Daniel Noguera

Daniel Noguera is a Wisconsin Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's College of Engineering. His research integrates environmental engineering and microbiology to develop sustainable solutions for wastewater treatment and renewable energy production through microbial processes.

Education:

• PhD, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (1996)
• MS, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (1991)
• MS, University of Los Andes (1989)
• BS, University of Los Andes (1987)

Dr. Noguera's research centers on environmental biotechnology with three pillars: (1) Bioenergy production through microbial conversion of lignin and agroindustrial residues, (2) Energy-efficient biological nutrient removal in wastewater treatment focusing on enhanced phosphorus removal and low-oxygen nitrification/denitrification, and (3) Anaerobic digestion optimization for biogas quality improvement and value extraction from organic wastes. His work leverages microbial ecology, bioinformatics, and genetic engineering to manipulate microbial communities for environmental applications.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in lignin valorization using Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, metagenomic characterization of wastewater and dairy residue microbiomes, and metabolic engineering for bioproduct synthesis. The research consistently bridges fundamental microbial physiology with engineering applications, particularly in converting aromatic compounds into valuable chemicals like cis,cis-muconic acid and 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid.

Scientific Awards:

• 2020 University of Wisconsin System, Renewal of Wisconsin Distinguished Professorship
• 2015 University of Wisconsin System, Renewal of Wisconsin Distinguished Professorship
• 2010 Central States Water Environment Association, Bill Boyle Educator of the Year
• 2010 Water Environment Federation, Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Award
• 2010 University of Wisconsin System, Wisconsin Distinguished Professorship
• 2006 Wisconsin Water Association (WWA), Research Award
• 2005 Water Environment Research Foundation, Paul L. Busch Award
• 2004 American Water Works Association (AWWA) Engineering & Construction Division, Best Paper Award
• 2004 Water Environment Federation, Harrison Prescott Eddy Medal
• 2004 American Water Works Association (AWWA), Publications Award
• 2002 Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), Distinguished Service Award
• 2002 Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vilas Associate
• 1999 National Science Foundation, NSF CAREER Award
• 1997 Samuel C. Johnson Distinguished Fellowship
• 1992 James M. Montgomery and AEESP, M.S. Thesis Award

Dr. Noguera actively mentors graduate students through CIV ENGR 790 (Master's Research) and CIV ENGR 890 (Pre-Dissertator's Research), supervising theses on microbial processes for wastewater treatment and bioenergy. His research is supported by the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and has yielded significant funding including the NSF CAREER Award and multiple renewals of his Distinguished Professorship, enabling advanced work in microbial community engineering and lignin valorization.

He leads research within the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center's microbial engineering team, collaborating extensively with Timothy J. Donohue on genetic tools for Novosphingobium and Rhodobacter species. His laboratory employs integrated 'omics approaches (metagenomics, transcriptomics, RB-TnSeq) to study microbial communities in wastewater treatment systems and dairy residue fermentations.