Sage R. Hiibel is an Associate Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, affiliated with the Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences. His research focuses on environmental engineering, water treatment, and microbial bioremediation, particularly in membrane distillation, nutrient recovery from waste streams, and algal biomass applications. Environmental Engineering Water Treatment and Reuse Microbial Bioremediation Algal Biofuels Nutrient Recovery Systems Sustainable Water-Energy Nexus His recent work (2020–2025) emphasizes microalgae-based methane mitigation , membrane technology integration , and life cycle assessment of resource recovery systems . Key trends include innovations in hydrothermal carbonization , crystallization modeling , and mine drainage bioremediation . Contact: shiibel@unr.edu | Office: LMR 305 | Mail Stop: 0388
Ditte Baun Hermund serves as an Associate Professor at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), leading the Research Group for Bioactives – Analysis and Application. Her work directly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through innovative food science research focused on sustainable resource utilization and health. Her research centers on marine bioresources, particularly seaweed-derived bioactives, with expertise spanning antioxidant chemistry, lipid oxidation control, and functional food development. She pioneers extraction techniques for natural antioxidants using supercritical fluids and investigates processing impacts on bioactive stability in products like cocoa, fish oil-enriched mayonnaise, and seaweed-based ingredients. Her fingerprint reveals dominance in antioxidant research (100%), seaweed applications (47%), and oxidative stability (28%), with strong connections to food preservation and sensory science. Recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward sustainable marine resource valorization, with emphasis on transforming seaweed into functional food ingredients while addressing practical challenges like product failures in commercial applications. This work bridges fundamental chemistry with real-world food system innovation. Hermund's scientific recognition includes four major awards reflecting her growing impact: Student travel grant (2014) Young Scientist Award (2015) Direktør, Dr. Techn. A.N. Neergaards og hustrus legat (2017) Otte Mønsted travel grant (2018) As an active supervisor and collaborator, she leads significant research initiatives including the AlgaeVita project on vitamin D3-fortified algae ingredients and SEATAN for seaweed extract development. Her grant portfolio demonstrates strong industry-academic partnerships focused on translating marine bioresources into market-ready solutions for food and cosmetics. Hermund directs the Bioactives Research Group at DTU Food, where her team operates cutting-edge facilities for lipid oxidation analysis, supercritical fluid extraction, and sensory evaluation. Current efforts focus on zero-waste approaches to microalgae biorefining for sustainable aviation fuels and nutraceutical production, positioning her group at the forefront of marine bioeconomy research.
Dr. Kaushik Venkiteshwaran is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Coastal, and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Alabama . His work focuses on sustainable water and wastewater treatment, nutrient recovery, and microbial ecology in engineered systems. Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Marquette University M.S. in Civil Engineering, Clarkson University B.Tech. in Biotechnology, ICFAI University His research emphasizes biological process development, bio-adsorbent design, microbial community modeling, and advanced oxidation for contaminant removal. Recent publications highlight innovations in phosphate-binding proteins and microplastics remediation. Key trends in his 15 most recent articles (2025–2022) span nutrient recovery , microplastics removal , bio-energy production , fermentation optimization , and socio-technical wastewater systems . Technologies include protein-based phosphate adsorption, algal biogas upgrading, and microfluidic microbial analysis. He teaches foundational courses in environmental engineering and wastewater treatment design. A provisional patent (US20210147259A1) covers phosphate recovery using selective proteins.
