Sonil Nanda, PhD

Education

• Ph.D. (Biology); York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• M.Sc. (Applied Microbiology); Vellore Institute of Technology – VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
• B.Sc. (Microbiology – Honors with Distinction); Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Research Interests

Dr. Nanda’s research program explores unique waste-to-energy biorefinery technologies to convert low-value waste streams (e.g., agricultural and forestry biomass, municipal solid waste, food processing wastes, industrial effluents, livestock manure and polymers) into next-generation biofuels (e.g., biohydrogen, biomethane, bioethanol, biobutanol, bio-oil, biochar and biopellets) and industrial bioproducts (e.g., cellulose, lignin, biochar, activated carbon and biochemicals). Through cutting-edge research, his program enables clean and scalable process development to transform diverse biowastes into bioenergy products with technology readiness and adaptability for commercialization. His program targets innovative thermochemical (torrefaction, carbonization and pyrolysis), hydrothermal (subcritical and supercritical water gasification) and biological (saccharification, fermentation and anaerobic digestion) processes to efficiently valorize biogenic wastes into high-value biofuels, biochemicals and bioproducts for viable applications. Dr. Nanda’s research program engages knowledge users and collaborators from academia, bioresource sectors, cleantech industries and resource recovery facilities to drive bioenergy innovation to market and support Canada’s mandates for decarbonization, clean energy security and circular bioeconomy.

Teaching

My teaching and training strategy is based on the “learning by doing” approach where students learn better as they practice and develop career-ready skills. I implement strategies such as technology-enhanced, cooperative and work-integrated learning, guest lectures, presentations and written reports. I encourage critical thinking, teamwork and analytical reasoning to augment the problem-solving skills of the students. My philosophy is built on equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility to prepare students as forward-thinkers and cross-disciplinary team players and create innovations in the circular bioeconomy, bioresources and cleantech sectors.