Find Academic Supervisors

Grace DaviesView profile

Research Fellow

• Environmental Health Sciences
• Microplastics and Nanoplastics Detection
• Plastic-Associated Chemicals
• +3 more

Dr. Grace Davies is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland. She completed her PhD at the University of Birmingham, specializing in biodegradation testing methods for synthetic polymer microparticles in agricultural soils. Her current research focuses on developing analytical techniques to detect microplastics and nanoplastics in human biological samples. Her broader research interests encompass plastic-associated chemical contaminants and monitoring environmental fate of biodegradable polymers. Dr. Davies contributes to environmental health sciences through advanced contamination tracking methodologies.

Mohamed AbdallahView profile

Associate Professor

• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Microplastics Research
• +4 more

Mohamed Abdallah is an Associate Professor in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. He specializes in environmental contaminants, particularly microplastics, flame retardants, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), with a focus on human exposure and sustainable development. He supervises PhD students in the Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES) group and Biosciences, having guided 16 students to completion. Research Interests Environmental fate of flame retardants and microplastics Human exposure pathways via indoor dust and water sources Dermal absorption mechanisms using 3D human skin models Contaminant analysis in e-waste recycling and freshwater ecosystems Recent Research Trends His recent articles (2024-2025) address critical environmental issues: PCBs and brominated flame retardants in e-waste, microplastic desorption dynamics, indoor dust contamination, and dermal exposure risks. These works span interdisciplinary fields like environmental science, toxicology, and sustainable chemistry. Projects & Collaborations DermPlast : Assessing dermal exposure to microplastic additives (Principal Investigator, 2021-2023) UPSTREAM : Circular solutions for river plastic prevention (Co-Investigator, 2024-2025) Plastic Brain : Linking microplastics to neurodegenerative disease (Co-Investigator, 2024-2025)

Matthias SchmidtView profile

Researcher

• Correlative Microscopy
• High-Resolution Imaging
• Microbial Biotechnology
• +2 more

Dr. Matthias Schmidt is a Researcher at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) , leading the high-resolution imaging team at ProVIS - Centre for Chemical Microscopy . He specializes in advanced microscopy techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), helium-ion microscopy (HIM), and confocal Raman microscopy for environmental and biological applications. Ph.D. in Physics (2012) from Universität Leipzig Postdoctoral Fellow at Max-Planck Institute and University of Pretoria Research Interests: His work focuses on: Development of helium-ion microscopy for microbial imaging Correlative microscopy workflows and software ( Correlia plugin) Microbial interactions in rhizosphere and bioleaching systems Environmental applications of high-resolution imaging Biogeochemical processes in soil and aquatic systems Technical Expertise: Specializes in helium-ion and scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, optical profilometry, and microanalytics. Current research includes viral transmission dynamics, biofilm characterization, and nanoparticle interactions with biological systems. Publication Trends: Recent work spans environmental applications of high-resolution imaging (2023-2025), focusing on tire particle pollution, antibiotic resistance in plastispheres, and microbial corrosion mechanisms. Earlier publications (2017-2021) cover biofilm dynamics, microbial transport phenomena, and semiconductor defect analysis.

• Soil Science
• Environmental Biology
• Hydrology
• +3 more

Benedicto Soto Gonzalez is a full-time researcher in the Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences at the Faculty of Biology , University of Vigo. He specializes in soil science, environmental biology, and hydrological processes, focusing on the impact of human activities and natural events on soil and water systems. Education: PhD in Environmental Biology (1993) from the University of Santiago de Compostela, with a thesis on forest fires' effects on soil fertility and erodibility in Galicia. His research spans microplastic pollution in rivers, erosion dynamics, climate change impacts on hydrology, and sustainable land use. He integrates machine learning and life cycle assessment to analyze environmental data. Recent studies examine biodegradable microplastics' ecological effects and urbanization's role in freshwater biodiversity loss. Key trends in his publications include: Microplastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems Hydrological modeling with AI techniques Climate-induced thermal and flow regime shifts Eucalyptus afforestation's environmental trade-offs As a member of the BA2 Environmental Biology research group, he contributes to understanding soil-water interactions and pollution mitigation. Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the BA2 Environmental Biology research group at the University of Vigo, focusing on experimental hydrology and soil contamination studies.