Audrey Favrelle-Huret is an Associate Professor (Maître de Conférences) at the University of Lille, specifically within the Institute of Technology A (IUT A) Department of Chemistry. She is affiliated with the Catalysis and Molecular Chemistry department, particularly the Catalysis and Eco-Compatible Synthesis (CASECO) research group at the Solid State Catalysis and Chemistry Unit (UCCS - UMR CNRS 8181). Her research focuses on developing sustainable polymerization methods, with particular emphasis on organocatalysis for ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters. Her work centers on creating biodegradable polyesters from renewable resources, exploring alternatives to conventional metal-catalyzed methods to avoid residual metal traces in final materials. Key research areas include: Organocatalytic ROP using phosphoric acid derivatives and Brønsted acids Functionalization of aliphatic polyesters with saccharidic derivatives Development of nucleobase-functionalized polymers for biomedical applications Water-based polymerization methods for graft copolymer synthesis Biobased polymers from microalgae biomass Her publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to polymer science, with numerous articles in high-impact journals focusing on sustainable polymer synthesis, organocatalysis, and biobased materials. Her research shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated polymer architectures and greener synthesis methods. Among her notable recognitions is a Journal Cover and Highlights feature in 'Advances in Engineering' (March 2015). She actively participates in major collaborative research projects including two Interreg V France-Wallonie-Flandres initiatives: Project ALPO (developing new polymer materials from microalgae biomass) and Project ELASTOPLAST (focusing on thermoplastic elastomers). As an educator, she teaches Organic Chemistry at IUT A and serves as module coordinator. She supervises PhD theses, Master's, and Bachelor's students, and participates in professional development for chemistry graduates. Her academic service includes membership in the French Chemical Society (SCF), the French Polymer Group (GFP), and the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE).
Prof. Alexander Mathys is an Associate Professor at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, and Deputy Head of the Institute of Food, Nutrition, and Health. His research focuses on sustainable food processing, with a systems-oriented approach to optimize food value chains and address environmental, economic, and social impacts. Key areas include microalgae and insect-based protein sources, bioconversion of food waste, and novel preservation technologies. Education: PhD in Food Processing (2008), Tenured Professor (2022). Affiliations: Singapore-ETH Centre, Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein (NUS). Research Interests: Sustainable food systems, bioeconomy principles, multi-indicator sustainability assessments. Innovations include urban farming concepts, microalgae cultivation for nutrition, and mechanical/biotechnological food processing techniques. Awards: IAFoST Fellow (2024), ETH Zurich Dandelion Award (2022), IFT International Food Security Award (2020), Young Researcher (Nobel Laureates Meeting, 2010). Grants & Advising: Over 200 publications (140 peer-reviewed articles), 13 patents, and extensive international collaborations. Leads the Sustainable Food Processing group at ETH Zurich. Labs/Teams: Directs interdisciplinary research teams exploring novel protein sources, food waste valorization, and scalable bioprocessing technologies.
Vera Slaveykova is a full professor in Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology at the Department of F.A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences and the Institute for Environmental Sciences at the University of Geneva. She has held leadership roles including Director of the Department and President of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. She currently serves on the National Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation and represents the University of Geneva in the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership. She is also the Specialty Chief Editor for Biogeochemical Dynamics in Frontiers in Environmental Science. Research Interests: Her work centers on the behavior and impacts of trace elements, nanoparticles, and microplastics in aquatic systems. Key areas include: Speciation and bioavailability of trace elements and nanoparticles Aquatic toxicology of inorganic contaminants, nanoparticles, and microplastics Transcriptomics and metabolomics in environmental stress responses Community ecotoxicology and biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems Publication Trends: Her recent articles (2023–2025) show a strong focus on mercury speciation and transformations, nanoplastic and nanoparticle toxicity, eco-corona formation, and advanced analytical techniques like single-cell Raman spectroscopy and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation. There is a clear emphasis on mechanistic understanding of pollutant-organism interactions across multiple biological levels. Scientific Leadership: She plays a major editorial and advisory role in environmental science, particularly in mercury research and nanoparticle ecotoxicology. Advising and Grants: She has supervised numerous doctoral students whose theses focus on mercury cycling, nanoparticle bioaccumulation, and ecotoxicological methods. Her research is likely supported by Swiss and international funding bodies, given her leadership in national science councils and global partnerships. Labs and Teams: She leads a research group focused on biogeochemical dynamics and ecotoxicology, collaborating with experts in analytical chemistry, microbiology, and environmental engineering, particularly through the Institute for Environmental Sciences and the F.A. Forel Department.
