Neha Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Auburn University. Her research focuses on nutrient recovery, electrochemical resource recovery, water reuse, trace metal cycling, and pollutant fate and removal.
Professor Jianhua Guo is a faculty member at The University of Queensland (UQ), holding the position of Professor and UQ Amplify Fellow in the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB). He is also the ACWEB Deputy Director - Research. His research focuses on integrating process engineering, environmental microbiology, and biotechnology to develop sustainable solutions for contaminant removal in water and wastewater systems. He is a pioneer in studying the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly how non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals and chemicals contribute to AMR spread. His groundbreaking work has been featured in over 100 media outlets and has secured over $14M in research funding. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature Microbiology , Water Research , and Environmental Science & Technology . His accolades include the 2013 DECRA and 2017 ARC Future Fellowship. He serves as an editor for Journal of Hazardous Materials and Water Science & Technology . Research Interests Environmental AMR and microbial ecology Methane-based biotechnology and bioconversion Nitrogen cycling microorganisms Bioremediation and biofilm reactors Microplastics and health risks Wastewater treatment innovations Grants & Funding $14M+ in ARC Discovery/Linkage grants and industry partnerships ARC Training Centre for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions to Antimicrobial Resistance (CEA-StAR) Dual-membrane upgrading and anaerobic alkane oxidation projects Awards 2013 DECRA 2017 ARC Future Fellowship Supervision Prof. Guo actively supervises PhD and master’s students in areas like AMR mitigation, methane-based bioreactors, and microbial ecology. Notable supervised projects include studies on antibiotic resistance in wastewater, novel disinfection processes, and microbial oxidation of gaseous alkanes. Labs & Teams He leads research teams within ACWEB and collaborates with the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Science. His lab focuses on cutting-edge technologies like membrane biofilm reactors and gas fermentation systems.
Dr Santiago Romero-Vargas Castrillon is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment and the School of Engineering. He previously held positions at the University of Minnesota and Yale University. His research focuses on membrane technology, environmental nanomaterials, and biofouling mitigation. Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering (Princeton University), postdoctoral research at Yale, and degrees from McGill University and University of Western Ontario. Research interests include colloid science, membrane separations, and 2D nanomaterial applications. Key projects involve developing novel cleaning processes for water treatment membranes and studying bioadhesion mechanisms using AFM. Recent awards include RSE Young Academy membership and EPSRC funding. He actively supervises PhD students and collaborates with industry partners like Panton-McLeod.
Gary Rochelle is the Carol and Henry Groppe Professor in Chemical Engineering and a faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin . His research focuses on developing fundamental insights into kinetic and mass transfer phenomena in aqueous technologies for air pollution control and acid gas treating, particularly for carbon dioxide and mercury removal. Education: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley (1977), M.S./B.S. from MIT (1971) His work addresses critical challenges in CO2 capture using amine scrubbing, including process design optimization, solvent degradation mitigation, and pilot plant validation. Recent studies emphasize energy efficiency, oxidation inhibition, and environmental impacts such as amine aerosol emissions. The Texas Carbon Management Program , which he contributes to, aims to improve amine scrubbing technologies for retrofitting power plants and enabling geological sequestration or enhanced oil recovery. His group has validated concentrated aqueous piperazine (PZ) with an advanced flash stripper as the most efficient open-literature system.
Jaehong Kim is the Henry P. Becton Sr. Professor of Engineering at Yale University, where he serves as Professor and Chair of Chemical and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Prior to joining Yale in 2013, he held the Georgia Power Distinguished Professor position at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research bridges environmental science, chemical engineering, and nanotechnology, focusing on photocatalytic materials, water quality engineering, and sustainable solutions for global health contexts. Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2002) M.S., Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University (1997) B.S., Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University (1995) Kim’s work addresses water treatment through advanced oxidation processes , electrochemical systems , and single-atom catalysts , with applications in nitrate removal, fluoride transport, and solar disinfection. His research emphasizes nanotechnology for environmental remediation and public health engineering in developing regions. Recent publications highlight electrified membranes for nitrate conversion, photothermal water disinfection , and single-atom catalysts for pollutant degradation. His team explores atomic-scale engineering and green chemistry approaches to enhance reaction efficiency and material durability. Georgia Power Distinguished Professor Yale Superfund Research Center investigator Kim leads interdisciplinary efforts in environmental health through collaborations with Yale School of Public Health and the School of the Environment. His lab develops monolithic catalytic membranes and nanobiochars for sustainable water treatment, balancing technical innovation with global accessibility.
