Education and Experience

After graduating with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering in 1986, I worked as a Process Engineer at Shell Oil Company for over six years. I then received a fellowship from the British Council to pursue an M.Eng. program at Heriot-Watt University, UK.

In 1995-1998, I obtained my MSc/PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from Saga University, Japan. I then joined the hydrometallurgy group at the University of British Columbia as a post doctoral fellow where I was involved in an innovative research project of Falconbridge Ltd. At the University of Toronto as a post-doc research fellow, I carried out state-of-the-art research on nickel ore processing using pressure hydrometallurgy. This was a project of INCO Ltd., during their investigation of different alternative process strategies to recover nickel from the newly discovered deposit of Voisey’s Bay.

In 2001, I took a position of hydrometallurgist with Process Research ORTECH Inc. at Mississauga , where I was actively involved with different challenging projects of mining, metallurgical, chemical and recycling industries. I am a recipient of industrial fellowship from Materials and Manufacturing Ontario (MMO). I also received a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) fellowship through NSERC to work as a “Visiting Research Scientist” at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan.

After spending two years in a highly technologically developed research facilities at AIST, I headed back to Vancouver, taking a position at Fluor Canada Ltd., where I was involved with different projects for the pre-feasibility study, feasibility study and detailed process engineering works to design a commercial copper production plant for Phelps Dodge at Arizona. In November 2006, I moved from the west coast to the east coast to establish my new research base in hydrometallurgy at Memorial University, where I was a tenured Associate Professor until August 2014. I am now an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan.

My research interest is Hydrometallurgy. I hold 2 patents and over 80 publications with presentation in different conferences. I am a registered Professional Engineer both in Ontario (PEO) and Newfoundland & Labrador (PEG-NL). I am an Executive Committee Member of the Hydrometallurgy Section of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) and currently hold the office of "Secretary". I am also the "Vice-Chair" (2013-2015) of the "Hydrometallurgy and Electrometallurgy Committee" of The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), one of the largest professional organizations, headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA. I am actively involved with the committee in organizing different international conferences, such as, the Conference of Metallurgists (COM) in Canada; “Rare Metals Extraction & Processing Symposium" at the TMS 2014 conference in San Diego, California; Ni-Co Symposium at TMS 2013 in Texas, USA; and the Copper 2013 Conference in Chile. I am the Faculty Advisor of the CIM-MetSoc Student Chapter at Memorial University that I founded in 2008. Our Chapter has own the Outstanding Award in 2010. I am an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Mining, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (IJMMME). http://ijmmme.avestia.com/board/.

Education and Experience

Ph.D 1999 Laval University, Quebec
M. Eng. 1995 Pukyong National University, Korea
B. Eng. 1993 Pukyong National University, Korea

Professor (food and bioprocess engineering)
Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering,
University of Saskatchewan (2011 - present)

Associate Professor (food and bioprocess engineering)
Department of Ag. & Bioresource Engineering,
University of Saskatchewan (2007 - 2011)

Visiting Professor (sabbatical leave)
Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology,
Seoul National University, South Korea (2008 - 2009)

Assistant Professor (food and bioprocess engineering)
Department of Ag. & Bioresource Engineering,
University of Saskatchewan (2002 - 2007)

Research Associate
School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON (2000 - 2002)

Research Engineer
Food Research and Development Centre,
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, St-Hyacinthe, QC (1999 - 2000)

Education and Experience

1990 Ph.D., University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Chemical Engineering
1984 M.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology, India, Chemical Engineering
1982 B.Sc. Tech., Nagpur University, India, Chemical Engineering (Petro-chem.Major)
1979 B.Sc. Utkal University, India, Chemistry (Hons)
1977 I.Sc. Utkal University, India, Physics, Chemistry, and Math

Professional Engineer (Alberta), 1993-2000
Professional Engineer (Saskatchewan), 2000-present

Honours (Medals, Fellowships, Prizes):

