Find Academic Supervisors

• Photocatalysis
• Nanotechnology for environmental applications
• Renewable energy applications
• +4 more

John Anthony (Tony) Byrne is Professor of Photocatalysis and Research Director in the School of Engineering at Ulster University. He leads the Clean Technology research theme within the Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre (NIBEC) and heads the Photocatalysis Research team. Byrne earned his 1st class honors degree in biology and chemistry at Ulster University, followed by a DPhil in chemistry under Dr. Brian Eggins. Appointed as a lecturer in the School of Engineering in 2005, he was rapidly promoted and made Professor in 2012. Professor Byrne's research focuses on photocatalytic nanomaterials for environmental remediation and renewable energy applications, with particular emphasis on metal oxides. His work significantly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially in clean water and sanitation. He has developed expertise in titanium dioxide-based photocatalysis, water disinfection technologies, and nanomaterial fabrication and characterization. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward practical water treatment applications, particularly in household and rural settings. The research spans photocatalytic, photoelectrocatalytic, and UVC-based disinfection methods, with increasing focus on contaminants of emerging concern and waterborne pathogens in diverse water matrices. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry Byrne serves on multiple professional committees including the RSC Northern Ireland Section Committee, the Chemical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Interest Group, and chairs the Professional Bodies Forum supporting the All Party Group on Science and Technology in the NI Assembly. He is a founding Board Member of the Northern Ireland Science Festival. His research portfolio includes numerous projects such as SAFEWATER POC, funded by Invest Northern Ireland, focusing on commercializing water treatment technologies. Professor Byrne leads the Photocatalysis Research team at Ulster within the Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre (NIBEC), where he directs the Clean Technology research theme. His laboratory work focuses on developing and testing photocatalytic nanomaterials for water treatment applications, with strong emphasis on practical implementation in real-world settings.

• Environmental Hydraulics
• Sediment Transport
• Turbulence Modelling
• +6 more

Dr. Jaan Pu is an Associate Professor at the University of Bradford, UK, affiliated with the School of BEACI within the Faculty of Engineering & Digital Technologies. He holds visiting scientist roles at Tsinghua University and Nanyang Technological University. His research focuses on numerical and experimental approaches to water engineering challenges, including sediment transport, turbulence modeling, and flood dynamics. Dr. Pu serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Environmental Science and Frontiers in Built Environment , and editorial roles in other journals. His work integrates computational tools (e.g., Delft3D, MATLAB) with experimental techniques (ADV, PIV) to study flows in rivers, coastal areas, and urban environments. Research interests include turbulence structures around bridge piers, scour reduction mechanisms, and environmental hydraulics. Teaching areas cover Water Engineering, Fluid Dynamics, and Mechanics. His publications span 73 works addressing topics from coral reef protection to sedimentation in rainwater systems. Professional activities include editorial board memberships, conference organizing, and peer review for high-impact journals.

Siul RuizView profile

Lecturer

• Soil Biomechanics
• Environmental Engineering
• Biomechanics
• +4 more

Dr. Siul Ruiz is a Lecturer at the University of Southampton, affiliated with the Bioengineering Group. His research focuses on physical processes in soils and biological systems, including solid/fluid mechanics, mass/energy transport, and imaging techniques like X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and neutron radiography. He develops mathematical models to study soil biomechanics, biofilm dynamics in plants, and the impact of fertilisers on crop nutrition. Current projects include quantifying soil biomechanics via X-ray diffraction and modeling olive tree resistance to Xylella fastidiosa. Funded by the Royal Society and BBSRC, his work bridges applied mathematics, mechanical engineering, and environmental science. Education: MSc in applied mathematics and mechanical engineering (focus on soft robotics). Research Interests: Soil-plant interactions, biofilm modeling, and biophysical constraints in ecological systems. His recent publications explore topics like phosphate removal mechanisms in soil, Xylella fastidiosa biofilm spread in olive trees, and high-throughput analysis of plant stem structures. He supervises two PhD students in Engineering and the Environment. Dr. Ruiz aims to extend biomechanical quantification techniques for broader applications, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches.

