Dr. Kai Gong is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, with affiliations at the Rice Advanced Materials Institute and Ken Kennedy Institute. His research focuses on sustainable infrastructure materials, environmental sustainability, and materials science. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering and Materials Science from Princeton University, an MEngSci from Monash University (Australia), and dual B.S. degrees from Monash University and Central South University (China). Research Interests: Development of durable, sustainable infrastructure materials Waste encapsulation and conversion to value-added products Carbon mineralization and utilization Advanced characterization techniques (synchrotron/neutron scattering) Data-driven modeling and atomistic simulations Notable Awards: 2023 Le Chatelier Medal (Cement and Concrete Research) 2024 Giatec Award for Best Paper in Sustainability Walbridge Fund Graduate Award (2019) His work integrates computational methods (e.g., molecular dynamics) with experimental techniques to address decarbonization challenges in infrastructure. The Gong Research Group actively seeks motivated researchers for opportunities in sustainable materials innovation.
Professor Sarath Kodagoda is a leading academic and researcher in robotics and mechatronics at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he serves as Acting Director of the UTS Robotics Institute. He specializes in sensor fusion, data processing, and machine learning, with a focus on robotic solutions for infrastructure inspection and assistive technologies. His work includes developing the Robotic Remote Lab teaching facilities and founding the iPipes lab for wastewater infrastructure research. Affiliations: UTS Robotics Institute, Faculty of Engineering & IT Leadership Roles: President of the Australian Robotics & Automation Association, Ambassador for NSW Smart Sensing Network His research interests span robotics, sensor networks, and infrastructure robotics, with notable contributions to pipeline inspection and tactile sensing. He has published over 170 papers, attracted $6M+ in grants, and supervised 12 PhD students now working at Amazon, Google, and ABB. Awards include the UTS Medal for Teaching & Research Integration and multiple national/international innovation awards. Recent work emphasizes robotic systems for wastewater infrastructure, assistive robotics for vision-impaired individuals, and advanced sensor technologies. His articles highlight innovations in tactile sensing skins, 3D object detection (e.g., CaLiJD, LMIINet), and pipeline defect detection (PIPE-CovNet+). Grants: Contracts with Amplitel, NBN Co Ltd, and ARC Linkage Projects Labs/Teams: UTS Robotics Institute, iPipes Lab
Olga Fink is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the Department of Intelligent Maintenance and Operations Systems (IMOS) within the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC). She also holds roles in PhD program committees for Civil and Environmental Engineering (EDCE) and Robotics, Control, and Intelligent Systems (EDRS). Her research focuses on machine learning for infrastructure monitoring, predictive maintenance, and physics-informed AI models. She teaches courses on machine learning, data science for infrastructure, and advanced deep learning topics. Fink advises multiple PhD students and is involved in interdisciplinary projects such as ThermoNeRF (multimodal 3D thermal modeling) and physics-informed neural networks for fault diagnostics. Her work bridges AI and engineering with applications in smart infrastructure, energy systems, and industrial IoT. Education: PhD in Engineering (inferred from role) Affiliations: IMOS Lab, ENAC-SGC, EPFL PhD Committees (EDCE, EDRS) Key Research Themes: Explainable AI, Digital Twins, Structural Health Monitoring, Domain Adaptation Her publications (2023–2025) emphasize robust AI for industrial systems, including fault detection in high-voltage equipment, multimodal data fusion, and physics-consistent models. She collaborates on EU and industry-funded projects, focusing on real-world applications like predictive maintenance and energy efficiency.
Dr. Geng Guoqing is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He holds concurrent roles as East Asian Regional Convener for RILEM and board member of ACI-Singapore Chapter. His research focuses on sustainable construction materials, particularly durability, microstructural characterization, and waste material utilization. Geng earned his PhD from UC Berkeley (2017), followed by postdoctoral research at the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland). He has authored over 50 papers and leads multiple projects funded by Singapore’s Ministry of Education, Energy Center, and National Research Foundation. Education: Bachelor of Engineering, Southeast University, China (2010) Master of Science, UC Berkeley, USA (2013) PhD, UC Berkeley, USA (2017) Research interests center on sustainable construction materials, multi-scale characterization, and material durability . Key themes include recycling low-grade materials, mitigating degradation in concrete, and developing high-performance binders like LC3. His work employs advanced techniques like molecular modeling, X-ray diffraction, and NMR. Recent articles explore hydration kinetics, CSH matrix mechanics, and waste clay applications. Awards include the 2023 RILEM Medal and multiple teaching excellence recognitions. Current projects address CO 2 absorption, sustainable cement blends, and resilient façade materials. Professional service includes editorial roles at Cleaner Materials and Frontiers in Materials , plus organizing the 2022 EASEC Conference. His lab focuses on bridging microstructural insights with macro-scale material performance.