• Ecotoxicology
• Aquatic Ecosystems
• Biofilms
• +5 more

Natàlia Corcoll Cornet is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Gothenburg , Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences. Her work bridges classical ecotoxicological methods with molecular approaches to assess chemical pollution impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Research focuses on periphyton and biofilms under chemical stressors Key contaminants: Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, metals, microplastics Methodologies: In vivo toxicity testing, DNA/RNA-based techniques, metabolomics Her research integrates global change scenarios to understand biodiversity shifts and ecosystem functionality. Current projects include: Pharm-ERA : Pharmaceutical risk assessment across terrestrial-aquatic interfaces REWETT : Greenhouse gas emissions in wetlands Past projects covered herbicide effects on algal evolution (HERBEVOL) and coastal pollution monitoring (NICE). She contributes to networks like FRAM and the Plastics in Biofilms Consortium . As a course leader , she teaches ecology, ecotoxicology, and environmental impact assessment at bachelor's and master's levels. She supervises students at all academic levels and participates in departmental research governance via the Research Area Board.

• Ecology
• Ecotoxicology
• Environmental safety
• +5 more

Associate Professor Ilaria Corsi is a faculty member at the University of Siena (Unisi), currently holding the rank of Associate Professor in Ecology since 2021. Previously, she served as Assistant Professor in Ecotoxicology from 2005 to 2020 and as a Research Fellow under the European Commission INTERREG programme from 2001 to 2004. Research Focus: Her work centers on environmental toxicology, particularly the impact of emerging contaminants on marine ecosystems. Key areas include: Ecotoxicology of nanomaterials and microplastics Mercury contamination in polar ecosystems Development of bioindicators for environmental monitoring Environmental safety assessment of nanocellulose and metal nanoparticles Scientific Recognition: She has been honored with: Visiting Fellowships at King’s College, Cambridge (1994 and 2017) Fulbright Fellowship (2002-2003) Editorial Contributions: Corsi serves as Specialty Chief Editor for Frontiers in Marine Science (Marine Pollution section) and as Review Editor for multiple Frontiers journals, including Frontiers in Environmental Science and Frontiers in Nanotechnology .

Huiwen CaiView profile

Research Fellow

• Nanoplastics Analysis
• Environmental Nanoparticle Behavior
• Aquatic Environments

Huiwen Cai is a Research Fellow in the Department of Biology at Laval University, Canada, affiliated with the Takuvik research team (a joint UL/CNRS laboratory). Her expertise lies in the analysis and environmental behavior of nanoplastics in aquatic ecosystems. Her academic background includes: Ph.D. in Environmental Science, East China Normal University, China (2016-2022) B.Sc. in Environmental Science, Ocean University of China, China (2012-2016) Dr. Cai's research focuses on developing methods for the separation, identification, and quantification of nanoplastics, addressing challenges in environmental sampling and detection. Her work examines the transport, fate, and impacts of nanoplastics in aquatic environments, with recent emphasis on Arctic ecosystems through her FRQNT-PBEEE project. Her 14 publications (2018-2024) reveal a consistent trajectory in micro/nanoplastic methodology development, spanning analytical chemistry, environmental behavior studies, and ecological impact assessments. Key trends include advancing ultracentrifugation techniques, addressing sampling artifacts, and applying deep learning for microplastic categorization, with growing focus on Arctic-specific challenges. She received the National Graduate Student Award in 2020. Current leadership of the FRQNT-PBEEE project demonstrates active grant acquisition focused on Arctic nanoplastics detection. Dr. Cai previously held a Graduate Research Trainee position at McGill University (2020-2021). As part of the Takuvik team at Laval University, she contributes to international collaborations on plastic pollution in Arctic environments through this CNRS-UL joint laboratory.

• Nanoplastics
• Microplastics
• Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)
• +3 more

James Tate is a Research Fellow at the School of Biological Sciences , Queen's University Belfast (QUB). His research centres on developing advanced spectroscopic techniques, particularly Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), to detect and quantify micro- and nanoplastics in environmental and biological matrices. Research Interests Detection of micro- and nanoplastics in water systems and consumer products. Development of cost-effective SERS substrates using gold nanoparticles and nanoparticle-on-film (NPoF) approaches. Application of salt-induced nanoparticle aggregation to enhance detection sensitivity. His recent work (2023–2025) demonstrates a seamless integration of analytical chemistry with nanotechnology to address emerging environmental health challenges, including oral exposure to plastics via everyday products like chewing gum. Scientific Impact Although no formal awards are listed, Tate’s publications have already garnered citations and significant media attention (27 Mendeley readers, 207 downloads, and coverage by 18 news outlets), underscoring the relevance and novelty of his methodologies. Collaborations & Future Directions James Tate actively collaborates with researchers including U. Pant, X. Liu, N. Birse, C. Elliott, C. Cao, A. Bibi, and D. Hill. His future trajectory is likely to expand toward real-world sensor deployment and regulatory applications for plastic contamination monitoring.