• Rhizosphere Biology
• Soil Science
• Environmental Modeling
• +7 more

Professor Tiina Roose is a leading academic in biological and environmental modeling at the University of Southampton. She holds a faculty position as Professor in the Bioengineering Group and is affiliated with interdisciplinary research groups including the Nature-Based Ocean Solutions and Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute. Her work integrates engineering principles with environmental and agricultural sciences to address challenges in soil science, plant-microbe interactions, and sustainable agriculture. Research focuses on rhizosphere dynamics, soil mechanics, and biofilm modeling. Active in collaborative projects with industry and international partners, funded by BBSRC, EPSRC, and EU Horizon programs. Develops advanced imaging techniques like synchrotron X-ray CT and microdialysis for in situ soil analysis. Her research interests emphasize agricultural sustainability, environmental adaptation, and precision agriculture technologies. Recent work includes studies on Xylella fastidiosa plant pathogens, nutrient dynamics in soil, and digital twins for fertilizer management. She has led projects such as 'Rhizosphere by Design' and 'fertilAIser', contributing to innovative solutions for food security and soil health. Key collaborations span biomaterials engineering, environmental microbiology, and computational modeling, with outputs published in journals like Plant and Soil , Soil Biology and Biochemistry , and New Phytologist .

Ling DingView profile

Associate Professor

• Biochemistry
• Chemistry
• Molecular Biology
• +7 more

Ling Ding is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, and a key member of the DTU Microbes Initiative and Center for Microbial Secondary Metabolites. Their research focuses on microbial ecology, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and antifungal compound discovery. Recent work involves genome mining in Streptomyces species, NMR spectroscopy, and studying microbial interactions such as actinobacterial and Pseudomonas fluorescens systems. Projects explore bioactive phosphorus-containing molecules, in situ detection of metabolites, and data-driven biosynthesis mechanisms. Their research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and environmental sustainability, with publications spanning microbial chemistry, drug discovery, and synthetic biology. Supervised PhD projects include omics-driven antifungal metabolite discovery and microbial interaction studies. Key publication trends include Streptomyces-derived bioactive compounds (e.g., lydicamycins, alligamycin), azoxy/polyketide metabolites, and computational approaches for fungal interaction classification. Methodologies emphasize NMR, genome mining, and deep learning models. Advising: PhD students: M. Haahr, A. Kostoglou, D. J. Otto, A. Svetlova, A. Kaltenyte Projects: Active roles in omics-driven antifungal metabolite discovery, phosphorus-containing molecule mining, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis mechanisms.

• Environmental Engineering
• Soil Science
• Climate Change Impact
• +3 more

Jorge Alberto Guzman Jaimes is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. His work focuses on environmental and agricultural engineering, with a strong emphasis on hydrological modeling, climate change impacts, and sustainable land management. Key research areas include: Climate-driven changes in soil erosion and water resources Evapotranspiration modeling and land cover dynamics Groundwater storage trends and headwater basin analysis Nitrogen transport in grassed watersheds under grazing and climate pressures Land use strategies to mitigate hydrological droughts in tropical regions Recent contributions include the DyLEMa evapotranspiration model and studies on the Washita River Experimental Watersheds. His interdisciplinary work bridges environmental science, computational methods, and agricultural practices, addressing pressing global challenges in sustainability and resource management. Publications span over 59 peer-reviewed articles, with recent highlights focusing on Brazil’s Minas Gerais groundwater trends and climate adaptation strategies in South America. He collaborates internationally on hydrological modeling frameworks and risk assessment for agroecosystems.