Hugo de Boer is a Professor at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development , Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University. He serves as scientific lead for the Delta Climate Center in Vlissingen and coordinates MSc programs in Water Science and Management and Water Management for Climate Adaptation . His research explores climate-ecosystem interactions, focusing on plant ecophysiology, ecosystem dynamics, and nature-inclusive climate adaptation in deltas. Research Themes: Future Deltas, Pathways to Sustainability, Integrative Bioinformatics Projects: LEMONTREE, CloudRoots, 'From losers to winners' (ancient plant lineages under elevated CO2) Teaching Expertise: System thinking for sustainability, quantitative statistics, plant ecophysiology Research Trends emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to climate change impacts on ecosystems, with publications spanning plant-cloud processes, CO2 acclimation, and eco-evolutionary optimality models. His work bridges biogeochemistry, land-atmosphere interactions, and sustainable development frameworks. Projects & Collaborations include experimental studies on ancient plant lineages (Equisetum) and integrative field campaigns in Amazon and temperate forests. He contributes to modeling climate-vegetation feedbacks, pesticide emission scenarios, and social-ecological system transitions.
Prof. Dr. Florian Scholz is a Professor of Geology and Biogeochemistry at the University of Hamburg , affiliated with the Institute of Geology within the Department of Earth System Sciences . He joined the university in 2024, following leadership of an Emmy-Noether research group at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. His academic training includes a doctorate (summa cum laude) and habilitation from Kiel University, and a Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship at Oregon State University. Ph.D., Geomar Helmholtz-Zentrum & University of Kiel (2010) Habilitation, University of Kiel (2019) Diploma in Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology & University of Bordeaux (2007) His research lies at the intersection of marine geochemistry , biogeochemistry , and paleoceanography , with a focus on sediment-water interactions , early diagenesis , and the impact of environmental change on biogeochemical cycles . He investigates trace metal cycling (e.g., Fe, Mo, W, Ni), redox processes, and authigenic mineral formation in marine sediments, using field data, laboratory analyses, and geochemical modeling. His recent publications (2024–2025) reveal a strong trend in paleo-redox proxy development (Mo, W, Ni isotopes), trace metal flux quantification in oxygen minimum zones, carbon cycle impacts of sediment disturbance, and ocean-based carbon dioxide removal via seafloor alkalinity enhancement. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals such as Earth and Planetary Science Letters , Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta , and Communications Earth & Environment . Emmy-Noether-Gruppenleiter, GEOMAR (2016–2023) Marie Curie Fellow, Oregon State University & GEOMAR (2012–2015) Postdoctoral Researcher, SFB 574 & 754 (2010–2012) Prof. Scholz teaches courses including Marine Biogeochemistry , Environmental Geochemistry , and Field Geology at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He leads an active research group focused on marine sediment geochemistry and collaborates widely across international oceanographic projects. His work contributes significantly to understanding past and present ocean chemistry and developing strategies for climate change mitigation.
Dr. Michael J. Katz is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He leads an active research group focused on porous materials, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with applications in gas storage, chemical separation, and catalysis. His work is well-recognized in the field of materials chemistry, with numerous publications in high-impact journals spanning from 2005 to 2025. Dr. Katz's primary research interests lie in the synthesis, properties, and applications of porous materials. His work specifically focuses on: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) design and synthesis Gas storage technologies, particularly low-pressure methane storage Chemical separation processes including removal of harmful molecules from air Catalysis using porous materials Adsorption properties of various porous frameworks Environmental applications of porous materials Analysis of Dr. Katz's publication record from 2017-2025 reveals a strong emphasis on zirconium-based MOFs, particularly the UiO-66 family. His research spans fundamental characterization techniques like NMR spectroscopy to practical applications in carbon capture, gas separation, and environmental remediation. A notable trend is the increasing focus on real-world implementation of MOFs, including biochar-based materials for CO 2 capture and frameworks for air pollutant removal such as nitrous acid. His work demonstrates a progression from fundamental materials science toward practical environmental applications. Dr. Katz actively supervises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in his research group. His laboratory at Memorial University is equipped for the synthesis and characterization of novel porous materials, with particular expertise in metal-organic framework development. His research is supported by various grants that enable the exploration of structure-property relationships in porous materials and their practical applications.
Chao Wang is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering within the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He also serves as the Director of the Nano Energy Laboratory and the department’s Master’s Admissions Director. His research focuses on sustainable energy systems and nanomaterials for CO2 capture and conversion, electrocatalysis, thermocatalysis, and green chemical engineering. Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Science and Technology of China (2004) Doctorate, Brown University (2009) Wang’s research targets efficient energy conversion and storage via nanomaterials with tailored atomic structures, emphasizing catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. His group explores electrochemical and thermochemical processes for reduced carbon footprints, including CO2 and methane conversion, ammonia recovery, and phosphorus/nitrogen nutrient recycling using zeolite-based systems. Recent publications (2021–2024) highlight his work in high-entropy alloys, solid-state battery materials, CO2 electroreduction, and biomedical nanotechnologies. Collaborative efforts span catalysis, nanoparticle dynamics, and environmental applications. Grants include a $1M DOE award for multi-university research, a $625K DOE grant for electrified transportation systems, and $3M in startup funding for carbon-removal technology commercialization. Alumni under his mentorship include Ph.D. graduates like Michael J. Manto (2018) and Master’s students like Mitchell Keller (2018), with notable achievements in catalyst development for ammonia/phosphorus recovery and industry placements at Grace & Co. and GEA Engineering.