Joana AntunesView profile

Researcher

• Microplastics
• Marine Litter
• Environmental Pollution
• +3 more

Joana Antunes is a PhD Researcher at the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering , School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT/UNL). Specializing in microplastics and marine litter since 2011, her work focuses on environmental risk assessment, pollution monitoring, and nanoparticle interactions. She has collaborated on national and international projects including the HERA project (heavy metal contamination) and BASEMAN project (microplastic protocols). Specialized in microplastics and marine litter since 2011 Developed methodologies for microplastic extraction from diverse matrices Expert in FTIR and micro-FTIR spectroscopy for polymer identification Engaged in environmental education projects with fishing and general communities Research Focus Joana's research spans environmental pollution analysis, plastic contamination pathways, and nanoparticle toxicity mechanisms . Her 2021-2025 publications demonstrate expertise in Microplastic distribution in aquatic ecosystems Genotoxic and inflammatory effects of nanoplastics Radiosensitization properties of gold nanoparticles Monte Carlo simulations for radiation therapy Community-based pollution monitoring Collaborations Active in the Environment and Sustainability Center , Portuguese Marine Litter Association , and JPI-Oceans BASEMAN project . Participates in the ERASMUS Program and collaborates with institutions across Portugal, Tunisia, and Japan.

Kazi Parvez FattahView profile

Teaching Professor

• Environmental Engineering
• Water Resources Engineering
• Sustainable Materials
• +3 more

Kazi Parvez Fattah is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas, having joined the faculty in 2023. His work bridges environmental engineering and sustainable materials science with a focus on practical water and waste management solutions. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Environment) from the University of British Columbia (2010) M.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering (Environment) from the University of British Columbia (2004) B.S. in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (2001) Dr. Fattah's research program emphasizes circular economy principles in environmental systems: Nutrient recovery technologies (particularly struvite crystallization from wastewater streams) Microplastic pollution assessment and remediation strategies Advanced treatment of greywater and municipal wastewater Sustainable construction materials including geopolymer concrete and nanomaterial-reinforced composites Water distribution network integrity and desalination innovations Life cycle assessment of resource recovery processes Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a pronounced shift toward integrated environmental solutions. His work consistently connects laboratory-scale material innovations with field applications, demonstrating expertise in converting waste streams into resources. Notable themes include leveraging desalination byproducts for nutrient recovery, developing remote sensing techniques for coastal pollution monitoring, and optimizing electrocoagulation for water reuse – reflecting a commitment to context-specific engineering for both developed and developing regions.

Gibum KwonView profile

Associate Professor

• Surface Science
• Polymers and Soft Matter
• Membranes
• +4 more

Gibum Kwon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas, joining in 2016. He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2014 and was a Postdoctoral Associate at MIT from 2014 to 2016. Biography : Focuses on materials innovation for sustainability, energy, and separation processes. Education : Ph.D. from University of Michigan, postdoc at MIT. Research Interests : His work spans polymers and soft matter, surface science, materials chemistry, and separation processes. Key projects include superomniphobic surfaces, photoresponsive membranes, and PFAS remediation technologies. Publication Trends : His recent articles emphasize materials for environmental remediation (PFAS, oil-water separation), energy applications (fuel cells, water splitting), and stimuli-responsive surface engineering (light/electric field modulation). Scientific Awards : National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Award (2020) Mentoring & Grants : He mentors graduate students and participates in the NSF RET ECOWaTER program. His research is funded by NSF, NASA, and the Department of Interior.

Nasrin AlamdariView profile

Assistant Professor

• Urban hydrology
• Stormwater management
• Hydrologic modeling
• +7 more

Nasrin Alamdari serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, a joint institution operated by Florida A&M University and Florida State University. Her research addresses critical urban water challenges through advanced hydrological modeling and sustainable infrastructure solutions. Dr. Alamdari's academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech (2018) M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Sharif University of Technology (2011) B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from University of Tabriz (2009) Her research portfolio spans urban hydrology, stormwater management, and sustainable water systems with emphasis on climate resilience. Key focus areas include hydrologic/hydraulic modeling of urban watersheds, surface-groundwater interactions, smart city applications for water management, and biogeochemical impacts of nonstationary stressors like climate and land use change. This work directly addresses 21st-century challenges in water security and urban sustainability through integrated technical approaches. Analysis of her recent publications (2023-2025) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) Advanced modeling of climate change impacts on urban watersheds using AI and remote sensing, (2) Microplastics and contaminant transport in stormwater systems, and (3) Environmental justice applications in green infrastructure planning. Her work increasingly incorporates machine learning for predicting harmful algal blooms and hurricane impacts while developing open-source tools for equitable stormwater management. Information regarding graduate student mentorship, research grants, laboratory facilities, or scientific awards was not specified in the provided materials.