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Hellweg serves as a Full Professor for Ecological Systems Design at the ETH Zürich , Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. She is Deputy Head of the Institute of Environmental Engineering and leads groundbreaking research at the intersection of industrial ecology, life cycle assessment, and circular economy systems. PhD in Environmental Engineering (ETH Zürich, 2000) Industrial Engineering Degree (Karlsruhe University, 1996) Her research develops advanced methodologies for environmental impact assessment of products and technologies, focusing on: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with correlated uncertainty modeling Circular economy implementation in chemical and energy sectors Industrial symbiosis optimization for heat and nutrient flows Urban wastewater systems redesign for resource recovery Chemical pollution analysis in plastic materials Key publication trends reveal expertise in: Hybrid wastewater treatment systems Energy-efficient greenhouse cultivation Exergy analysis for sustainability metrics Machine learning applications in environmental modeling Policy-relevant industrial ecology studies She actively participates in global sustainability initiatives as: President of the International Society of Industrial Ecology (ISIE) Member of UN Environment's International Resource Panel Editorial board member for leading environmental journals
Josh Atkinson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute at Princeton University. His research focuses on using synthetic biology and protein engineering to control electron transport in microbes for environmental applications, such as bioelectronic sensors and bioremediation. The Atkinson Lab investigates microbial energy processing, biofilm-electronic interfaces, and sustainable biotechnologies. Affiliations: Princeton University, Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute Research Interests: Microbial electron transport, bioelectronic systems, environmental monitoring, sustainable catalysis His work bridges disciplines like electrochemistry, bioengineering, and environmental science to engineer living materials for real-world challenges. The lab recruits students across levels, emphasizing diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent projects include real-time contaminant sensors and light-controlled biofilm patterning. Articles highlight innovations in bioelectronics and microbial systems engineering. The lab’s future directions involve scaling-up bioelectronic devices and enhancing microbial community understanding.
Leonardo Chamorro is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), with affiliations in Earth Science and Environmental Change, Aerospace Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on fluid dynamics, renewable energy systems, and turbulence modeling. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota (2010) and has held academic positions at UIUC since 2013, advancing to Full Professor in 2024. Chamorro's work spans experimental and theoretical investigations of wind and hydrokinetic energy, geophysical flows, and particle dynamics. His research group, the Renewable Energy & Turbulent Environment Group (RE-TE-G), explores topics like tidal flow multifractality, vortex dynamics, and bio-inspired robotics. Key achievements include Nature and Lab on a Chip cover articles, and contributions to turbulence modeling for tidal energy systems. He has received awards such as the Best Paper Award in Energies (2018) and recognition for pandemic-related research (2021). His editorial roles include associate editorships at journals like Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy and Frontiers in Energy Research . Chamorro has supervised numerous graduate students and postdocs, contributing to over 150 peer-reviewed publications since 2009.
Mohammad Modarres is the Nicole J. Kim Eminent Professor at the University of Maryland within the A.J. Clark School of Engineering. He serves as Director of the Center for Risk and Reliability (CRR) and is a Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Modarres co-founded the world's first degree-granting graduate curriculum in reliability engineering at the University of Maryland and has established himself as an international expert in reliability and risk analysis. Dr. Modarres received his educational credentials from prestigious institutions: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT Dr. Modarres' research spans multiple critical areas in engineering risk and reliability. His primary interests include probabilistic risk assessment, uncertainty analysis, probabilistic physics of failure, and probabilistic fracture mechanics. His work encompasses both experimental investigations and sophisticated probabilistic model development. He has made significant contributions to materials degradation science, prognosis and health management systems, and nuclear safety analysis. His research bridges theoretical developments with practical applications in complex engineering systems, particularly in nuclear power and aerospace sectors. Analysis of Dr. Modarres' recent publications reveals a strong trend toward integrating advanced data science techniques with traditional reliability engineering. His work increasingly incorporates machine learning, deep learning, and entropy-based approaches to solve complex problems in prognostics and health management. There's a clear focus on multi-unit systems, particularly in nuclear power applications, and a growing emphasis on data-driven methodologies for remaining useful life estimation and failure prediction. His research maintains a strong foundation in probabilistic methods while embracing cutting-edge computational approaches. Dr. Modarres has received numerous prestigious honors and awards throughout his distinguished career: Nicole Y. Kim Eminent Professorship in Engineering Minta Martin Professorship in A.J. Clark School of Engineering University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher (2019) Tommy Thompson Award for outstanding lifetime contributions to nuclear safety (American Nuclear Society) Fellow, American Nuclear Society Fellow, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Life Fellow of IEEE 1996 Maryland Inventor of the Year Award (in Information Sciences) FDA Commissioner Special Citation for Contributions to Risk Assessment Methods (2004) 2008 International Research Leadership Award (Society for Reliability Engineering, Quality and Operations Management) Honorary