Kenneth Wunch

Ken received his PhD in Environmental Microbiology from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1996 followed by post-doc research on hydrocarbon bioremediation of Valdez funded by Exxon. Subsequently, he accepted an Assistant Professorship at the Texas Research Institute for Bioenvironmental Studies where he continued his bioremediation work and became Director of the SHSU Disease Vector Program for the Air Force Border Health & Environmental Threats Initiative.

Ken left academia to become Laboratory Director of Hygeia Environmental Microbiology Laboratories focusing on environmental microbial and indoor air monitoring with extensive work in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. In 2008, Ken moved into petroleum microbiology at Baker Hughes with responsibilities in oilfield production chemistry and the development and application of technologies associated with oilfield microbiology, microbially influenced corrosion (MIC), sulfide abatement, and corrosion inhibition. He later moved to BP Exploration as a production microbiologist with responsibilities in development and implementation of R&D strategies for reservoir souring and MIC before his current role at DuPont. Ken holds the position of Energy Technology Advisor at DuPont in Houston responsible for business development, technology transfer, and shaping the innovation pipeline and strategy for global oil and gas applications.

Ken is the author of over 50 publications & patents and has been Chair of:

• SPE/NACE Deepwater Field Life Corrosion Prevention, Detection, Control & Remediation

• Energy Institute & Reservoir Microbiology Forum (RMF)

• International Symposium on Applied Microbiology & Molecular Biology in Oil Systems (ISMOS)

• NACE CORROSION Control of Problematic Microorganisms in the Oil & Gas Industry

• NACE CORROSION Microbially Influenced Corrosion