Dr. Frank A.P.C. Gobas
Simon Fraser University, Professor, Principal Investigator
Dr. Gobas has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology from the University of Amsterdam and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry from the University of Toronto. He combines environmental fate modeling of contaminants, laboratory and field studies to study the environmental fate and toxicity of organic pollutants. His food-chain bioaccumulation models have been adopted by Environment Canada for bioaccumulation categorization; by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for water quality guideline development and pesticide registration; and included in environmental simulation software packages (e.g. USEPA’s EpiSuite). Dr. Gobas’ experience in environmental fate modelling will support the treatment wetland model development and testing. Dr. Gobas’ works also includes the development, testing and application of passive sampling and dosing techniques. This experience is important for conducting the passive sampling methods used to monitor OSPW pollutants in the Kearl Treatment Wetland and to test the treatment wetland model. Dr. Gobas’ work also includes uptake and elimination studies of hydrophobic organic contaminants in a variety of aquatic organisms, including fish, benthic invertebrates and aquatic plants. This expertise will support studies of the uptake of contaminants in plants and other biota. Dr. Gobas has also conducted risk assessments of several chemicals.
Dr. Vicki Marlatt
Simon Fraser University, Professor, Collaborator
Dr. Marlatt has expertise in environmental toxicology, endocrinology, animal physiology, and molecular biology/toxicology in vertebrate and invertebrate models. She conducts, designs and manages numerous animal studies in these areas she is proficient in several techniques at the molecular, organ and whole organism level. Her current research focuses on environmentally relevant, low-level chronic exposure scenarios to multiple environmental contaminants and their impacts in vertebrate models at the molecular and whole organism level.
Dr. Alexander M. Cancelli
Simon Fraser University, Postdoctoral Fellow
Alexander completed his Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University in the Gobas lab where he currently works as a postdoctoral fellow. He holds a Bachelor’s of Environmental Engineering from Carleton University, and a Master’s of Environmental Toxicology from Simon Fraser University. Alexander has two years of professional experience in environmental consulting in Toronto, ON, where he was responsible for environmental monitoring, reclamation and remediation services, and site assessments. Alexander’s key areas of research include risk assessment of hazardous chemicals, contaminant-fate modelling, and passive sampling of organic contaminants in surface waters.
Dr. Asfaw Bekele
Imperial Oil Resources Ltd., Environmental Research Advisor
Dr. Bekele holds a Ph.D. degree from the Louisiana State University. Dr. Bekele’s expertise includes the remediation of salt impacted soils, reclamation of disturbed soils, application of statistical design of experiments in laboratory and field research programs, and quantitative analysis and understanding of surface and groundwater quality affected by mining and other anthropogenic activities. Dr. Bekele provides technical support in the area of water and land remediation and reclamation to Imperial’s operations; and serves as Imperial’s representative at the Water Environmental Priority Area of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA).
Dr. Michelle Young
Imperial Oil Resources Ltd., Technology Area Lead – Environment
Dr. Young holds a Ph.D. degree in Organometallic Chemistry from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Young has expertise in the remediation and reclamation of salt and hydrocarbon impacted soils. Dr. Young provides technical support and leadership in the area of land remediation and reclamation to Imperial’s operations; and serves as Imperial’s steering committee representative at the Land Environmental Priority Area of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA).
Dr. Thomas Parkerton
ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc., Senior Scientific Advisor
Dr Parkerton holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University and M.S. degrees in Aquatic Biology/Toxicology and Environmental Engineering from North Texas State University and Manhattan College, respectively. He received a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University. Dr. Parkerton's expertise is in the development and application of models to predict the fate, bioaccumulation, trophic transfer and toxicological effects of petroleum related substances entering the environment. Dr. Parkerton has also been active in advancing the development and use of passive sampling methods as practical tools for establishing water quality objectives for complex mixtures relevant to the petroleum industry. In this current role, Dr. Parkerton is providing technical support to global business on strategic environmental issues relevant to risk evaluation of ExxonMobil products and operations.