PROFILE OF DAVID LAWRENCE ALEXANDER

Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering

David Alexander is a Chemist and a Petroleum Engineer by profession. He has done extensive research in the area of Carbon dioxide Sequestration with respect to fault leakage and has presented this work in the international arena, including Washington, Amsterdam and Australia.

David holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry and a Master of Science (MSc.) in Petroleum Engineering from the University of the West Indies (UWI). David later obtained a full scholarship to study for a PhD in Petroleum Engineering with the University of Texas at Austin via The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).  He is the first PhD graduate in Petroleum Engineering in the history of UTT.

As a full-time lecturer at UTT, Alexander has been with the Natural Gas Institute of the Americas since 2007. He continues his research in the areas of petrophysics, reactive flow and transport (with applications to oil and gas production). In reservoir engineering, his key research interests are in enhanced oil recovery, reservoir characterisation, geochemistry and flow in permeable media. Alexander is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), International Association of Energy Economics (IAEE) and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE).

PROFILE OF FRANKLIN ALI

Doctor of Philosophy in Entrepreneurship and Commercial Studies

Franklin Ali had over twenty (20) years of executive experience in the public and private sectors in the areas of Organisation Development, Change Management and Transformation before he entered UTT to formally research those questions which had arisen in practice in the area of Public Utility Transformation, in particular, but which remained unresolved.
Franklin has served on a number of Cabinet-appointed Committees, was a member of the Vision 20/20 Sub-Committee for Public Utilities, and has represented Trinidad and Tobago at regional and international conferences of both the Caribbean and the Universal Postal Unions.  He played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Trinidad and Tobago Postal Service from a Government Department to a Statutory Corporation. It is this last mentioned activity which prompted his decision to enter UTT so as to pursue a formal research programme which could offer a solution to an important practical problem.
The empirical Management Model used in the TTPost transformation has been perceived by many to be failing. Franklin Ali’s work, recognised internationally as the first rigorous academic research worldwide in the field of Postal Reform, offers a solution via a comprehensive redesign of the model for use in developing countries. His work has attracted international attention and he recently signed a book contract with a European firm for the publication of his Doctoral thesis.
In his current role as a Management Consultant, Franklin has undertaken a number of postal consultancies in over six (6) Caribbean Countries.

PROFILE OF DONNIE VIDESH BOODLAL

Doctor of Philosophy in Process and Utilities Engineering

Donnie Boodlal joined UTT as one of the original researchers in The Natural Gas Institute of the Americas (NGIA) - formed by UTT to maximise the benefits accruing to Trinidad and Tobago via broad-based research of its Natural Gas industry in studies which spanned the spectrum from Econometric Analysis to Production Efficiency and Environmental Protection. It is in this last area that Donnie focused his efforts.

 His work on the Cost-Effective Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Trinidad and Tobago is highly rated and he is regarded nationally as being at the forefront of the field of emissions reductions. His Doctoral study mapped carbon dioxide emissions from key industries in Trinidad and Tobago and presented a precise methodology for assessing and evaluating the financial feasibility of mitigation techniques. His work is well recognised locally and internationally. This recognition results in his frequent invitations to speak annually at the Trinidad Energy Conferences and the Caribbean Energy Conferences. Additionally, he has spoken at many international conferences and events, including The United Kingdom Energy Research Centre Summer School (2010) and the International Energy Agency Carbon Capture Summer School (2010).

Donnie was selected recently to form part of an elite worldwide group to attend specialised training in his field of research with Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios (MAPS) and Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) in Chile, 2013.  In the interim, he continues to serve on two (2) committees associated with his work - the Carbon Reduction Strategy Task Force of Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad Energy Chamber’s Energy Efficiency Committee.

PROFILE OF REAN MAHARAJ

Doctor of Philosophy in Process and Utilities Engineering

Rean Maharaj’s love for science propelled him to pursue a Bachelor’s (B.Sc.) Degree in Chemistry, specialising in Analytical Chemistry, at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine and then a Masters of Plilosophy (M.Phil.) degree in the field of Applied Physical Chemistry.

His professional career began in 1995 at Western Scientific Company Limited where, after four years of service, he accepted the position of Scientific Officer at the Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre. He was awarded a United Nations Fellowship where he specialised in the analysis of Drugs of Abuse and was subsequently appointed Analyst attached to the Chemistry Department of the Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre.

Rean joined academia in 2006 when he accepted a position as an Instructor II attached to the Process and Utilities Department of The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). In 2008, he was promoted to Senior Instructor in the Process Engineering Programme, where he has an excellent teaching record. His PhD thesis which focused on Trinidad Lake Asphalt and its findings holds enormous potential for the economic and social development of Trinidad and Tobago.

Rean credits his wife Shelley and his children Kaleigh, Jivan and Tristan as his sources of inspiration.

PROFILE OF RENIQUE MURRAY

Doctor of Philosophy in Process and Utilities Engineering

Renique J. Murray has been conducting postgraduate research on several aspects of power generation and power generation machinery, for the past nine years. At The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Renique researched the areas of methanol fuel for power applications, assessment of alternative fuel blends and techno-economic feasibility studies of power generation arrangements for the Caribbean.
Renique holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degree in Mechanical Engineering, as well as a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in the area of vibration analysis of rotating machines, from the University of the West Indies (UWI). Prior to this, he served as a part-time lecturer at UWI where he was also instrumental in conducting research.

PROFILE OF REEZA RAMGATTIE

Master of Philosophy in Animal Science

Reeza Ramgattie is a man living his passion. His interest in Animal Physiology dates back to his childhood, during which his father, Lal, took pains to introduce him to, and train him in, the practice of Farming. To be able to actively research this area is a gift. Reeza believes that the formal education of his Undergraduate and Postgraduate training in Animal Science, much like icing on a cake, is just a series of layers on the platform of values put in place by the late Lal Ramgattie.
These values have led Reeza to focus on outreach in the farming community, not just as an integral part of his service as a UTT member of staff, but as a tribute to his father. He believes that all research activities at UTT should redound to the benefit of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. By developing and researching improvements in farm practices, such as the methods of maximising reproductive efficiency that he researched in his M.Phil. study, Reeza firmly believes that UTT will contribute to the farming community and help significantly in the ongoing challenge to revivify agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago. His strong belief is that we will not become a truly independent nation until we can adequately feed ourselves.
Reeza is the University’s point person working in the Matelot Community with researchers from West Virginia University, as part of the international organisation, AMIZADE. He balances the above with family and church and is an active member of the Inheritance International Center.