Agricultural waste to PHA Bioplastic - BC-974

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Engineering - chemical / biological, Engineering, Food science, Life Sciences, Microbiology / Immunology
Company: AlgaBloom International Ltd.
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Richmond, BC, Canada
No. of positions: 1
Desired education level: CollegeUndergraduate/BachelorMaster'sPhDPostdoctoral fellowRecent graduate
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Founded in 2014 and based in Richmond, British Columbia, AlgaBloom International Ltd. is a biotechnology firm pioneering sustainable algae cultivation technologies. The company specializes in transforming eco-liabilities—such as CO₂ emissions and nutrient-rich wastewater—into valuable bio-assets using its patented biofilm pole and AlgaSpace technologies.

Key innovations include a pole mounted algal biofilm system: a passive, carbon-negative setup with no moving parts, capable of capturing CO₂ and removing nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater

AlgaBloom International earned recognition as a Phase 1 winner in the joint NASA and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Deep Space Food Challenge, demonstrating their system’s potential for sustainable, off Earth food production for long-duration missions.

In essence, AlgaBloom integrates systems biology, environmental engineering, and bioindustrial innovation—deploying algae or bacteria as a high-density, cost-efficient, and resilient bioproduction platform addressing climate resilience, wastewater remediation, and food security on Earth and beyond.

Describe the project.: 

Our project seeks to engage a researcher to validate that our working prototype—an innovative BioFilm Pole—can convert agricultural waste into PHA bioplastic under controlled lab conditions. The test will use a blend of leachates, primarily derived from okara (soy pulp), and supplemented by chicken manure, food waste, and desugared molasses. The objective is to demonstrate that, with the appropriate bacterial consortium, this mixture can be metabolized within the BioFilm Pole system to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)—a biodegradable plastic. This experiment aims to confirm the prototype’s effectiveness as a low-cost, modular solution for sustainable bioplastic production from mixed agri-food waste streams.

Required expertise/skills: 

The ideal candidate must have demonstrated experience in microbiology, particularly in the cultivation and application of microbial consortia for bioconversion processes. A strong background in fermentation technology is essential, including both aerobic and anaerobic systems relevant to organic waste digestion. Additionally, the candidate should have hands-on expertise in the production of biopolymers, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or related bioplastics, using agricultural and food processing waste as feedstock. Familiarity with leachate characterization, waste valorization, and PHA extraction and quantification techniques (e.g., GC, FTIR, or NMR) is highly desirable. Experience with lab-scale reactor systems or biofilm-based cultivation platforms will be considered a strong asset.