestry systems. Her research is funded by a SSHRC Scholarship.
Grace Puri Cullinane, BES (MCC)
Grace started her Masters of Climate Change in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management in September 2023. Her major research paper focuses on mangrove restoration as a cliamate mitigation tool in Indonesia.
Grace started her Masters of Climate Change in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management in September 2023. Her major research paper focuses on mangrove restoration as a cliamate mitigation tool in Indonesia.
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MITACS Globalink Interns: We have 2 interns through the MITACS Globalink program. Nataly Sanchez Ocampo from the Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia and Divya Malhotra from Manchester University, UK for the summer 2024 field season. The Interns will be working with the BioSoil North team in Happy Valley Goose Bay.
INTERNATIONAL VISITING SCHOLARS: We welcome Paulo Farias, a visiting PhD student from Brazil. Paulo will b working on soil carbon fractions and stable isotopes from integrated silvopastoral systems. Pau'lo will be in the SED Lab until early December 2024. We are expecting a second visiting PhD student from Brazil in September who will also be working on soil samples from integrated silvopastoral systems.
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Graduate studies & student mentoring
The University of Waterloo is one of the highest ranked Canadian universities in Environmental Science
Professor Oelbermann collaborates with graduate students who pursue research through a natural sciences lens. Prospective candidates should demonstrate a solid academic record and possess a background in the natural sciences.
Please contact Professor Oelbermann if you are interested in:
More information on the graduate programs in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability can be found at https://uwaterloo.ca/environment-resources-and-sustainability/graduate
Professor Oelbermann collaborates with graduate students who pursue research through a natural sciences lens. Prospective candidates should demonstrate a solid academic record and possess a background in the natural sciences.
Please contact Professor Oelbermann if you are interested in:
- 1-year Master's Research Paper (MRP: non thesis terminal degree)
- 2-year Master's Thesis (MES)
- 4-year Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)
- Visiting Scholars / Scientists and Post Docs are an integral part of the research team.
More information on the graduate programs in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability can be found at https://uwaterloo.ca/environment-resources-and-sustainability/graduate
previous scholars
Augustine Osei, PhD: Carbon and greenhouse gas dynamics in temperate bioenergy crops. Currently: Post doctoral fellow, University of Waterloo.
Jolimar Shiavo, PhD visiting scholar from the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Currently: Professor, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul.
Rachel Boucher, MES: Mycorrhizal transfer to improve crop production in northern agroecosystems. Currently: Environmental Coordinator, AECON.
Harkirat Hundal, MES: Carbon and nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions from the aquatic component of riparian zones.
Emmanuel Badewa, PhD: Impact of biobased residues on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently: Instructor, University College of the North, Manitoba.
Diana Gonzalez: Effect of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soybeans. Currently: BSc student, Universidad Iberoamerica Leon, Mexico. MITACS Globalink Intern.
Adam Kraemer, MES: Organic farming and long-term sustainability. Currently: organic farmer.
Shefaza Esmail, PhD: Investigating food waste diversion and compost on urban agriculture for soil management in Mwanza, Tanzania. Previously: Lecturer, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo. Currently: Program Manager - SME Solutions with Mohawk College IDEAWORKS.
Namratha Reddy, PhD (Post-doctoral Fellow): Greenhouse gas emissions from riparian land-use systems. Currently: Grant Development Specialist, Office of Research, York University.
Nadia Gabbanelli, MSc (Visiting Scholar, Argentina): Bioenergy plantations. Currently: PhD student, University of Mar del Plata/INTA, Balcarce, Argentina.
Runshan Will Jiang, MSc: Biochar: impact on soil health and climate change resilience. Currently: PhD student, Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo.
Christina Davis, MES: Currently: Natural resource manager New Brunswick Aboriginal People's Council, New Brunswick.
Ons Kamarti BSc: Soil carbon dynamics in bioenergy plantations and GHG emissions. Currently: PhD student in Agronomy and Environment Program at the National Agricultural Institute of Tunisia.
Solveine Liminana, BEng (Intern, France): Soil health in biobased residue amended soil.
Megan Baskerville, MES: Greenhouse gas emissions from riparian land-use systems. Currently: Carbon Policy Analyst, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Mirza Haroon-Ur-Rasheed, MCC (Intern, Canada): Impact of biobased residues on soil greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Currently: federal government of Canada.
Mae Galo, BEng (Intern, France): Using biochar as a soil amendment to improve its chemical characteristics.
Meaghan Mechler, MSc: The effect of biochar on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions in a conventional temperate agricultural system. Currently: PhD student, Horticulture, University of Guelph.
Marianne Ricord, MES: Evaluating intercropping systems as a sustainable alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently: Research and Project Coordinator, Circular Innovation Council.
Christine Barbeau, PhD: The challenges and opportunities associated with climate change for First Nations living in the Canadian subarctic (co-supervised). Currently: Lecturer, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo.
