Erica Pensini

Dr. Erica Pensini is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph. She holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto (2012) and has held roles including Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Alberta and Research Associate at SANJEL. Her research focuses on soft matter applications in clean energy (piezoelectric hydrogels), water treatment, and pollutant migration in aquifers. Key themes include energy-efficient separation technologies and molecular interactions in aqueous systems.

Education:

• PhD in Environmental Engineering, University of Toronto (2012)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Alberta (2012–2014)
• Research Associate, SANJEL (Calgary) and Scientist, SABIC (Netherlands)

Research Interests:

• Piezoelectric gels for energy harvesting
• Water-miscible pollutant separation via amphiphiles
• Groundwater remediation strategies for solvents like sulfolane
• Development of sustainable sorbents and emulsion-based containment systems

Her work employs advanced techniques such as synchrotron X-ray scattering and rheology to study material properties. Recent studies address environmental challenges in oil/gas industries and agricultural runoff.

Awards:

• NSERC Alliance (2017, 2024)
• OMAFRA Alliance (three cycles, 2018–2024)
• NSERC Discovery Grant (2018)

Advising & Grants:

• Leads the GreenGO Lab, focusing on green engineering and soil/water remediation
• Collaborates with industry partners on projects like sulfolane migration modeling

Labs/Teams:

• Green Engineering and Groundwater Remediation (GreenGO) Lab
• Partnerships with SABIC, Canadian Light Source, and others