Doctorate from Universidad Da Vinci de Guatemala As the founding director of the Center for Risk and Reliability, Dr. Modarres has built a world-renowned program that has awarded over 500 Ph.D. and master's degrees. His research has been supported by significant grants from government agencies and industry partners, particularly in nuclear safety, aerospace reliability, and critical infrastructure protection. He has mentored numerous students who have gone on to become leaders in reliability engineering across various industries. His center collaborates extensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international organizations on risk assessment methodologies. The Center for Risk and Reliability (CRR), which Dr. Modarres directs, serves as a hub for multidisciplinary research in risk and reliability engineering. The center has recently renovated its facilities to enhance collaboration among researchers from different engineering disciplines. CRR maintains strong partnerships with industry leaders including Amazon Lab126 (as evidenced by their collaboration on device durability research) and has been instrumental in advancing probabilistic risk assessment tools used in nuclear power plant safety analysis. The center hosts regular seminars, workshops, and international conferences, positioning itself at the forefront of risk and reliability research globally.
Kyle Doudrick serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, with his office located in 166 Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering. His research program bridges environmental engineering and materials science to address critical water quality challenges. Education Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Arizona State University (2013) M.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Memphis (2008) B.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Memphis (2006) Research Focus : The Doudrick Lab pioneers physical-chemical treatment technologies targeting emerging contaminants including PFAS, micro/nanoplastics, and oxyanions. His group develops solar-activated photocatalytic systems for water purification and wastewater-to-hydrogen conversion, while investigating fundamental processes in catalytic, adsorptive, thermal, photochemical, and electrochemical treatment. Current work emphasizes understanding contaminant fate in natural and engineered systems through advanced analytical methods. Publication Trends : Recent works (2019-2020) demonstrate a cohesive research trajectory centered on electrochemical and photocatalytic water treatment. Key themes include nanomaterial stability for contaminant degradation, hybrid processes for persistent pollutants like PFOS, and innovative reactor designs such as hydrogel membranes. These publications span environmental engineering, materials chemistry, and sustainable energy conversion, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches to water security challenges. Laboratory Operations : The Doudrick Lab maintains a mission-driven focus on developing cost-effective, scalable solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing water infrastructure. Research activities combine fundamental material science with practical engineering applications, targeting real-world implementation of contaminant removal technologies while advancing scientific understanding of emerging pollutant behavior.
Professor Bing-Jie (Bruce) Ni is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) within the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a full Professor at UNSW Sydney. He is an internationally recognised leader in environmental engineering, wastewater treatment, greenhouse-gas mitigation, microplastics fate, electrocatalysis and sustainable energy systems. Education PhD in Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei (2005–2009) Research Interests Professor Ni’s research integrates process engineering, microbial biotechnology, materials science and mathematical modelling to develop sustainable technologies for high-efficiency pollutant removal, minimal carbon footprint and maximal energy recovery from wastewater. He is a global pioneer in: Modelling and control of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emissions from wastewater systems, Micro- and nano-plastics ecotoxicity and mitigation in anaerobic digestion, Transforming sewage sludge into high-value liquid bio-energy (medium-chain fatty acids and long-chain alcohols), Designing cost-effective electrocatalysts from natural minerals for green hydrogen production and wastewater electrolysis. Research Output & Impact Over the last decade he has published 2 research books, 30 book chapters and >400 refereed journal papers , including 35 in Environmental Science & Technology and 85 in Water Research . His work has influenced global policy: the IPCC adopted his nitrous-oxide-emission model in 2019 to revise national greenhouse-gas inventories for the first time in 13 years. Awards & Recognition ARC Future Fellowship & ARC DECRA Fellowship Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher (Web of Science) Royal Society of Chemistry Highly Cited Researcher (2020–present) Mendeley Data Top 2 % Cited Researchers worldwide Listed among “Australia’s Most Innovative Engineers” (Engineers Australia, 2018) 50+ additional awards including Scopus Young Researcher Award, South Australian Water Awards, UQ Research Excellence Awards, and Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards. Research Funding & Leadership He has secured ≈ AUD $10 million in competitive funding (six major ARC grants plus >20 government, university and industry projects). He serves as: Lead Guest Editor, Water Research Editorial Advisory Board, Environmental Science & Technology Associate Editor for Journal of Cleaner Production , Environmental Chemistry Letters , Environmental Research , Journal of Environmental Management Editorial Board member for five additional high-impact journals. Teaching & Supervision At UTS he teaches Renewable Energy Technologies , Environmental and Sanitation Engineering , Process Dynamics and Control , and Water and Wastewater Treatment . He is available to supervise Masters and PhD students in environmental biotechnology, process modelling and sustainable energy systems. Laboratory & Commercial Translation He heads active research teams at both UNSW and UTS and is the inventor of >10 granted patents , some of which are currently being commercialised to deliver real-world impacts in greenhouse-gas-neutral wastewater treatment and renewable energy production.