Nathan De Carlo, MES: Spatial and temporal greenhouse gas emissions from a rehabilitated and undisturbed natural riparian zone. Currently: Ecologist at WSP Canada.
Katelyn Lutes, MES: Greenhouse gas emissions from short rotation willow biomass plantations. Currently: Soil Chemist, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (Lethbridge, AB).
Svenja Morgan, BES (Research Technician): Effect of climate change on soil from cereal-legume intercrops. Currently: Advisor in sustainable agriculture.
Michelle Bienkowski, MES: Comparison of vegetation and soil characteristics 5 years after meadow restoration (co-supervised). Currently: Marine Conservationist, Canada.
Hamsha Pathmananthan, MES: Strengthening resilience and food security through agroforestry in Sri Lanka. Currently: Social Consultant in rural Sri Lanka.
Matias Cambareri, MSc (Visiting Scholar, Argentina): Nitrous oxide emissions from maize sole crops under different fertilizer & irrigation regimes.
Alison Regehr, MES: Nitrogen mineralization & immobilization using 15N isotopes in intercrops. Currently: MEng, University of Guelph.
Wei Xue, BSc (Intern): Soil microbial community dynamics in biochar amended soil. Currently: PhD Candidate, University of California, Davis.
Amanda Bichel, MES: Soybean & maize residue contributions to soil organic matter in intercrops. Currently: Field Ecologist, Natural Resources Canada.
Hongyan Guo PhD (Post-Doctoral Fellow, China): Soil microbial biomass in biochar amended soil. Currently: Professor, Nanjing University.
Salvatore Spitale, MES: Changes in vegetation & soil in a red pine chronosequence (co-supervised). Currently: Ecologist, North-South Environmental.
Matthew Dil, MES: Effect of nitrogen-enriched biochar on soil biochemistry and plant production. Currently: Wildlife Ecologist at WSP Canada.
Nicole Spiegelaar, MES: Agroforestry community gardens in remote First Nations of Canada (co-supervised).
Beverly Raimbault, MES: Soil quality and soil respiration in a rehabilitated riparian zone. Currently: Lab Instructor & Manager, Ecology Lab, University of Waterloo.
Shawn Gagne, MA: Carbon dynamics in two different arctic vegetative communities (co-supervised). Currently: CEO & President, Talking2Trees, USA.
Shahira Esmail, MES: Agroforestry tree seedling growth under changing climatic conditions. Currently: Agronomist, Terra Global Capital, USA.
Lisa Dyer, MSc: Greenhouse gas emissions &soil physical characteristics in intercrops. Currently: Senior Project Manager, ClimateCHECK.
Laura Echarte, PhD (Post-Doctoral Fellow, Argentina): UNESCO-L'Oreal Visiting Scholar. Soil biochemical characteristics in intercrops. Currently: Professor, University of Mar del Plata/INTA.
Florencia Genovese, MSc (Visiting Scholar, Argentina): Global Affairs Canada Visiting Scholar. Development of methodology greenhouse gas analysis using gas chromatography. Currently: Agricultural Production Specialist, KWS Group.
Karen Vachon, MES: Soil carbon & nitrogen dynamics in complex agroecosystems. Currently: Consultant.
Cassie Corrigan, MES: Elemental leaching & microbial interactions of leaves in littertraps. Currently: Water Resource Specialist, Credit Valley Conservation Authority.
Carolyn Smith, MES: Climate change adaptation using agroforestry systems in Costa Rica. Currently: Region of Waterloo School Board.
Jolimar Shiavo, PhD visiting scholar from the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Currently: Professor, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul.
Rachel Boucher, MES: Mycorrhizal transfer to improve crop production in northern agroecosystems. Currently: Environmental Coordinator, AECON.
Harkirat Hundal, MES: Carbon and nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions from the aquatic component of riparian zones.
Emmanuel Badewa, PhD: Impact of biobased residues on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently: Instructor, University College of the North, Manitoba.
Diana Gonzalez: Effect of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soybeans. Currently: BSc student, Universidad Iberoamerica Leon, Mexico. MITACS Globalink Intern.
Adam Kraemer, MES: Organic farming and long-term sustainability. Currently: organic farmer.
Shefaza Esmail, PhD: Investigating food waste diversion and compost on urban agriculture for soil management in Mwanza, Tanzania. Previously: Lecturer, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo. Currently: Program Manager - SME Solutions with Mohawk College IDEAWORKS.
Namratha Reddy, PhD (Post-doctoral Fellow): Greenhouse gas emissions from riparian land-use systems. Currently: Grant Development Specialist, Office of Research, York University.
Nadia Gabbanelli, MSc (Visiting Scholar, Argentina): Bioenergy plantations. Currently: PhD student, University of Mar del Plata/INTA, Balcarce, Argentina.