Ferhan Çeçen is a Professor at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, Bogazici University, Istanbul, where she has maintained an active research and teaching role since 1999. Her career spans over three decades of contributions to environmental engineering with particular emphasis on advanced water treatment technologies and pollutant behavior in biological systems. Her academic foundation includes: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Bogazici University (1984) M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (1993) Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (1990) Her research program centers on Water and Wastewater Treatment, Environmental Biotechnology, Adsorption Processes, and the Effects of Hazardous Substances on Biological Treatment. She has pioneered investigations into extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) dynamics, nanomaterial impacts on microbial communities, and the integration of adsorption with biological treatment for micropollutant removal. Her work bridges fundamental microbiological mechanisms with practical engineering applications for sustainable water resource management. Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on pharmaceutical biodegradation mechanisms, nanosilver toxicity in activated sludge systems, and granular activated carbon applications for emerging contaminants. Her research demonstrates sophisticated integration of experimental biodegradation studies with predictive modeling frameworks, particularly BIOWIN models, to address complex challenges in modern wastewater treatment. She has secured significant research funding through Bogazici University's Scientific Research Projects Fund (BAP) and TÜBİTAK, directing projects including "Removal of Micropollutants From Drinking Water by Granular Activated Carbon" (2019-present), "Effect of nanosilver on biological treatment systems" (2015-2016), and "Microbial products and metal inhibition in biological systems" (2012-2015), demonstrating sustained leadership in addressing critical water quality challenges.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Kumar Varoon Agrawal is an Associate Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), holding the Gaznat Chair for Advanced Separations. He is affiliated with the School of Basic Sciences (SB), the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC), and the Laboratory of Advanced Separations (LAS) in Sion, Switzerland. Additionally, he contributes to the Swiss Doctoral School in Chemical and Bioengineering (SCGC) and serves as Vice President of the Confédération des Chimistes et des Génie Chimique (CCE). Research Focus: Material Chemistry & Engineering at the Ångström scale for high-performance inorganic and hybrid membranes, emphasizing energy-efficient molecular separations. Teaching: Courses include Fundamentals of separation processes , Diffusion and mass transfer , and Chemical engineering product design . Scientific Contributions: His 15 most recent publications (2025-2020) span topics like graphene pore engineering , 2D material synthesis , carbon capture , and gas separation membranes , with keywords such as Nanotechnology , Materials Science , and Molecular Transport . Subfields include Atomic-Scale Pores , Membrane Stability , and Industrial Scalability . Students and Collaborations: He advises 10 current PhD students and has mentored 9 past PhD candidates in areas like graphene membranes , ion separation , and MOF films . He is an Academic Referent for the EPFL Carbon Team and a committee member for the EDCH Doctoral Program in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland FisheriesGermany
Dr. Stephanie Spahr is a Research Group Leader at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin, Germany, where she leads the Organic Contaminants research group within the Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry. Previously, she served as a Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Tübingen's Center for Applied Geoscience (2019-2021) and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2016-2019). Dr. Spahr earned her PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) in 2016. Her doctoral research focused on the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine during water disinfection with chloramine. She completed her MSc in Geoecology at the University of Tübingen in 2012, with thesis work on carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of benzotriazoles conducted at Eawag, and her BSc in Geoecology/Ecosystem Management at the same institution in 2010. Dr. Spahr's research focuses on trace organic contaminants in aquatic systems, with particular expertise in transformation processes of contaminants in natural and engineered systems, advanced oxidation processes for water treatment, urban blue-green infrastructure, and compound-specific isotope analysis. Her work bridges environmental chemistry, engineering, and ecology to address water quality challenges in urban and natural water systems. She employs advanced analytical techniques to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways, with a strong emphasis on practical applications for water treatment and environmental protection. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on biochar-based water treatment technologies, particularly for stormwater management. She investigates how biochar amendments can remove trace organic contaminants from urban runoff, with recent work examining persulfate activation mechanisms, the role of chloride in reactive species formation, and the performance of engineered media filters under dynamic conditions. Her research also extends to understanding contaminant transport in rivers, the ecological impacts of pollutants, and developing analytical methods for environmental monitoring. The interdisciplinary nature of her work connects chemical processes with ecological outcomes. Outstanding Review Paper Award 2023 in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Selected for the Falling Walls Female Science Talents Intensive Track 2023 Selected mentee in the Leibniz Mentoring Programme 2022-2023 Best poster award (1st prize) at the Wasser 2022 of the Water Chemistry Society Selected fellow in the Postdoc Academy for Transformational Leadership 2020-2022 (Robert Bosch Stiftung) Selected fellow in the Athene Program for early female career researchers at the University of Tübingen, 2020-2021 As a Research Group Leader, Dr. Spahr supervises multiple research projects including 'POllution in UrbaN ponds, eco-evolutionary Dynamics, and Ecosystem Resilience (POUNDER)', 'Dynamic hyporheic zone', 'NYMPHE', and the 'Incident-related special investigation programme for the environmental disaster in the Oder River'. She serves on the Executive Board of the German Water Chemistry Society and heads its Expert Committee on 'Oxidative Processes'. Her collaborative work spans numerous institutions across Germany and internationally, addressing critical water quality challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Dr. Spahr leads the Organic Contaminants research group at IGB Berlin, which focuses on understanding the fate and treatment of organic pollutants in water systems. Her team employs advanced analytical techniques including compound-specific isotope analysis to track contaminant sources and transformation pathways. The group collaborates extensively with other departments at IGB and with international partners on projects addressing urban water challenges and ecological impacts of pollution. Current research emphasizes innovative water treatment technologies, particularly biochar-based systems for stormwater management, and investigating the complex interactions between contaminants, aquatic ecosystems, and human activities.
