Dr. Alyse Kiesser

Assistant Professor

Biography

Alyse Kiesser is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Genomics in the School of Engineering at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Her research focuses on the interface of natural and engineered environments, particularly on microbial metabolic interactions. Utilizing systems ecology approaches combined with big data analyses of multi-omic datasets (DNA, RNA, and proteins), her work addresses challenges related to waste management and bioremediation in response to anthropogenic impacts on natural systems. Dr. Kiesser earned her PhD from the University of British Columbia, studying microbial processes that alter nitrogen and carbon flow in oxygen-deficient marine systems. Prior to her current position, she held an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Calgary, exploring the impact of viruses on microbial community stability relevant to carbon capture and bioproduct production. Her extensive research experience in both natural and engineered ecosystems enables her to inspire effective bioprocess applications in environmental engineering.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor
2021-01-01 — Present

University of British Columbia Okanagan • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Teaching and conducting research in environmental genomics.

Postdoctoral Fellow
2019-01-01 — 2021-01-01

University of Calgary • Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Research on microbial processes in bioenergy and geomicrobiology.

Awards

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NSERC Discovery Grant
2022-01-01
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NSERC Post-doctoral Fellowship
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John Richard Turner Fellowship in Microbiology
2014-01-01

Courses

ENGR 548 - Engineering Microbiology ENGR 446 – Biological Treatment Processes