•  J.W. George Ivany Internationalization Award, University of Saskatchewan, 2020
• Miroslaw Romanowski Medal from the Royal Society of Canada, 2020
• R.S. Jane Memorial Award Winner, Canadian Chemical Engineering Society, 2020 (To watch the recorded lecture video, click here)
• Fellow,  International Association of Advanced Materials, 2020
• Life Time Achievement Award, DRC Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2019
• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016
• The Bantrel Award in Design and Industrial Practice, Chemical Institute of Canada, 2014
• Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, 2014
• Fellow, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2013
• Fellow, The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2013
• Fellow, The Canadian Academy of Engineering, 2012
• Fellow, The Chemical Institute of Canada, 2012
• Glory of India Award, for outstanding contributions in Science & Technology, Education Services, January 2012
• Deepak Group’s Padma Bhushan Prof L K Doraiswamy Chemcon Distinguished Speaker Award, December 2011
• Fulbright Fellowship, Government of USA, 2012
• Award of Innovation (Jointly with Professor Hui Wang and Dr. Jianguo Zhang), Dry Reforming of Methane Using Novel Catalysts, Innovation Place & ILO, University of Saskatchewan, 2011
• Canadian Catalysis Lectureship Award (CCLA), 2011
• Fellow, The Engineering Institute of Canada, 2011
• DAAD Visiting Professor Fellowship, Institute of Industrial Production, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Government of Germany, 2010
• Nominated for Leo Derikx Synergy Award for Innovation with Syncrude Canada Ltd., Natural Science & Engineering, NSERC, 2009
• McMaster University’s Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, Distinguished Speaker Award, 2008
• NEERI Distinguished Speaker Award, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, Bharuch, India, 2006
• Professor R.A. Rajadhyaksha Memorial Lecture Series Endowment Lectureship Award, Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Mumbai, India, 2006
• Professor Mann Lecture Series Endowment Lectureship Award, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ottawa, 2006
• Kentucky Colonel Award, in recognition of Research Contributions of Gas to Liquid Technologies at the Centre for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA, 2004
• The Owl Award, Syncrude Canada Ltd., in recognition of Outstanding Contribution to Knowledge Management, 2003
• Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship, 1999
• Petro-Can Young Innovator Award ,1999

Student Competitions:

• G. Kamath, and A.K. Dalai, “Influence of promoters on the activity and selectivity of mesoporpous metallosilicate-suppported cobalt-based FTS catalysts”, Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Halifax, Oct 20-23, 2019 (Best oral presentation).
• S. Nanda, A.K. Dalai, J.A. Kozinski, “Physicochemical, structural and biochemical characterization of agricultural and forestry biomass for biorefining”, IIChE, Chemcon 2017, Haldia, India; December 27–30, 2017 (Second Best Technical Paper)
• S. Nanda, A.K. Dalai and J. Kozinski, Effective utilization of sewage sludge for energy generation using hydrothermal gasification, CHEMCON, Chennai, India, Dec 26-29, 2016 (Best Paper Award)
• M. Gong, S. Nanda, W. Zhu, A.K. Dalai, J.A. Kozinski, “Subcritical and supercritical water gasification of humic acid for hydrogen production”. CHEMCON 2016, Chennai, India, Dec 27-30, 2016 (Best paper presentation award)
• A.K.R. Somidi, R.V. Sharma and A.K. Dalai, Catalytic vicinal diacylation of epoxidized triglycerides in canola oil, 65th Can. Chem. Eng. Conf., Calgary, Oct 4-7, 2015 (Best paper award).
• N. Ding S.N. Reddy, S. Nanda, A.K. Dalai, J.A. Kozinski. Hydrothermal gasification of biomass to hydrogen fuel gas. Chemcon 2013, Mumbai, India, December 27-30, 2013 (CHEMCON Best Paper award)
• Combustion Institute Canadian Section (Speaker's award), S. Nanda (Presenter), A.K. Dalai, J.A. Kozinski. Fast pyrolysis of lignocelluloses – a new technology concept with fixed-bed reactors. Combustion Institute - Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Quebec, Canada, May 13-16, 2013.
• First Prize, Poster Completition, 22^nd Canadian Sympsoium on Catalysis, Quebec City, Quebec, May 13-16, 2012, TPA Supported on SBA as Solid Acid Catalysts for the Biodiesel Production, C. Baroi (Presenter) with Professor A.K. Dalai
• First Prize, Poster Competition, 60^th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, October 24-27, 2010, Inhibition and Deactivation of Catalyst Active Sites by Non-basic Nitrogen Compounds and Their Selective Removal Using Functionalized Polymer, D. Rizwan (Presenter) with Professor A.K. Dalai
• Third Prize, Poster Competition, 60^th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, October 24-27, 2010, A Study of Dispersion of NiMo Oxide and Sulfide Phases on Mesoporous Alumino-Silicate Supports for Hydrotreating Reaction, S. Mohanty (Presenter) with C.M. Kotikalapudi, A.K. Dalai, Y. Hu, Y. and J. Adjaye
• First Prize, Poster Competition, Auto 21 Workshop, Hamilton, ON Canada, Wood Pyrolysis Oil-Upgrading via Solvent Extraction and Hydroprocessing, K. Jacobson, M.Sc. Student (presenter) with Professor A.K. Dalai, 2010.
• V.R. Surisetty and A.K. Dalai, 2010. Higher alcohols synthesis using alkali-promoted trimetallic C-Rh-Mo sulfide catalysts supported on MWCNT and activated carbon. 21^st Canadian Symposium on Catalysis, Banff, AB, Canada, May 9-12, 2010. Awarded Best Poster.
• First Prize, Oral Presentation, 58^th Canadian Society Chemical Engineering (CSChE) Conference, Ottawa, ON Canada, October 19-22, 2008. Effect of Anodic Alumina Pore Diameter on Template-Initiated Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes for their Application as Catalyst Support for Hydroprocessing, S. Sigurdson, M.Sc. Student (presenter) with V. Sundaramurthy, J. Adjaye and  Professor A.K. Dalai, 2008.
• Second Prize, Oral Presentation, 56^th Canadian Society Chemical Engineering (CSChE) Conf., Sherbrooke, QC Canada, October 15-18, 2006, A. D’Cruz (presenter) with A.K. Dalai, 2006.