Prof. Marc van der Maarel serves as Director of the School of Science and Engineering and holds a Professorship in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Groningen. His academic career includes roles as a University lecturer in Microbial Ecology (1995–1999), Senior scientist and project manager at TNO Quality of Life (1999–2008), and Manager Product and Application Development at AVEBE Food Innovation Center (2009–2011). He currently maintains affiliations as a visiting professor (2006–2011) and advisor to industrial entities like modAlgae BV and Imem Holding BV. Van der Maarel earned his M.Sc. in Applied Biology (microbiology and biochemistry) from Radboud University (1986–1991) and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Groningen (1991–1995), with a thesis titled “Anaerobic microbial degradation of methylated sulphur compounds” . He also attended the Summer School Microbial Diversity at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, USA (1994). His research focuses on carbohydrate bioprocessing , including glycogen structure and biosynthesis in microorganisms, starch modification via microbial enzymes, and applications of glycoside hydrolases. He explores enzyme engineering for industrial biocatalysis, functional food development, and sustainable biomass utilization. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to food security and innovation. Van der Maarel leads research projects on glycogen synthesis in red microalgae (Galdieria), synergistic enzyme systems in thermophiles, and Indonesian starch bioconversion. His publications emphasize enzymatic mechanisms, structural carbohydrate analysis, and industrial applications of microbial enzymes. He advises students such as PhD candidate C. Yang and collaborates with institutions like TNO and AVEBE. External roles include leadership in pharmacy and biology education boards and participation in academic committees (e.g., CCTO, ALAMY_6). His research portal highlights active engagement with enzyme characterization and microbial metabolism studies. Labs and teams: Directs the Bioproduct Engineering department and collaborates on the Centre for Carbohydrate Bioprocessing (UGR-TNO) and Carbohydrate Competence Centre. Maintains research ties with the AVEBE Food Innovation Center and modAlgae BV.
Kristian Soltesz is a Senior Lecturer and Project Manager in the Department of Automatic Control at Lund University's Faculty of Engineering (LTH). He is actively engaged in research focusing on data-driven modeling and control of cyberphysiological systems, with applications in anesthesia, intensive care, and organ transplantation, as well as industrial process control in mining and bioreactors. His research interests span Control Engineering , Data-Driven Modeling , Automated Drug Delivery , Hemodynamic Stabilization , Process Control , and Closed-Loop Anesthesia Systems . His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration with clinical and industrial partners, aiming to develop practical, robust control solutions for complex real-world systems. He contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through sustainable engineering applications, particularly in mining and healthcare. The recent trend in his research outputs shows a strong focus on integrating advanced control strategies—such as Model Predictive Control (MPC), Kalman filtering, and PID autotuning—into medical and industrial applications. His publications highlight innovations in seamless anesthesia delivery, signal quality handling in closed-loop systems, and optimization of industrial flotation processes. The interdisciplinary nature of his work is evident in the blend of biomedical, industrial, and data-centric control themes. Kristian Soltesz has supervised multiple research projects and academic works, with five supervised works documented. He leads or contributes to numerous research initiatives, including projects on ex vivo heart evaluation, sustainable mining, pharmacometric modeling, and historical studies in automatic control. He is involved in key academic activities such as organizing conferences and delivering invited talks, including participation in the Engineering Health PI Retreat 2023 and presentations on microalgae cultivation and ex vivo perfusion systems. His research is supported by grants from foundations such as Familjen Hjelms stiftelse för medicinsk forskning and Mats Paulssons stiftelse. Labs and research teams he is affiliated with include interdisciplinary groups working on cyberphysiological control systems , industrial automation , and biomedical engineering applications , often in collaboration with clinical departments and industrial stakeholders.