Wayne ParrottView profile

Research Professor

• Crop Genetic Engineering
• Genome Editing
• Molecular Marker-Assisted Breeding
• +2 more

Dr. Wayne Parrott is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences . He leads research at the Center for Applied Genetic Technologies (CAGT) and is affiliated with the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics . His work focuses on crop genetic engineering , genome editing , and insect resistance in plants. Research in the Parrott Lab emphasizes molecular marker-assisted breeding , gene discovery , and Agrobacterium optimization for plant transformation. They have developed CRISPR/Cas9 tools for crops like soybean and switchgrass, while also studying epigenetic changes during tissue culture and exploring regulatory frameworks for genetically modified organisms. Key scientific contributions include the PlantGENE initiative for advancing plant transformation and awards for his research excellence as a Distinguished Research Professor . The lab investigates transgene deployment in bioenergy crops and addresses regulatory challenges in agricultural biotechnology.

Jochen A. MüllerView profile

Researcher

• Microbial Transformations
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• +4 more

Jochen A. Müller is a Senior Scientist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ in Leipzig, Germany, within the Department of Molecular Environmental Biotechnology . His research focuses on microbial transformations of organic pollutants, particularly using molecular tools to quantify biocatalysts and analyze microbial roles in contaminated systems. He previously held academic positions at Morgan State University and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University and the University of Maryland. Education: Diploma in Microbiology (1996), University of Konstanz Ph.D. in Microbiology (2000), University of Konstanz His research interests span environmental biotechnology, microbial ecology, and genomics, with emphasis on anaerobic degradation of chlorinated ethenes, aromatic compounds, and sulfur-metabolizing microbes. His publications (2012–2023) explore antibiotic resistance gene dynamics, toluene degradation pathways, constructed wetland systems, and innovative single-cell genomics techniques like scMAR-Seq. Professional service includes editorial board membership for Applied and Environmental Microbiology and Saline Systems since 2009. He has contributed to funded projects such as Genomics of Beggiatoa alba (NSF, JGI/DOE) and participated in interdisciplinary collaborations across environmental engineering, biotechnology, and bioeconomy. For contact , he is affiliated with the UFZ in Leipzig. Detailed institutional affiliations and further information can be found in the full description below.

Daniel EvansView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Soil Formation
• Sustainable Land Systems
• Soil Erosion
• +5 more

Dr. Daniel Evans is a Senior Lecturer in Soil Formation at Cranfield University's Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His research focuses on soil- parent material interactions , threats to soil health from anthropogenic and natural perturbations , and bioengineering techniques to accelerate soil formation for urban green infrastructure . Lead researcher on soil carbon sequestration and soil erosion Course Director for the UK's first Level 7 Soil Scientist Apprenticeship and MSc in Soil Science Key roles in European Geoscience Union and British Society of Soil Science Research interests span three core areas: (1) soil-parent material dynamics including OC exchange and stabilization; (2) threats to soil parent material from erosion and pollution; and (3) urban soil engineering through plant-based bioengineering. His work addresses climate change mitigation , sustainable agriculture , and global land management challenges. Recent publications emphasize deep soil carbon storage in weathered bedrock, erosion feedback systems , and Maya-inspired urban planning . Articles show a growing focus on UAV-RADAR applications for soil monitoring and interdisciplinary approaches to soil sustainability. Scientific awards include 2024 Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Early Career Science (EGU) 2019 British Society of Soil Science 'Outstanding Contribution to Soil Science' prize Advising includes PhD students Paul Chaibva and Hamza Othman. Grants span BBSRC , NERC , STFC , and GCRF projects. He also leads science communication initiatives through TEDx, Glastonbury Festival lectures, and media appearances.