Education and Experience

MBA (CED), Cape Breton University, 2017

Ph.D. McGill University, Bioresource Eng, 2002
M.Sc. McGill University, Ag. & Biosystems Eng, 1996
B.Eng. (Mech Eng.) Bangalore University, 1990 

P.Eng. (Registered Professional Engineer, APEGS)

Faculty, College of Graduate Studies and Research, Dec. 2002 – present

Affiliate Member, Global Institute for Food Security, 2014-present

Member, Global Water Security Institute, 2014-present

Adjunct faculty, Biomedical Engineering, 2009-present

Adjunct Professor, QUT, Australia, 2019-present

Bioprocessing, Food Process Engineering, Biomaterials, Post-harvest management

Completed

• Design and Development of Hybrid Drying Sytem for Saskatoon Berries (SFGA, Riverbend plantations, Saskatoon, Ms. G. Whittington).
• Manufacturing resistance starch from Canadian Wheat, Barley and Lentils for value-added food product development (INFRAREADY Products Ltd, Mr. M. Pickard, Saskatoon and Prof. R. Tyler).
• Development of Microwave Assisted Extraction System for Spices (pepper, coriander). Essential oils sampling procedure development (UAS-Bangalore, India and McGill University, Canada).
• Dehydration and textural characteristics beef meat jerky (in Collaboration with Prof. P. Shand, Dept. of Applied Microbiology and Food Sc.).
• Microwave and InfraRed Processing of Baking Ingredients (in Collaboration with Food Eng. Dept. Prof. G. Sumnu, METU, Ankara, Turkey).
• Microwave and Photo-Catalytic Treatment of contaminated Water (NWRI, UoR, CSC, Chemical Engineering, UoS.).
• MW-Vacuum Drying of Biomaterials (UBC, Prof. T. Durrance and EnWave Corp, B.C., Canada).
• Biomaterial handling and forestry materials processing using EM Energy utilization (Wood Processing Group, ENSIS-SCION, Rotorua, NewZealand, Dr. T. Haslett and S. Riley).

Ongoing

• Developing a Microwave assisted (infrared, vacuum) processing of lentils, pulses and oilseed crops
• Development of a Tribo-electrostatic Separation (dry fractionation) technology of proteins and starch from pulses /lentils flour
• AI based tools for ingredient manufacturing of proteins, starch and other nutrient and functional components.

• CSBE-SCGAB JOHN CLARK National Award, 2013
• Recipient of CSBE-SCGAB Glenn Downing Award, 2018
• Recipient of CSBE-SCGAB FELLOW award, 2019
• SES Educator of the Year 2022, Saskatoon Engineering Society, APEGS
• Recipient of EIC-FELLOW (Engineering Institute of Canada), 2023

Education and Experience

Dr. Tabil started at the Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering of the University of Saskatchewan as Assistant Professor in August 2000. He was promoted to Associate Professor and granted tenure in 2004. He was promoted to Professor and appointed Head of the department (Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering) in 2008. The Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering was merged with the Department of Chemical Engineering in 2010, where he ceased to be Head upon merger. The department is now known as Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Prior to this academic position, Dr. Tabil was a Research Engineer with the then Agricultural Value-added Engineering Centre (AVEC) of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development from October 1997 to July 2000, where we work on a wide range of client-based projects dealing with postharvest technology and value-added processing of agricultural products.

The areas of research in which he works and maintains interest include bioprocess engineering, value-added engineering and postharvest handling of crops. He has also conducted applied research and development projects related to value-added processing of agricultural products including storage, drying and cooling, and physical properties of agricultural and biological materials. For the past few years, he has been working on projects dealing with the utilization of flax straw as fibre reinforcement for biocomposites, bioplastic development from pulse starch and postharvest treatment for red lentil milling. His current projects include pre-processing and densification of biomass for the biorefinery and conversion of lignocellulosic waste into bioproducts, and many others. Dr. Tabil continues to work and have interest in projects such as agricultural waste and processing byproduct utilization and the processing of agricultural materials into industrial products. 

He is a member of the Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE) and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE). He is a Professional Engineer registered in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. He is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

As of July 1, 2024, Dr. Tabil has transitioned to a half-time faculty appointment and will not be accepting any graduate students.

Education and Experience

B.Eng.(Zhejiang University)

MSc.(Zhejiang University)

MSc.(Singapore-MIT Alliance)

Ph.D.(Waterloo)

Research Projects

• Enhanced fluidized bed drying processes;
• Biomass and bioenergy; 
• Air pollution control;
• Advanced understanding of multiphase flow in porous media;
• Eelectrostatics and electrospray