Dr. Ines Krohn is a Research Group Leader at the University of Hamburg's Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, specifically within the Department of Microbiology & Biotechnology. She leads the "Algae-Bacteria Interactions" research group, focusing on marine and environmental microbiology with biotechnological applications. University of Hamburg (2010-2013): Diploma in Biology University of Hamburg (2013): Dr. rer. nat. in Biology Her research spans two primary areas: 1) Utilizing aquatic and marine resources for biotechnology, particularly through metagenomic analysis of microalgal-bacterial communities to discover novel biomolecules and 2) investigating molecular mechanisms in microalgae-bacteria interactions, including biofilm formation and cell-cell communication. Current projects include MarBioTech (marine biodiversity exploration), AimM (biofilm monitoring), AquaHealth (aquaculture disease prevention), and SuReMetS (marine nutraceuticals for metabolic syndrome). Her publication record demonstrates expertise in metagenomics , biofilm inhibition , microalgal biotechnology , marine enzyme discovery , and antimicrobial applications . Notable collaborations include work with Prof. Wolfgang R. Streit and teams at Hagenbeck Zoo. She actively supervises bachelor's and master's candidates and offers thesis opportunities in metagenomics and biofilm research. Her laboratory explores both fundamental microbial interactions and applied biotechnologies , including biofilm disruption strategies for medical and industrial applications. Specific techniques include RNAseq, functional screening, and enzyme characterization from marine sources.
Raj Shekhar Bose is a postdoctoral researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB) in Potsdam, Germany, specializing in Mircobiome Biotechnology . With a Ph.D. in Environmental Biotechnology (IIT Kharagpur, 2023) M.Tech in Environmental Biotechnology (Jadavpur University, 2015) B.Tech in Biotechnology (West Bengal University of Technology, 2013) his research focuses on integrated waste valorization through anaerobic digestion and lactic acid fermentation . His work explores biorefinery processes for defatted rice bran , activated carbon applications in digestion systems, and biochar synthesis for wastewater treatment. Key projects include optimizing organic loading rates and mitigating ammonia inhibition in biogas production. Current efforts with BIOADVAN investigate advanced biomass treatment technologies. Publications demonstrate expertise in life cycle assessment , methane yield enhancement , and integrated process sustainability . Collaborations span institutions like Ionian University and Fraunhofer Institute, with emphasis on environmental impact reduction (67-71% improvement) and energy cost savings (80% reduction in biorefinery systems).
Mario Jolicoeur is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. His research focuses on metabolic engineering, biomedical applications, and bioreactor design. He is affiliated with Spheroid AI Inc. (Co-founder, Scientific Director), Viridios (Collaborating Researcher), and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (Member). Education: B.Sc.A., M.Sc.A., Ph.D. (Polytechnique Montréal and Paul-Sabatier University, Toulouse), Visiting Engineer (MIT) Jolicoeur develops metabolic engineering tools for cancer therapies and therapeutic agent production, designs mathematical models for cellular metabolism regulation, and creates aseptic culture equipment for diverse cells. His work spans CHO cells , microalgae , and tissue engineering . Recent publications highlight metabolic therapies for ovarian cancer, dynamic modeling of CHO cultures, and lipid production in Chlorella. Trends include cancer metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, and bioreactor optimization. Supervision: He has mentored 43 graduate students since 1990, including those working on metabolic models, bioreactors, and biotherapies. Notable projects involve methylene blue in cancer treatment, ABE fermentation, and chondrocyte culture systems. Labs & Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary groups in biomedical engineering and chemical engineering, utilizing advanced bioreactor platforms and computational models.
Prof. Benedetta Bottari is an Associate Professor at the Department of Food and Drug Science, University of Parma. She specializes in food microbiology, focusing on lactic acid bacteria, fermented foods, and microbial dynamics in dairy products like Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Her research employs molecular techniques like PCR analysis and fluorescence microscopy to study microbial viability and biodiversity. Educational Background: PhD in Food Science and Technology (2006–2009), University of Parma MSc in Food Science and Technology (2004), University of Parma BSc in Agricultural Studies, Diploma from G. Marconi High School (1994–1999) Research Interests: Prof. Bottari’s work centers on microbial ecology in food systems, probiotic development, food safety, and the application of advanced molecular methods to study cheese microbiota. She has contributed to projects on prebiotic effects, UV treatment for microbial abatement, and the role of microbial communities in food quality. Grants & Projects: Co-led projects on Parmigiano Reggiano microbiota and probiotic strain selection Scientific coordination of EU-funded dairy science education initiatives Collaborations with industries like Tetra Pak and CIPACK for food safety solutions Teaching: She teaches courses in Food Microbiology, Probiotics, and Functional Foods across undergraduate and graduate programs in Food Engineering, Gastronomy, and Nutrition. Labs & Teams: Her research group focuses on food microbiology, collaborating with institutions like SIMTREA and the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium to advance food technology and safety.
