Yu Zhang seized an opportunity to earn her PhD, turning seaweed waste into something more valuable.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Wuhu, a small city in eastern China, just a three-hour drive from Shanghai.

Why did you choose Memorial for graduate studies?

My decision to attend Memorial University was driven by the opportunity to work with Dr. Kelly Hawboldt. She responded positively to my graduate study inquiry and quickly offered me the chance to join a Marine Biomass Innovation (MBI) project. The focus on process engineering, particularly in waste valorization and sustainable development, aligns perfectly with my research interests and career goals. Over time, I’ve also grown to appreciate Memorial and the vibrant community in St. John’s, making it an even more rewarding choice.

What is your degree program and area of specialization?

I am pursuing a PhD in process engineering, specializing in the hydrothermal processing of marine biomass, specifically beach-cast brown seaweeds. My research focuses on biomass valorization and functional food development within a circular economy framework.

Why did you choose this area of study?

During my master’s studies at Jiangnan University, I focused on waste eggshell membrane valorization and its workshop design, which sparked my interest in sustainable industrial processes. Additionally, my involvement in a carbon-neutral ice cream factory development project at Unilever reinforced the importance of sustainability in industrial practices. These experiences highlighted the critical role of maximizing value from waste through green processes—such as minimizing toxic solvents, reducing energy consumption, recycling heat energy, developing renewable/bio-energy, and eliminating waste generation—as a pathway to a more sustainable future. This realization led me to pursue further research in this area.

How would you describe your experience as a graduate student at Memorial?

I began my PhD journey at Grenfell Campus and continued at St. John’s campus at Memorial University. The first year was particularly challenging for me as an international student, with a new educational environment, language barriers, demanding coursework, and the pressures of comprehensive examinations. Despite these hurdles, the support I received from my research group members and peers at both campuses was invaluable. Dr. Thomas Raymond and his team, and BERI labs at Corner Brook, made me feel welcomed and appreciated. More importantly, Dr. Kelly Hawboldt and her groups at St. John’s played a crucial role in helping me identify research gaps, refine my research plan, and connect with additional support when needed. The positive feedback from Dr. Kelly Hawboldt always makes me feel confident about overcoming various challenges during my studies. Their guidance has been instrumental in my academic and personal growth.

The School of Graduate Studies has been nothing but supportive throughout my journey. I've also been incredibly fortunate with funding, which has been crucial to my ability to move here and succeed. For that, I am deeply grateful to SSHRC (through my supervisor's NFRF), the Dr. Chelsey Blackwood Graduate Scholarship, SGS, and the department.

What is your research/thesis about? What is the goal of your research? What are the implications of your research project for the province, the country and the world?

My research focuses on marine biomass innovation, particularly in maximizing value from resources often considered waste using a circular economy approach. Specifically, I am working with beach-cast rockweed. Rockweed can be cultivated for food, nutritional, and medical applications by extracting bioactive compounds such as alginate, fucoidan, phenolics, fucoxanthin, and other antioxidants. However, rockweed often detaches from its holdfast and is harvested from Atlantic coastlines, representing environmental issues and greenhouse gas challenges. Therefore, I aim to develop a green valorization process (i.e., hydrothermal processing and/or subcritical water extraction) to recover high-value compounds such as alginate, fucoidan, phytochemical-rich antioxidant compounds, and hydrochar from these beach-cast brown seaweeds. The potential applications of these recovered products in food, nutrition, medicine, cosmetics, and biofuels represent a circular approach to marine biomass, where “waste” biomass can be used in high-value applications without generating toxic chemicals or waste.

How do you work with your supervisor? Does your work involve other students?

Dr. Kelly Hawboldt provides tremendous support, trusting me to explore my ideas while offering valuable suggestions and feedback to keep me on the right path. Whenever I have questions, I reach out via email or in-person meetings, and she consistently responds quickly with helpful advice. As part of our lab group, we have weekly meetings to discuss our progress, address challenges, and support each other in experiments, papers, and presentations.

What are you planning to do after you complete your degree?

I’m keeping my options open at this stage. I may pursue further research at a university or work as an engineer in the food or chemical industry. Right now, my focus is on making the most of my PhD studies and exploring the possibilities that lie ahead. I believe that near the end of this journey, I will find the path that’s right for me.

Do you have any advice for current and/or future graduate students?

Believe in yourself and stay patient throughout your graduate journey. It's a long road filled with both personal and research-related challenges. How you navigate these obstacles will significantly impact your growth and success. Your supervisor has valuable experience and wants to see you succeed. Take their suggestions seriously and use them as a springboard for deeper exploration. In addition, learn and adopt effective research habits from your peers and supervisors, and develop your unique approach to research tasks. Besides your research work, always remember to take care of yourself and spend some time exploring Newfoundland. It’s truly an amazing place to visit and live.

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