Espoir Mushagalusa Murhula is a PhD candidate in Mining Engineering at Queen’s University, specializing in mineral processing and surface chemistry, under the supervision of Charlotte Gibson in collaboration with Wennie Wang (University of Texas at Austin, USA). His research focuses on improving the separation and recovery of lithium-bearing minerals. By combining experimental techniques with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, he investigates mineral–reagent interactions and interfacial phenomena to enhance flotation efficiency and support more sustainable lithium extraction.

Before joining Queen’s University, Espoir conducted research on the sustainable beneficiation of lithium, tantalum, and niobium minerals under the supervision of Lev Filippov at Université de Lorraine in France. He demonstrated that selective fragmentation can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in mining operations. His earlier research at Université Officielle de Bukavu contributed to environmental geoscience through studies of groundwater hydrogeochemistry and basalt weathering to support CO₂ capture via mineral carbonation.

To date, his research has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and he has received international recognition through several awards and scholarships from the Canadian Mineral Processors (CMP), the BEBUC Excellence Scholarship Program, the French Government, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and Queen’s University.

Espoir has also held several teaching roles at Queen’s University and the Université Officielle de Bukavu, where he taught courses in mineral processing, geochemistry, and engineering fundamentals and supervised undergraduate students.