John Morgan is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Purdue University's Davidson School of Chemical Engineering and serves as Director of Graduate Studies. He holds a courtesy professorship in Biochemistry. His academic journey includes a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Kansas, a Ph.D. from Rice University, and postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley. His research focuses on metabolic engineering of plant and microbial systems, including optimizing pathways for chemical production, metabolic flux analysis in photosynthetic organisms, and engineering algae for biodiesel. Key projects involve phenylpropanoid metabolism in plants, cyanobacterial strain development for aromatic amino acids, and VOC transport mechanisms in floral cells. Research awards include the University Faculty Scholar (2016) and Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (2016). His lab advises graduate students in biochemical engineering and systems biology. Recent advancements include improving phenylalanine production in Synechococcus and analyzing lipid recovery in microalgae. The Morgan Lab also explores cutting-edge methods like the CERES CRISPR platform for rapid strain engineering. Publications emphasize metabolic flux analysis, enzyme kinetics, and systems-level modeling. Collaborations span plant biology, microbial engineering, and computational biology. Current efforts address sustainable biofuel production and metabolic pathway optimization for industrial applications.
Dr. Himanshu Jain is the T.L. Diamond Distinguished Chair in Engineering and Applied Science and a Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at Lehigh University. He leads the International Materials Institute for New Functionality in Glass and previously directed the Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD). His research focuses on advancing glass science through innovations in photonics, bioactive materials, crystal engineering, and laser processing. Education: D.Eng.Sc., Materials Science, Columbia University M.Tech., Indian Institute of Technology (India) M.S., Banaras Hindu University (India) B.S., Kanpur University (India) Research Interests: Laser-induced single-crystal architectures in glass Optical and electronic functionalities in glass Biomedical applications of bioactive glass (e.g., bone scaffolds) Thermal and radiation effects on glass properties Machine learning for crystal growth modeling Awards: Recipient of Otto Schott Research Prize for atomic fluctuation models Zachariasen Award for lithium transport discovery Morey Award for defining new glass science horizons Fulbright and Humboldt Fellowships Advising & Grants: Has supervised numerous students and secured grants for interdisciplinary projects. Active in collaborative initiatives like the Lehigh-NC A&T flood damage mapping partnership. Labs/Teams: Oversees Lehigh's advanced materials facilities, including Sinclair Lab 120A. Coordinates global networks for glass science education and research.
Enzo Palombo is a Professor and Acting Executive Dean at Swinburne University's School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies. His academic career began with a PhD from La Trobe University on bacterial conjugation genetics, followed by postdoctoral research at the Royal Children's Hospital on gastroenteritis viruses. He holds a Fellowship of the Australian Society for Microbiology (FASM) and served on its Victorian Branch committee (1996–2014). He is also an Executive Committee member of the Australian Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (ACEDD). Research focuses include food microbiology, bioactive compounds from plants/fungi, environmental microbiology, nanotechnology, and virology. He leads projects on antimicrobial coatings, microplastic biodegradation, and biofilm control. Over 60 HDR students have been supervised, with topics ranging from wound care applications of endophyte metabolites to microbially influenced corrosion. Notable achievements include the 2020 FASM Fellowship and 2011 Distinguished Service Award. He has secured grants totaling millions澳元, including ARC funding for biofilm research and industry collaborations on antimicrobial technologies. Key publications (2021–2025) address smart microalgae incubators, nanoparticle drug delivery, and computational discovery of biofilm inhibitors. Public engagement includes media commentary on bird flu outbreaks (2024) and food safety. His leadership extends to university administration while maintaining active roles in interdisciplinary research teams addressing global challenges like antimicrobial resistance and sustainable agriculture.
