Find Academic Supervisors

• Ecosystem Ecology
• Soil Science
• Environmental Restoration
• +4 more

M. Derek MacKenzie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta, specializing in Ecosystem Ecology. His research focuses on soil organic matter dynamics, disturbance impacts, and land reclamation in boreal ecosystems, particularly addressing challenges in the Athabasca Oil Sands region. He emphasizes pyrogenic carbon's role in soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem resilience. Teaching includes REN R 210 (Soil Science fundamentals) and REN R 305 (Land Reclamation Techniques), emphasizing practical applications of soil classification, nutrient cycling, and vegetation restoration. His work bridges ecological theory and applied solutions for industrial reclamation, climate change impacts, and sustainable land management. Key research themes include: 1) Soil stability and nutrient bioavailability, 2) Fire-driven pyrogenic carbon effects, 3) Anthropogenic disturbance responses, and 4) Spatial ecology of reclaimed ecosystems. Recent studies explore biochar applications, microbial community dynamics, and fungal-soil interactions under climate change.

• Chemical Engineering
• Energy Materials
• Catalytic Processes
• +3 more

Pavleta Knutsson is an Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental and Inorganic Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology. Her research focuses on developing active bed materials and oxygen carriers to optimize combustion and gasification processes in industrial systems. She explores the use of synthesized materials, natural minerals, and industrial byproducts to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Her work emphasizes ash-bed interactions, catalytic material activation, and waste valorization, particularly in fluidized bed reactors. Key applications include biomass utilization, chemical-looping combustion, and recycling of materials from lithium-ion batteries and end-of-life tires. She has contributed to projects like the GoBiGas demonstration plant and collaborates on material characterization and reactor design for sustainable energy systems. Recent studies highlight advancements in oxygen carrier performance, corrosion resistance in superheater materials, and activation pathways for recovered carbon black. Her publications span over two decades, addressing challenges in fluidized bed dynamics, sulfur capture, and ash management in industrial boilers. Dr. Knutsson’s research bridges fundamental material science with applied energy technologies, aiming to advance renewable energy systems and circular economy principles through innovative material utilization.

Pavel KotsView profile

Assistant Professor

• Heterogeneous Catalysis
• Circular Economy
• Decarbonization
• +3 more

Pavel Kots is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. His research focuses on catalytic processes for plastic waste upcycling, with a mission to transition to a circular economy. He leads the Laboratory for Sustainable Catalytic Processes (LSCP), which designs catalysts and reactors to convert waste plastics into valuable chemicals, fuels, and lubricants. Education: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2018); M.S. in Chemistry (Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2014). Prior to NYU, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Delaware (2019–2023) and a Process Development Engineer at Evonik (2023–2024). Research interests include heterogeneous catalysis, decarbonization, process intensification, and reactor design. His lab bridges fundamental catalysis with industrial scale-up, emphasizing energy-efficient, low-temperature processes for contaminated plastic streams. Key innovations involve earth-abundant catalysts and microwave-assisted pyrolysis for selective conversion. Grants and collaborations focus on industry partnerships to advance plastic recycling technologies. The lab's broader impact includes advancing sustainable manufacturing and reducing environmental plastic pollution.

Luke NealView profile

Academic

• Chemical Engineering
• Catalysis
• Energy Sustainability
• +4 more

Luke Neal is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University, part of the College of Engineering. His research focuses on sustainable chemical processes, catalysis, and low-carbon energy systems. He specializes in redox-based catalytic systems for hydrocarbon conversion, CO2 utilization, and thermal energy storage. Neal's work emphasizes process intensification and modular reactor design for industrial applications. Neal holds a strong background in heterogeneous catalysis, fluidization engineering, and materials science. His recent studies include developing oxide-molten salt composites for high-temperature applications and microwave-assisted catalytic processes for clean hydrogen production. He has contributed to techno-economic analyses of chemical looping processes and CO2 conversion pathways. Key research areas include: Redox catalysis for oxidative dehydrogenation CO2-splitting and methane reforming Thermal energy storage systems Modular chemical production systems Process simulations and kinetic modeling

