Diana Vanegas

Dr. Diana Vanegas

Dr. Diana Vanegas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University, affiliated with the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS). Her research focuses on engineering solutions for low-resource and marginalized communities, particularly in environmental monitoring and sustainable food systems. She holds a PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from the University of Florida (2015) and a B.S. in Food Engineering from Universidad del Valle (2010).

Research Interests

• Development of low-cost nanosensors for environmental contaminants (e.g., mercury, glyphosate)
• Hydroponic systems for food sovereignty in space-constrained or contaminated areas
• Transdisciplinary approaches integrating technology, policy, and community engagement

Awards

• 2024 Faculty Fellows, Graduate Center for Transformational Mentorship
• 2023 Norsaadah Husain International Graduate Student Support Award
• 2021 AEESP Spotlight Article Honoree
• Colciencias Doctoral Fellowship (2012-2025)

Grants & Projects

Key grants include:

• NSF Partnership for International Research & Education (PIRE) on climate-resilient food production ($1.5M, Co-PI)
• NIH-funded automated diagnostic platform for SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in vulnerable areas ($583K, PI)
• Participatory assessments of pollution in Colombian mining communities (IHE-Delft Global Partnership)

Teaching

Teaches courses in Biosystems Engineering Thermodynamics, Sustainability, and Biosensing technologies. Developed new courses on biosensing fundamentals and special topics in biophysics.