Na (Joanna) Zhong
Positions
Assistant Professor
Schulich School of Engineering, Sustainable Systems Engineering
Assistant Professor
Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Contact information
Background
Educational Background
PhD University of British Columbia, 2018
MSc Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 2012
BSc Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 2009
Biography
Joanna Zhong has over 10 years of interdisciplinary education, research, and professional experience in biomass-based renewable energy. She received her PhD from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) in 2017, following her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology in China. After completing her doctorate, Joanna began her career with the Finnish energy company St1 in 2017, where she successfully applied her expertise in biomass bioconversion to industrial biofuels production. She later returned to UBC as a postdoctoral researcher, instructor, and educational manager in Bioeconomy Science and Engineering. Prior to joining the University of Calgary, Joanna also worked at Innovate Calgary, supporting the transfer of laboratory technologies to market applications.
Research
Areas of Research
Joanna's current research focuses are about the intersections of biomass, agriculture, and food systems, with a particular emphasis on biomass valorization. Agri-food systems generate large amounts of biomass residues, and Joanna’s work explores how these resources can be transformed into renewable energy and sustainable materials. The outcomes of this valorization transforms natural, renewable resources into sustainable energy, chemicals, and materials, while simultaneously cutting emissions, reducing waste, strengthening rural economies and advancing a circular bioeconomy.
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| ENCH 535 | Principles of Biochemical Engineering | Winter 2025 |
| ENCH 673 | Engineering Principles in Biotechnology | Winter 2025 |
| SUSE 511 | Food, Agriculture and Biomass Systems | Fall 2025 |
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