Zhiwu Wang

Zhiwu (Drew) Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech, where he also serves as Director of the Center for Applied Water Research and Innovation (CAWRI). His career spans roles at Virginia Tech (2015-present), The Ohio State University (2014-2015), and postdoctoral positions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Washington State University.

• Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering (Nanyang Technological University, 2007); B.E. in Environmental Engineering (Harbin Institute of Technology, 2000)

Dr. Wang's research bridges biotechnology and industrial sustainability, focusing on:

• Bioenergy & Bioproducts: Converting food/agricultural waste into bioplastics, biofuels, and value-added chemicals
• Wastewater Treatment: Nitrogen/phosphorus removal/recovery, aerobic granulation, and anammox processes
• Process Intensification: Thermal hydrolysis, membrane bioreactors, and bioprocess modeling

His 15 most recent articles (2022-2025) highlight:

• Advancements in partial denitrification-anammox for nitrogen removal
• Optimization of moving bed biofilm reactors and tertiary treatment systems
• Metagenomic insights into aerobic granulation mechanisms
• Novel carbon-efficient nutrient removal strategies
• Applications of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents for VFA extraction
• Bioplastic production from bio-based feedstocks

Dr. Wang's team has secured over $7.2 million in research grants since 2017, including projects funded by:

• USDA (Bioplastics from food waste)
• National Science Foundation (Toxic wastewater treatment)
• Water Research Foundation (PFAS reduction)
• Department of Energy (Low-carbon nitrogen control)

His lab at Virginia Tech includes a 3,227 sq. ft. high-bay pilot facility and an analytical lab with advanced instrumentation for gas chromatography, HPLC, respirometry, and molecular biology. He mentors students in cross-disciplinary projects like the Effluential Hokies team that won the 2025 VWEA Student Design Competition.