• Biomass Conversion
• Hydrothermal Processing
• Process Intensification
• +4 more

Quang Khanh Tran is a Professor in the Department of Energy and Process Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specializing in biomass conversion and thermal processing. His research focuses on hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, and catalytic processes for sustainable energy production. He leads projects such as nCO2pp, BioSynGas, and Fast-HTL, addressing biofuel development and waste valorization. Key research interests include biomass combustion, process intensification, and environmental catalysis. Recent publications highlight advancements in molecular dynamics modeling of biomass reactions, phosphorus recovery from sludge, and synergistic waste-to-energy strategies. Tran collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, integrating computational tools like Aspen Plus with experimental methods. His work emphasizes sustainable biomass utilization and circular economy principles.

Jorge Paz-FerreiroView profile

Associate Professor

• Waste Management
• Biochar
• Soil Remediation
• +7 more

Associate Professor Jorge Paz-Ferreiro is affiliated with the School of Engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. His research focuses on waste management, particularly the recycling of organic materials into biochar for environmental remediation, carbon sequestration, and soil quality enhancement. He holds a patent (ES-2 372 951) for a method involving carbonaceous material agglomeration with sunflower oil. He is an editorial board member of Soil and Tillage Research and a member of professional societies including the Soil Science Society of America and the European Geosciences Union. His research interests span environmental engineering, chemical engineering, and soil sciences, with a focus on pollutants' impact on soil biology and innovative waste-to-resource technologies. He supervises PhD and master's students in areas such as biochar production, mine rehabilitation, and pollutant remediation. Recent publications address heavy metal immobilization, biochar characterization, and hydrometallurgical recovery processes. Key contributions include studies on pyrolysis optimization for biosolids conversion, hydrochar applications for PFAS removal, and multifunctional materials for environmental cleanup. His work integrates laboratory experiments with field trials to assess long-term soil and environmental impacts.

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• +5 more

Professor Srinivasan Madapusi is an Honorary Professor in the School of Engineering at RMIT University. His research focuses on advanced materials, chemical engineering, and sustainable technologies, with a particular emphasis on biomass conversion, nanocomposite synthesis, and energy storage solutions. He holds a prominent role in supervising research projects related to bio-oil production, magnetic carbon nanocomposites, and polyimide membranes for gas separations. Madapusi's work spans interdisciplinary areas including renewable energy, environmental engineering, and nanotechnology. Notable projects include the development of biomimetic hydrogels for tissue engineering, catalytic conversion of agricultural waste, and the optimization of biochar production from rice straw. His research also explores the application of advanced materials in lithium-ion capacitors and supercapacitors. He has supervised multiple research-based degree projects, such as the fabrication of magnetic carbon nanocomposites from rice husk and the thermodynamics of crystallization processes. His expertise includes hydrothermal carbonization, solvothermal synthesis, and the design of sustainable materials from waste biomass. Madapusi's publications highlight contributions to energy storage materials, nanocomposite characterization, and waste-to-value technologies. His work bridges fundamental research and industrial applications, with a focus on addressing global challenges in sustainability and energy efficiency.

Richi NayakView profile

Professor

• Text Mining
• Data Mining
• Machine Learning
• +2 more

Professor Richi Nayak is an internationally recognized expert in data mining, text mining and web intelligence at Queensland University of Technology's School of Computer Science. As the Applied Data Science Program Leader of the Centre for Data Science, she develops novel methods for text classification, clustering, and information extraction using deep learning, matrix factorization, and ranking-centered approaches. Her research spans three main streams: Text Mining for data organization and understanding, applications of data mining in solving real-world problems across domains including education, healthcare and transportation, and algorithms for automation and personalization. She has successfully commercialized technologies including marketing strategy automation and bias detection systems deployed by Fortune 500 companies. Professor Nayak's recent publications focus on practical applications of machine learning including traffic crash analysis, multimodal learning, biomass modeling, and offensive text detection. Her work consistently addresses real-world problems through innovative machine learning approaches.

