Lecturer, Environmental Chemistry

The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Telephone: 868-662-2002 Ext. 82456

Email: Rachael.Wyse-Mason@uwi.edu


Research Interests

Renewable energy, with a focus on biodiesel and biodiesel blends with alcohols and vegetable oils.

Environmental monitoring of soils, watersheds, and estuarine ecosystems for traditional contaminants and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).

Metadata analysis to assess environmental exposure distributions (EEDs) of contaminants in environmental matrices.

Assessment of the health and well-being of communities impacted by landfill operations.

Investigation of amino acids as therapeutic adjuncts for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Application of innovation design-thinking methodologies in research.

Selected Publications

Wyse-Mason, R; Beckles, D.M. An Investigation of Restaurant Waste Oil Characteristics for Biodiesel Production in Trinidad and Tobago. Energy for Sustainable Development. 2012, 16(4), 515-519.

Murray, R; Wyse-Mason, R. Investigation of methanol-biodiesel-coconut oil ternary blends as an alternative fuel for CI engines. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal. 2018, 21(5), 1056-1066.

Murray, R; King, G; Wyse-Mason, R. Micro-emulsification vs. transesterification: an investigation of the efficacy of methanol use in improving vegetable oil engine performance.

Biofuels. 2019, DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2019.1598316

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago 2013
  • B.Sc. (First Class Honours) in Chemistry and Environmental and Natural Resource Management, with a minor in Analytical Chemistry (undeclared), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago 2005

Fellowships and Training

  • Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (2023–2024), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (2023), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
  • dLab Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate (2020), Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile
  • Project Management Institute (PMI) Associate Project Management (2020), CTS College of Business and Computer Science Ltd. (CTSCBCS), Trinidad and Tobago
  • Biodiesel Short Course (2007), International Congress on Biodiesel, Austria

Professional Experience

  • Reviewer. American Journal of Environmental Science. (2024-Current)

Featured Work

Honours and Awards

  • Organization of American States (OAS) Scholarship for the dLab Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate, Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile
  • Graduate Scholarship Award, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
  • University Bursary and Endowment Fund Award, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
  • DESALSCOTT Scholarship, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Award for Excellence for Outstanding Performance in Environmental and Natural Resource Management, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

UWI Service

  • Member, Faculty of Science and Technology Information Technology (IT) Committee, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago (2022–2024)
  • Member, Faculty of Science and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago (February 2021–2023)
  • Chief Invigilator, Examinations Section, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago (2007–Present)

Professional Memberships

  • Member, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
  • Member, American Chemical Society (ACS)

Courses Taught

  • CHEM 1062 Basic Chemistry for Life Sciences
  • CHEM 1067 Introduction to Chemistry II
  • CHEM 1068 Introduction to Chemistry III
  • CHEM 2470 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
  • CHEM 2471 Analytical Methods in Chemistry
  • CHEM 3570 Chemistry of the Environment
  • ESST 1002 Chemistry for Environmental Sciences
  • ESST 2001 Principles of Environmental Chemistry
  • ESST 3001 Environmental Fate and Transport
  • OESH 6010 Advanced Topics in OESH A: Measurement Methods and Ventilation

Research Projects

  • Investigation of the Impact of the Beetham and Guanapo Landfills on Adjacent Waterway Quality through the assessment of nutrients, heavy metals, organic compounds, and contaminants of emerging concern. Collaboration with Trent University, Canada (Current)
  • Investigation of Amino Acids as Anti-glycating Agents to mitigate diabetes-induced health complications associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (Current)
  • Global Estuaries Monitoring (GEM) Programme – Phase I and Phase II. International collaborative research project (Current)
  • Methanol–Biofuel Diesel Substitution (MBDS): Investigation of fuel blend formulations and physicochemical properties. Joint research project with the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (Current)

Graduate Students

  • Karimah Edwards (2026), MSc
  • Faith Wilson (2024), MSc
  • Steve Ramkissoon (2023), MSc *Distinction
  • Michelle Arrindelle (2022) Joint with Dr. Legall, MSc
  • Glenda Edwards (2021), MSc
  • Nicholas Flores (2019), MSc
  • Divya Maharaj (2019), MSc
  • Kerryann Jugmohan (2018), MSc
  • Denicia Gopaul (2017), MSc
  • Glen Baisden (2016), MSc *Distinction

Grants

  • Campus Research and Publication Fund – Investigation of Amino Acids as Anti-glycating Agents for the Mitigation of Diabetes-Induced Health Complications
  • Campus Research and Publication Fund – Community Outreach Initiative: Soap-Making Workshop for Guanapo Community Members

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