Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk

What do you do when decades-worth of mine tailings sit idle across Northern Ontario? Nadia asks, “Why not remediate the site – and extract valuable minerals – with microbes?” Leading MIRARCO and the Goodman School of Mines, she and her team have pioneered microbial bioleaching systems that recover nickel and cobalt with over 90% efficiency, using far less energy and fewer chemicals than conventional processes. Her leadership has spanned patent development, securing $10M+ in R&D funding, and piloting technologies ready for commercial scale while simultaneously training 70+ students, developing national STEM programs reaching 1,300+ young learners, and co-designed graduate-level courses in sustainable mining. By linking innovation with education, partnerships, and policy, she is turning liabilities into resources and positioning Canada at the forefront of a circular, future-ready mineral sector – without building new mines.