Sung Kyu MaengView profile

Professor

• Natural Water Treatment Systems
• Managed Aquifer Recharge
• Bank Filtration
• +7 more

Sung Kyu Maeng is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Sejong University's College of Engineering, leading the Natural Water Treatment Laboratory. His research focuses on advanced water treatment systems and environmental sustainability. Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Delft University of Technology (2010) M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (1997) B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1995) Professor Maeng's research centers on natural treatment systems including managed aquifer recharge, bank filtration, and artificial recharge for drinking water. He investigates biostability of drinking water in distribution systems and the fate of trace organic contaminants and pharmaceuticals during treatment processes. His work integrates advanced oxidation, membrane technologies, and biological processes to address emerging contaminants and ensure water safety. His publication record shows consistent output with 111 research items including 103 articles, demonstrating expertise in water quality characterization, organic matter analysis, and contaminant removal. Recent work emphasizes antibiotic removal, microplastic impacts, and advanced monitoring techniques for drinking water systems. Professor Maeng actively collaborates with environmental companies and national research institutes on national water security challenges. He leads the Natural Water Treatment Laboratory (Chung 720), conducting research on riverbank filtration technology and natural water treatment systems. His professional service includes membership in the International Water Association, Korean Society of Environmental Engineers, and Korean Society of Water and Wastewater. He has supervised numerous research projects translating laboratory findings to practical water treatment applications.

• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Wastewater Treatment
• +3 more

Md Johir is a Lecturer at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Technology Sydney. He holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering (2015) and a Master of Engineering (2009) from the same institution, along with a BSc in Civil Engineering from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh (2005). His work focuses on environmental engineering and chemical engineering , particularly in wastewater treatment, microalgae applications, membrane technology, and sustainable resource recovery. Key research themes include Optimizing anaerobic membrane bioreactors for organic wastewater treatment and GHG reduction Investigating microalgae-derived biolubricants for renewable energy applications Advancing microplastics analysis in industrial laundries Developing hydrogel-based atmospheric water harvesting systems for arid regions Exploring metal recovery from e-waste via hybrid extraction processes His recent publications emphasize trends in sustainable water treatment , carbon capture , and nanomaterials for environmental applications . Collaborations span institutions like Sydney Water Corporation and JHC Infrastructure Pty Ltd. While no specific scientific awards are listed, his funded research includes grants from the NSW Small Business Innovation & Research program and industry partnerships. His academic contributions are integrated with practical projects such as stormwater management innovations and micropollutant removal systems. He has been involved in technology transfer for sludge conditioning and solar-powered water treatment pilots.

Kefeng ZhangView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Green technologies for urban stormwater management
• Stormwater quality monitoring and risk assessment
• Water recycling
• +5 more

Dr. Kefeng Zhang is a Senior Lecturer at the Water Research Centre , UNSW Sydney, specializing in nature-based solutions (NBS) for urban water treatment. His work focuses on stormwater management , greywater recycling , and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) to address pollution and climate resilience. He serves as Associate Editor for Water Research and Managing Editor for Blue-Green Systems . PhD (2015, Monash University) Master of Science in Engineering (2011, Southeast University) Bachelor of Science in Engineering (2008, Southeast University) His research integrates bioretention systems , green walls , and real-time control technologies to enhance water quality and mitigate urban flood risks. Key subfields include pollutant removal mechanisms , emerging contaminants , and interdisciplinary urban water planning . Recent publications analyze microplastics transport in green infrastructure, machine learning for water treatment , and climate-resilient stormwater frameworks , reflecting his focus on environmental engineering and hydrological modeling . Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Eric Laurenson Medal for urban water research Outstanding reviewing contributions to Water Research and Science of The Total Environment Postgraduate Publication Award (Monash University) Dr. Zhang supervises PhD and MPhil students in projects like Nitrogen removal in biofiltration and Green wall technology for microplastics removal . His grants include ARC Discovery Projects and Qatar National Research Fund collaborations.