Rate My Professor Jonathan Maisonneuve

Jonathan Maisonneuve, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering within Oakland University's School of Engineering and Computer Science. He holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from McGill University, an M.Eng. in Building Engineering from Concordia University, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Concordia University, with his doctoral research centered on harvesting energy from salt gradients in collaboration with Hydro-Québec. Joining Oakland University in 2016 as an Assistant Professor, Maisonneuve advanced to Associate Professor, establishing the Nature, Energy, and Water (NEW) Lab to pioneer membrane-based technologies for sustainable resource production. His research specializations encompass membrane processes for renewable energy conversion, water desalination and purification, CO2 and gas separation, fertilizer-derived energy recovery, and energy-efficient dehumidification systems for controlled environments. Maisonneuve coordinates the Master of Science in Energy Engineering program, launched in 2024, to equip students for high-demand careers in innovative energy sectors. He contributes to facilities like the Laboratory for Outdoor Research, Agriculture, Conservation, and Sustainability (OU-LORACS) and has secured funding from the National Science Foundation.

Maisonneuve's scholarly impact is evidenced by numerous publications in prestigious journals. Key works include 'Experimental investigation of pressure retarded osmosis for renewable energy conversion: Towards increased net power' (Applied Energy, 2016), 'Thermodynamic limits of using fertilizer osmosis to produce mechanical work via pressure retarded osmosis' (Journal of Membrane Science, 2021), 'Thermodynamic limits of using fertilizer to produce clean fertigation solution from wastewater via forward osmosis' (Journal of Membrane Science, 2022), 'Energy from carbon dioxide: Experimental and theoretical analysis of power generation from membrane-based sweep gas permeation' (Journal of Membrane Science, 2022), and 'Fertilizer-based liquid desiccants: A novel concept for energy efficient dehumidification and water vapor recycling in indoor plant environments' (Applied Thermal Engineering, 2023). He is inventor on a U.S. patent for a Fertilizer Desiccant System and Method (issued 2024, assigned to Oakland University). Notable honors include the 2022-2023 John & Horace Dodge Engineering Award for Outstanding Research and the 2024 Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award from Oakland University's Graduate School. Maisonneuve has mentored multiple Ph.D. graduates, including Pouyan Pourmovahed (2022), Sarah Moussaddy (2023), and Sandeep Aryal (2025), many of whom have pursued academia or industry roles in sustainable technologies. His contributions advance the energy-food-water nexus, fostering practical solutions for environmental sustainability.