Sean McGinnis serves as a Professor of Practice and Director of the Green Engineering Program within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. His academic and professional endeavors focus on advancing sustainable engineering practices through education, research, and industry collaboration. Dr. McGinnis earned his educational qualifications from prestigious institutions: a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science from the University of Minnesota, followed by a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. His research program is centered on Green Engineering principles, with specific expertise in Life Cycle Assessment, Sustainable Manufacturing Processes, Design for Environment, Carbon Footprint Analysis, Renewable Energy systems, and Interdisciplinary Education methodologies. He has pioneered courses such as Introduction to Green Engineering (ENGR 3124) and Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (ENGR 4134) that equip students with tools to evaluate environmental impacts across product lifecycles. His Earth Sustainability course (UCCS 2984) further extends this interdisciplinary approach to broader societal challenges. Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent trajectory toward sustainable technology innovation, particularly in the life cycle assessment of nanomaterials and waste streams. Recent work examines circular economy models for nanowaste recycling, environmental implications of nanoparticle synthesis, and the development of optical systems that mitigate harmful blue light exposure while maintaining visual performance. This research bridges materials science, environmental engineering, and human health considerations. Professional recognition for Dr. McGinnis includes: LEED AP BD&C certification Life Cycle Assessment Certified Professional designation Johnson & Johnson Standards of Leadership Award (2003) In his leadership capacity as Director of the Green Engineering Program, Dr. McGinnis oversees curriculum development that integrates sustainability across engineering disciplines. He has published on educational methodologies for assessing interdisciplinary integration of green engineering knowledge and has organized introductory green engineering courses for undergraduates. His work extends to operational phase life cycle assessment of facilities and sustainable provision of food and water systems.
Katrin Schollbach is an Assistant Professor in the Building Materials department at Eindhoven University of Technology's School of Built Environment . Her research focuses on sustainable utilization of industrial by-products in construction materials, particularly steel slags from fossil-free steelmaking processes. Expertise: BOF slag activation, carbonation resistance, heavy metal immobilization, eco-friendly binders Projects: Leading the SLAK project (2023-2029) on future slags from fossil-free steelmaking Collaborations: Active international collaborations in construction materials research Schollbach's work explores the chemical and mineralogical properties of industrial waste materials, optimizing their performance in building applications. Key research themes include chemical activation techniques, carbonation processes, and material characterization using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Recent publications highlight her innovative approaches to BOF slag activation, sewage sludge-based sealing materials, and marine infrastructure applications. Her research output demonstrates consistent growth with 89 total publications and collaborations across multiple disciplines. She contributes to education through courses like Climate-responsive Building Design and Masterproject BPS Research , and maintains active research partnerships with institutions worldwide.
Ben Amor is a Full Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, where he serves as Director and Founder of the CIRMIB (Integrated Research Center on Sustainable Materials, Infrastructure and Buildings) and Director of Sustainable Development for the Faculty of Engineering. Previously, he held associate professor positions at Université Laval and Université de Sherbrooke. His research focuses on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies applied to sustainable construction, circular economy implementation in building sectors, and building decarbonization strategies. He has pioneered regionalized LCA approaches for Arctic regions and developed frameworks for carbon budgeting in building sectors. His work bridges environmental science with practical engineering solutions for sustainable infrastructure. His recent publications reveal strong trends in building decarbonization pathways, material circularity in construction, and the integration of biogenic carbon accounting. He emphasizes both technological solutions and behavioral change strategies for achieving net-zero emissions in the built environment. ACLCA 2018 Life Cycle Assessment Leadership Award Life Cycle Academy Awards 2019 (two awards) Quebec Public Administration Excellence Prize 2023 for Scientific Collaboration Multiple university teaching awards including the Jacques-Bazinet Merit Award Professor Amor leads significant research grants totaling over $20 million, including NSERC Alliance grants for sustainable building materials and a $2 million Research Chair on Net Zero Strategies and Life Cycle Assessment. He directs the CIRMIB research center and the LIRIDE (Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory in Sustainable Engineering and Eco-design), supervising multiple doctoral candidates. His work includes developing LCA tools for Quebec's construction industry and advising government bodies on sustainable procurement policies.