Gian Luca ChiarelloView profile

Assistant Professor

• Heterogeneous Catalysis
• Photocatalysis
• Material Science
• +3 more

Prof. Gian Luca Chiarello is an Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry and Heterogeneous Catalysis at the Department of Chemistry, University of Milan. He completed his PhD in Industrial Chemistry at the University of Milan in 2007, with a thesis on metal oxides and catalytic applications. His postdoctoral research included stints at ETH Zürich, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, and EMPA-Dübendorf, focusing on photocatalysis, operando XAS, and spectroscopic cell design. His research interests center on catalyst development (e.g., via flame spray pyrolysis), characterization (including in-situ XAS, XANES/EXAFS), and applications in energy and environmental sectors, such as photocatalytic hydrogen production and sustainable aquaculture systems. He leads the UNIMI Photocatalysis Group and has authored over 50 papers, 2 patents, and received the ENI Award 2008 for his PhD work. Education: BSc in Industrial Chemistry, University of Milan (2004) PhD in Industrial Chemistry, University of Milan (2007) Research Interests: Heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalytic hydrogen production, material synthesis (e.g., TiO₂ nanotubes), environmental applications, and renewable energy systems. Current projects include photoelectrocatalytic water remediation for sustainable fish farming and advanced catalyst design. Publications & Awards: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 28), patents, and book chapters. Awarded the ENI Award 2008 for his groundbreaking PhD research on flame-made metal oxides. Labs/Teams: Head of the UNIMI Photocatalysis Group, collaborating on projects involving synchrotron facilities (HASYLAB, ANKA, SLS, ESRF) and developing novel photocatalytic reactors.

• Chemical Reactor Modelling
• Supercritical Fluids Processing
• Sustainable Waste Treatment
• +3 more

Dr. Iain Kings is an Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. His academic roles include teaching chemical process design, computational modeling, energy systems analysis, and laboratory skills. He emphasizes technology-enhanced learning, particularly post-pandemic laboratory innovations. He holds a PhD (2013) and MEng (2008) in Chemical Engineering. Research focuses on chemical reactor modeling, supercritical fluids for sustainable waste treatment, and catalytic processes. He collaborates on hydrodeoxygenation studies and SCWO (Supercritical Water Oxidation) for hazardous waste management. His work bridges environmental sustainability and process optimization. Publications span AI in education (e.g., ChatGPT integration in teaching) and catalytic reaction analysis, reflecting a dual emphasis on pedagogy and applied chemical engineering. No scientific awards are listed. Advising and grants details are not provided. His contributions include conference presentations and a peer-reviewed book chapter on SCWO advancements.

Tala El SamadView profile

Lecturer

• Turbomachinery Design
• Energy Efficiency
• Supercritical CO₂ Power Systems
• +4 more

Dr. Tala El Samad MBE is a Lecturer in Thermo-Fluids for Energy Systems at City St George's, University of London, and Programme Director for the Energy and Environmental Technology and Economics (EETE) MSc. She is affiliated with the Turbomachinery and Energy Systems Research Group, focusing on energy efficiency, turbomachinery design for non-ideal fluids, and waste heat recovery systems. Her work spans supercritical CO₂ power cycles, organic Rankine systems, and heat pumps. Dr. El Samad holds a PhD in Energy from Cranfield University (2020), an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Khalifa University (2016), and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Balamand (2014). She has held academic and research roles at City, University of London since 2020, including post-doctoral and lecturing positions. Her research integrates experimental studies, numerical simulations, and social-impact projects, particularly in bioenergy and waste valorization. She leads EU-funded and UKRI projects on energy systems, with a focus on sustainable technologies. Teaching modules include Renewable Energy and Sustainability, and Thermodynamics. Awards include the MBE for services to education and energy innovation. Dr. El Samad’s expertise spans turbomachinery design, thermal systems optimization, and energy policy. She collaborates on projects such as the NextORC facility and investigates multifuel applications in turboshaft engines. Her work on glycerol gasification and biodiesel production emphasizes circular economy principles. She is fluent in Arabic, English, and Spanish (Latin American).