Runshan Will Jiang, MSc: Biochar: impact on soil health and climate change resilience. Currently: PhD student, Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo.
Christina Davis, MES: Currently: Natural resource manager New Brunswick Aboriginal People's Council, New Brunswick.
Ons Kamarti BSc: Soil carbon dynamics in bioenergy plantations and GHG emissions. Currently: PhD student in Agronomy and Environment Program at the National Agricultural Institute of Tunisia.
Solveine Liminana, BEng (Intern, France): Soil health in biobased residue amended soil.
Megan Baskerville, MES: Greenhouse gas emissions from riparian land-use systems. Currently: Carbon Policy Analyst, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Mirza Haroon-Ur-Rasheed, MCC (Intern, Canada): Impact of biobased residues on soil greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Currently: federal government of Canada.
Mae Galo, BEng (Intern, France): Using biochar as a soil amendment to improve its chemical characteristics.
Meaghan Mechler, MSc: The effect of biochar on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions in a conventional temperate agricultural system. Currently: PhD student, Horticulture, University of Guelph.
Marianne Ricord, MES: Evaluating intercropping systems as a sustainable alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently: Research and Project Coordinator, Circular Innovation Council.
Christine Barbeau, PhD: The challenges and opportunities associated with climate change for First Nations living in the Canadian subarctic (co-supervised). Currently: Lecturer, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo.
Nathan De Carlo, MES: Spatial and temporal greenhouse gas emissions from a rehabilitated and undisturbed natural riparian zone. Currently: Ecologist at WSP Canada.
Katelyn Lutes, MES: Greenhouse gas emissions from short rotation willow biomass plantations. Currently: Soil Chemist, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (Lethbridge, AB).
Svenja Morgan, BES (Research Technician): Effect of climate change on soil from cereal-legume intercrops. Currently: Advisor in sustainable agriculture.
Michelle Bienkowski, MES: Comparison of vegetation and soil characteristics 5 years after meadow restoration (co-supervised). Currently: Marine Conservationist, Canada.
Hamsha Pathmananthan, MES: Strengthening resilience and food security through agroforestry in Sri Lanka. Currently: Social Consultant in rural Sri Lanka.
Matias Cambareri, MSc (Visiting Scholar, Argentina): Nitrous oxide emissions from maize sole crops under different fertilizer & irrigation regimes.
Alison Regehr, MES: Nitrogen mineralization & immobilization using 15N isotopes in intercrops. Currently: MEng, University of Guelph.
Wei Xue, BSc (Intern): Soil microbial community dynamics in biochar amended soil. Currently: PhD Candidate, University of California, Davis.
Amanda Bichel, MES: Soybean & maize residue contributions to soil organic matter in intercrops. Currently: Field Ecologist, Natural Resources Canada.
Hongyan Guo PhD (Post-Doctoral Fellow, China): Soil microbial biomass in biochar amended soil. Currently: Professor, Nanjing University.
Salvatore Spitale, MES: Changes in vegetation & soil in a red pine chronosequence (co-supervised). Currently: Ecologist, North-South Environmental.
Matthew Dil, MES: Effect of nitrogen-enriched biochar on soil biochemistry and plant production. Currently: Wildlife Ecologist at WSP Canada.
Nicole Spiegelaar, MES: Agroforestry community gardens in remote First Nations of Canada (co-supervised).
Beverly Raimbault, MES: Soil quality and soil respiration in a rehabilitated riparian zone. Currently: Lab Instructor & Manager, Ecology Lab, University of Waterloo.
Shawn Gagne, MA: Carbon dynamics in two different arctic vegetative communities (co-supervised). Currently: CEO & President, Talking2Trees, USA.
Shahira Esmail, MES: Agroforestry tree seedling growth under changing climatic conditions. Currently: Agronomist, Terra Global Capital, USA.
Lisa Dyer, MSc: Greenhouse gas emissions &soil physical characteristics in intercrops. Currently: Senior Project Manager, ClimateCHECK.
Laura Echarte, PhD (Post-Doctoral Fellow, Argentina): UNESCO-L'Oreal Visiting Scholar. Soil biochemical characteristics in intercrops. Currently: Professor, University of Mar del Plata/INTA.
Florencia Genovese, MSc (Visiting Scholar, Argentina): Global Affairs Canada Visiting Scholar. Development of methodology greenhouse gas analysis using gas chromatography. Currently: Agricultural Production Specialist, KWS Group.
Karen Vachon, MES: Soil carbon & nitrogen dynamics in complex agroecosystems. Currently: Consultant.
Cassie Corrigan, MES: Elemental leaching & microbial interactions of leaves in littertraps. Currently: Water Resource Specialist, Credit Valley Conservation Authority.
Carolyn Smith, MES: Climate change adaptation using agroforestry systems in Costa Rica. Currently: Region of Waterloo School Board.
Website last update November 2024