Alessandro Astolfi is a Professor of Nonlinear Control Theory in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London, where he has been faculty since 1996. He also holds a professorship at the Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering at the University of Rome Tor Vergata since 2005. From 2022 to 2025, he serves as College Consul for the Faculty of Engineering and Business School, and previously served as Head of the Control and Power Group from 2010 to 2022. His research expertise spans multiple areas of control theory: Nonlinear control theory Adaptive and robust control Discontinuous stabilization Model reduction Geometric control theory Observer design Astolfi's work has produced significant applications across diverse fields including aerospace systems (under-actuated satellites, autonomous aircraft), power systems (multi-machine systems), game theory (population dynamics, multi-agent systems), and industrial processes (model reduction applications). His research contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: 2003 Philip Leverhulme Prize for outstanding research achievements of young scholars 2007 IEEE Control Systems Society Antonio Ruberti Young Researcher Prize 2009 IEEE Fellow for contributions to nonlinear control theory 2009 Googol Best New Application Paper Award 2012 George S. Axelby Outstanding Paper Award 2012 IEEE CSS Distinguished Member Award 2015 Sir Harold Hartley Medal from the Institute of Measurement and Control (UK) Professor Astolfi has authored more than 120 journal papers, 30 book chapters, and over 240 conference papers. He co-authored the monograph 'Nonlinear and Adaptive Control with Applications' (Springer-Verlag). He currently serves as Chair of the IEEE CSS Conference Editorial Board and has participated in program committees of numerous international conferences. His research group at Imperial College London maintains strong connections with academic institutions worldwide including ETH Zurich, Rice University, and SUPELEC, with whom he has established visiting lecturer relationships spanning decades.
Sergio Carrera serves as Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Justice and Home Affairs Unit at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a prominent Brussels-based think tank. Additionally, he holds the position of Adjunct Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) in SciencesPo, France, where he contributes to academic teaching and research in international affairs. Dr. Carrera's academic background includes a Ph.D. on immigration and citizenship from Maastricht University (The Netherlands), an LL.M. in European, Comparative and International Law from the University of Maastricht, and a Law Degree from Universidad de Salamanca in Spain. His extensive educational foundation in European and international law underpins his expertise in EU justice and home affairs policy. His primary research interests focus on EU justice and home affairs (JHA) law and the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice policy, with particular emphasis on migration, asylum, citizenship, and Schengen policies. Dr. Carrera's expertise also extends to EU criminal justice law and police cooperation, examining their impacts on data protection, privacy, and the rights of the defense. His work consistently addresses the intersection between security measures and fundamental rights within the European context. Dr. Carrera has produced an extensive body of scholarly work, with over 190 published publications according to the available information. His recent research has particularly focused on EU-US data transfers, rule of law challenges in the context of migration management, global asylum governance, and the evolving landscape of EU security policy. His publications demonstrate a consistent concern with ensuring that security and migration policies uphold fundamental rights and the rule of law. Among his notable contributions are policy analyses on the European Green Deal's implications for climate policy, assessments of the EU's response to the Ukraine crisis, and examinations of the impact of the Trump administration on EU security policy. His research often bridges academic analysis with practical policy recommendations for EU institutions. Dr. Carrera leads and participates in numerous research projects addressing critical issues in EU policy. Current initiatives include "Reclaiming our past, rebuilding our future: new approaches to fighting antigypsyism" (2024-2026) and the "Study on Mapping Civil Dialogue Practices in the EU Institutions" (2024-2025). Previous significant projects include "Global Asylum Governance and European Union's Role" (ASILE, 2019-2023), "Pan-European Response to the ImpactS of COVID-19" (PERISCOPE, 2020-2023), and "IT tools and methods for managing migration FLOWS" (ITFLOWS, 2020-2023). His work has been commissioned by various EU institutions, including the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs, demonstrating the policy relevance and impact of his research. Dr. Carrera's expertise is frequently sought for task forces addressing timely issues such as EU-US data transfers, digital justice, and cross-border cooperation in criminal matters.