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Soil Mechanics
• Foundation Engineering
• +6 more

Professor David Airey is a faculty member in the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Sydney. He earned a BA, MSc, and PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on improving understanding of soil and rock behavior to enhance infrastructure safety and sustainability. Key areas include geotechnical engineering, soil mechanics, offshore structures, and ground improvement methods. He has served as Acting Head of School (2016) and is involved in editorial roles for journals like the Geotechnical Testing Journal . Research Interests: His work addresses risks in construction excavation, ground improvement, and offshore platform foundations. He develops models to predict soil behavior and mitigate hazards like soil liquefaction. Recent studies include transparent soil observations for fines migration and cyclic mobility in sands. Publications Trends: Over 200+ peer-reviewed articles (2025-2021) span topics like constitutive models for cemented materials, bio-cemented sands, and submarine landslide hazards. Recent work emphasizes unsaturated soil dynamics and self-healing clay mechanisms. Students: Supervises PhD/Master’s research on soil stabilization, microplastic contamination, and foundation engineering challenges. Current advisees include Hamed Faizi and Yifei Gao. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Net Zero Institute, SciGEM, and Centre for Wind, Waves and Water. Engages in collaborative projects on carbon sequestration and geomechanical modeling.

Bernadette McCabeView profile

Professor

• Biogas Technology
• Agricultural Waste Management
• Environmental Engineering
• +3 more

Professor Bernadette McCabe is Director of the Centre for Agricultural Engineering (CAE) at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and Research Program Team Leader for Energy and Bioresource Recycling. She leads Australia’s National Team for IEA Bioenergy Task 37 (Energy from Biogas) and is a member of the ARC College of Experts. With over 25 years in academic and industry research, her work focuses on converting agricultural and food-industry waste into valuable resources like biogas, recycled water, and biofertilizers. She collaborates with industries to enhance profitability through sustainable waste management, addressing livestock, cropping, and water utility sectors. Education : BSc(Hons) in Agriculture, University of Sydney (1992) PhD in Agricultural Bioengineering, University of Western Sydney (1999) Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and Learning, USQ (2007) Research Interests : Biogas production from agro-industrial waste Anaerobic digestion optimization Greenhouse gas mitigation strategies Biosolids and digestate management Circular economy applications in agriculture Grants & Projects : Recycling and Renewable Energy Commercialisation Hub (2023) Nutrients in a Circular Economy (NiCE) ARC Hub (2022) Wastes to Profits: Regional Agri-Food Waste Valorisation (2021) Pilot-scale digestate-derived bioproducts (2020) Awards : Advance Queensland Mid-Career Research Fellowship (2017) ALTC Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2011) Labs/Teams : Leadership in CAE’s Energy and Bioresource Recycling program Collaborations with IEA Bioenergy, CSIRO, and industry partners

• Molecular Genetics
• Plant Breeding
• Biotechnology
• +7 more

Fredy Altpeter is a Professor of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) within the Agronomy department. With over two decades of service at UF since joining as faculty in December 2001, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2008 and to Full Professor in 2012. His appointment consists of 80% research dedicated to crop improvement and 20% teaching responsibilities. Dr. Altpeter's educational background includes a Dipl. Ing. Agr. degree (MS equivalent) in Crop Science from the University of Hohenheim in Germany (1990) and a PhD equivalent (Dr. sc. agr.) in Plant Breeding & Biotechnology from the same institution (1994). Prior to his faculty position, he completed postdoctoral research at UF (1994-1997) and served as Group Leader of a crop biotechnology team at the Plant Genome Resource Center of the IPK Gatersleben, Germany (1997-2001). His research integrates translational genomics, molecular physiology, and metabolic engineering for crop improvement, with a focus on precision genome editing, synthetic biology, and molecular dissection of regulatory networks. He specializes in transforming grasses and sugarcane using gene editing to enhance production of value-added products, particularly for biofuel applications. His work has pioneered targeted genome editing in sugarcane, including both targeted co-mutagenesis of more than 100 genes and precision nucleotide substitutions. Dr. Altpeter's publications reveal a strong focus on developing oil-producing sugarcane varieties, improving photosynthesis efficiency, and enhancing stress tolerance in bioenergy crops. His research has led to significant advancements in converting sugarcane into an oil-producing crop, a milestone that helped establish the Bioenergy Science Center funded with $115M by DOE. 2020 SIVB Distinguished Scientist Award University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship (2013, 2018) SIVB Fellow (2018) University of Florida-IFAS High Impact Publication award (2014) Dr. Altpeter has mentored more than 18 graduate students and supervised 25 postdoctoral research associates while at UF, in addition to training numerous undergraduates and visiting scientists. His students have won more than 40 awards, including several from SIVB. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles in high-impact journals including Nature Biotechnology, Plant Cell, and Plant Biotechnology Journal, as well as 13 book chapters. He has been awarded two patents and filed four more in crop biotechnology. His laboratory focuses on re-designing photosynthesis, plant architecture, and stress response pathways to enhance productivity of commercially important grasses, while developing metabolic engineering approaches for high biomass crops like sugarcane or energycane to drive the emerging bioeconomy through next-generation biofuels and chemicals.