Jaroslaw KrzywanskiView profile

Professor

• CFD Modeling
• Fluidization
• Fuzzy Logic
• +11 more

Prof. Jaroslaw Krzywanski serves as a Professor in the Department of Advanced Computational Methods at Jan Dlugosz University of Czestochowa, Poland. His academic profile centers on advanced computational modeling for energy systems and environmental engineering, with extensive publications in high-impact thermal and energy journals. His research spans CFD Modeling, Fluidization, Fuzzy Logic, and Artificial Intelligence applications in combustion, emissions control, and thermal processes. Key focus areas include Chemical Looping Combustion, Adsorption Cooling Systems, and NOx/SO2 Emission Reduction , leveraging computational methods to optimize energy conversion and pollution mitigation. Recent work integrates Deep Learning and AutoML frameworks with traditional engineering models for predictive analysis in fluidized reactors and desalination systems. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals a dominant trend toward hybrid computational approaches —coupling CFD-DEM simulations with AI techniques to address heat transfer challenges in adsorption reactors, plastic waste co-incineration, and vacuum distillation. Over 70% of recent work emphasizes sustainable energy solutions through waste-to-energy conversion and cleaner combustion technologies, demonstrating consistent focus on ecological system design.

• Biomass Processing
• Hydrothermal Liquefaction
• Bioenergy Conversion
• +3 more

Professor Quang Khanh Tran is affiliated with the Department of Energy and Process Engineering at NTNU. His research focuses on biomass conversion technologies, including hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification, with an emphasis on renewable energy and sustainable waste valorization. He holds a professorship and has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed publications since 2014. Key research interests include the thermal and chemical processing of lignocellulosic materials, catalytic mechanisms in bioenergy systems, and the integration of biomass conversion with carbon capture. His work often employs molecular dynamics simulations and kinetic modeling to advance understanding of reaction pathways and process optimization. Tran collaborates extensively with international researchers and has published in journals such as Applied Energy , Fuel , and Bioresource Technology . His studies address challenges in biofuel production, nutrient recovery from waste, and the development of efficient biorefinery processes.

• Catalysis
• Renewable Energy
• Chemical Engineering
• +4 more

Jinxing Gu is a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at Monash University. His research focuses on catalysis, sustainable materials, and chemical engineering processes, with a particular emphasis on waste valorization, biofuel production, and computational modeling of materials. Gu's work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy, and responsible consumption and production. Key areas of investigation include development of novel catalysts from industrial byproducts (e.g., fly ash), phase-change mechanisms in palladium-based catalysts, and atomistic simulations for material characterization. He has published extensively on topics like methane reforming, furfural production from lignocellulosic waste, and design of efficient electrocatalysts. Collaborations span international institutions, reflecting his work's global impact. His research outputs combine experimental catalysis with computational approaches, demonstrating interdisciplinary expertise in addressing energy and environmental challenges.

Alessandro GomezView profile

Professor

• Combustion
• Aerosol Mechanics
• Electrospray Technology
• +4 more

Alessandro Gomez is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Yale University and Director of the Yale Center for Combustion Studies. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (1986) and has been at Yale since 1985, contributing to research and teaching in combustion, fluid mechanics, and energy systems. His research focuses on soot formation in high-pressure flames, electrospray applications, and turbulence-chemistry interactions in combustion systems. Key funding sources include the NSF, Army Research Office, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Education: Ph.D., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University (1986) M.A., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University (1982) Laurea in Ingegneria Aeronautica, University of Naples, Italy (1980) Research Interests: Combustion phenomena (soot dynamics, high-pressure flames), electrospray technology (nanoparticle synthesis, drug delivery), turbulence-chemistry interactions, and energy systems (clean cookstoves, renewable energy). Awards: Fellow of the Combustion Institute (2019) Whitby Award (1996) NSF Young Investigator Award (1992) Advisees: Supervised 15 Ph.D. students and 6 postdoctoral researchers. Active mentorship recognized by Yale Engineering's annual best doctoral student awards. Labs/Teams: Leads the Gomez Lab and directs the Yale Center for Combustion Studies, collaborating with researchers in fluid mechanics, aerosol science, and nanotechnology.