Mark van Loosdrecht is a Full Professor in Environmental Biotechnology at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), leading the Mark van Loosdrecht Group within the Faculty of Applied Sciences. His research focuses on microbial ecology and innovative wastewater treatment technologies, including biofilm processes, nitrogen/phosphate conversion, and microbial polymer production. He is renowned for developing the Anammox and Nereda technologies, which revolutionize nutrient removal and sludge management in wastewater systems. **Awards & Recognition**: Van Loosdrecht has received prestigious awards such as the Spinoza Award (2014), Stockholm Water Prize (2018), and Lee Kuan Yew Prize (2012). He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Dutch and U.S. National Academies of Sciences. **Research Interests**: His work emphasizes sustainable water treatment, resource recovery, and microbial process engineering. Key topics include anaerobic digestion, aerobic granular sludge, and bioremediation strategies for industrial and municipal wastewater. **Publications & Impact**: Over 1,400 peer-reviewed publications and contributions to textbooks like Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and Applications . His research bridges fundamental science with practical applications, addressing global challenges in water management and environmental sustainability. **Affiliations**: He chairs the Environmental Biotechnology section at TU Delft and collaborates globally on projects like the ESDIT initiative, exploring ethics in disruptive technologies.
Samarpita Roy is an Assistant Professor at TU Delft's Faculty of Applied Sciences, leading the Environmental Biotechnology department's Samarpita Roy Group. Her research focuses on microbial ecology in engineered bioprocesses, integrating metagenomics and quantitative physiology to study microbial metabolisms and community interactions. Key projects include exploring phototrophic and polyphosphate-accumulating organisms in wastewater treatment for nutrient/resource recovery. She actively seeks industrial collaborations and is hiring PhD candidates in metagenomics/microbial ecology. Research emphasizes understanding microbial community dynamics under fluctuating conditions, developing sequencing/data analysis workflows, and applying findings to enhance bioprocess efficiency. Her work aims to advance circular bioeconomy solutions through innovative biotechnology approaches.
Ferhan Çeçen is a Professor at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, Boğaziçi University (Istanbul, Turkey). He has held academic positions since 1990, including Professor since 1999, and has conducted research in environmental engineering and biotechnology. His expertise includes water/wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, and adsorption processes. Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (1990) M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (1993) B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Boğaziçi University (1984) Research Interests: Prof. Çeçen focuses on advanced water treatment technologies, including nanosilver effects on biological systems, biodegradation of pharmaceuticals, and adsorption using activated carbon. His work emphasizes practical solutions for hazardous pollutant mitigation in biological treatment systems. Key areas include: Environmental biotechnology applications Biodegradation kinetics and modeling Activated carbon integration in wastewater systems Toxicology of nanomaterials in water treatment Recent Projects (2015–2023): He leads projects funded by Boğaziçi University BAP and TÜBİTAK, including studies on micropollutant removal via granular activated carbon, nanosilver effects on biological systems, and biodegradation of pharmaceuticals. These projects address emerging contaminants and sustainable treatment methods. Grants and Advising: His grants include BAP-funded research on micropollutant adsorption and TÜBİTAK support for microbial product inhibition studies. He has advised numerous graduate students on environmental engineering topics, though specific student names are not listed in the provided texts. Labs and Teams: His research group collaborates on experimental and computational studies, focusing on lab/pilot-scale testing of water treatment innovations. Key facilities include Boğaziçi University's environmental engineering labs and partnerships with institutions like Munich Technical University.