Gerald PresleyView profile

Associate Professor

• Wood Durability
• Preservative Treatments
• Environmental Impacts of Treated Wood
• +7 more

Gerald Presley is an Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Wood Science & Engineering at Oregon State University's College of Forestry. His research focuses on wood durability, preservative treatments, alternative wood modification techniques, and biomass conversion into fuels and materials. He also explores applied mycology and mycoremediation for environmental sustainability. Education: Ph.D. from University of Minnesota (2018), B.S. from Eastern Illinois University (2011) His work addresses critical environmental impacts of treated wood systems while developing innovative solutions for resource optimization. Recent studies examine copper migration in garden boxes, Douglas fir bark utilization, and fungal interactions with wood. As a graduate major advisor, he mentors students including Javier Illescas Guevara, Shane Johnson, Leon Rogers, Ray Van Court, and Cody Wainscott. He contributes to outreach through Oregon State University Extension Service and collaborates on projects like the Utility Pole Research Cooperative.

• Water Modelling
• Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modelling
• Irrigation Modelling
• +5 more

Dr. Sydur Rahman is a Lecturer and Researcher in Engineering at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University. He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from SCU, a Master of Water Resources Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and a Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering (First Class Honours). His expertise spans water resources engineering, hydrology, and sustainable water management. Dr. Rahman's research focuses on water modeling, irrigation systems, wastewater management, and groundwater sustainability. He has led projects addressing integrated water resources management, crop water productivity under climate change, and contaminated land remediation. Notably, he is currently involved in an industry-funded project to develop techniques for removing chlorocresol from tannery waste. He has extensive teaching experience, instructing courses such as Hydraulic Engineering Fundamentals, Hydrogeology, and Engineering for Resilient Catchments. His work integrates holistic approaches, including geochemical and ecological tools, to assess environmental risks and refine water management practices. Dr. Rahman has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from arsenic sorption in soils to crop water modeling. His contributions aim to enhance water use efficiency and sustainable resource management across field, farm, and regional scales.

Jagroop PandhalView profile

Professor

• Microbial Systems Engineering
• Metabolic Engineering
• Quantitative Proteomics
• +3 more

Professor Jagroop Pandhal is affiliated with the University of Sheffield , serving as a Professor of Microbial Systems Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering . He also holds the role of Engineering Graduate School Deputy Head of Admissions. Research interests include: Metabolic Engineering of Microbial Systems Quantitative Proteomics (metaproteomics, glycosylation) Synthetic Microbial Communities Algae Biotechnology Bioremediation and Resource Recovery His work integrates engineering and biological principles to address global challenges in biomanufacturing and environmental sustainability . Recent articles focus on carbon capture, pollutant biodegradation, and algal-bacterial consortia applications. Scientific awards : NERC Independent Fellowship He supervises an international team of PhD students and postdocs, emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration. Contact details include email j.pandhal@sheffield.ac.uk and Room D61, Sir Robert Hadfield Building.