Joule Bergerson, University of Calgary

Research

life cycle assessment techno economic assessment energy systems analysis energy and environmental engineering technology assessment optimization process simulation modelling net zero future

Latest papers

Unveiling the factors shaping variability in biomass productivity: Meta-analysis of outdoor pilot-scale microalgal cultures.
Bioresource technology · 2025
Carbon intensity of global crude oil trading and market policy implications.
Nature communications · 2023
Expansion of the Petroleum Refinery Life Cycle Inventory Model to Support Characterization of a Full Suite of Commonly Tracked Impact Potentials.
Environmental science & technology · 2019 · senior author

All 6 publications

Latest funding

The future of plastics in Canada: Assessing economic and environmental impacts of potential supply chain transformations
NSERC · 2024 · Principal investigator
$53,000
The role of chemical fuels in Canada's net zero transition
NSERC · 2022 · Co-investigator
$1,250,000
Life Cycle Assessment and Remote Monitoring of Emissions of Potential North American LNG Options
SSHRC · 2022 · Principal investigator
$500,000

All 16 grants and awards

6 publications.

01

Unveiling the factors shaping variability in biomass productivity: Meta-analysis of outdoor pilot-scale microalgal cultures.

Yousuf A, Unc A, Bergerson J, De la Hoz Siegler H

Bioresource technology2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132566 PMID: 40268093

02

Carbon intensity of global crude oil trading and market policy implications.

Dixit Y, El-Houjeiri H, Monfort JC, Jing L, Zhang Y, Littlefield J, Long W, Falter C, Badahdah A, Bergerson J, Speth RL, Barrett SRH

Nature communications2023

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41701-z PMID: 37749103

03

Expansion of the Petroleum Refinery Life Cycle Inventory Model to Support Characterization of a Full Suite of Commonly Tracked Impact Potentials.

Young B, Hottle T, Hawkins T, Jamieson M, Cooney G, Motazedi K, Bergerson J

Environmental science & technology2019Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05572 PMID: 30717588

04

COPTEM: A Model to Investigate the Factors Driving Crude Oil Pipeline Transportation Emissions.

Choquette-Levy N, Zhong M, MacLean H, Bergerson J

Environmental science & technology2018Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03398 PMID: 29166006

05

Updating the U.S. Life Cycle GHG Petroleum Baseline to 2014 with Projections to 2040 Using Open-Source Engineering-Based Models.

Cooney G, Jamieson M, Marriott J, Bergerson J, Brandt A, Skone TJ

Environmental science & technology2017

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02819 PMID: 28092937

06

Use of highly alkaline conditions to improve cost-effectiveness of algal biotechnology.

Canon-Rubio KA, Sharp CE, Bergerson J, Strous M, De la Hoz Siegler H

Applied microbiology and biotechnology2016

DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7208-7 PMID: 26691517

The future of plastics in Canada: Assessing economic and environmental impacts of potential supply chain transformations

Principal investigatorNSERC2024Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Bergerson, Joule

Keywords: life cycle assessment; techno economic assessment; optimization; process simulation modelling; net zero future; circular economy; plastics; petrochemicals; emerging technologies; supply chain

$53,000

The role of chemical fuels in Canada's net zero transition

Co-investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Sleep, Sylvia S

Keywords: chemical fuels; energy systems model; industrial decarbonization; life cycle assessment; net-zero; policy scenarios; technology diffusion; vehicle technologies

$1,250,000

Life Cycle Assessment and Remote Monitoring of Emissions of Potential North American LNG Options

Principal investigatorSSHRC2022New Frontiers in Research Fund - Global Platforms

Principal investigators: Bergerson, Joule

Keywords: liquified natural gas; life cycle assessment; biomass; remote sensing; emissions measurement

$500,000

CANSTOREnergy: Seasonal storage of renewable energy

Co-investigatorSSHRC2022New Frontiers in Research Fund - Transformation

Principal investigators: Sinton, David

$8,000,000

Energy Technology Assessment

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Canada Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Bergerson, Joule

Keywords: energy systems analysis; life cycle assessment; techno economic assessment; energy and environmental engineering; technology assessment

$325,000

Innovative Life Cycle Assessment for Improved Technology Design and Simulation

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Bergerson, Joule

$144,000

Materials for Electrochemical Energy Solutions

Co-investigatorNSERC2017Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Principal investigators: Roberts, Edward EPL

$1,650,000

Southwoods Integrated Community Energy System: An energy and environmental performance analysis

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Engage Grants Program

Principal investigators: Bergerson, Joule

$25,000

Energy Technology Assessment

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Canada Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Bergerson, Joule

$365,000

Energy Technology Assessment

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Canada Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Bergerson, Joule

$90,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Civil Engineering

Co-authors at University of Calgary, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Hector De la Hoz Siegler

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

2 shared papers, latest 2025

Heather MacLean

Civil Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2018

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: life cycle assessment Dear Professor Bergerson, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Unveiling the factors shaping variability in biomass productivity: Meta-analysis of outdoor pilot-scale microalgal cultures." (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "The future of plastics in Canada: Assessing economic and environmental impacts of potential supply chain transformations" (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]