Emmanuel Salifu

Emmanuel Salifu is an Assistant Professor of Bio-geotechnical Engineering at Arizona State University's School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment within the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. He also holds the position of Senior Global Futures Scientist. His interdisciplinary work bridges geotechnical, agricultural, biological, and environmental engineering with biotechnology to develop nature-based solutions for global challenges.

Education:

• PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK (2019)
• PhD Structural, Geotechnical, and Seismic Risk Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy (2019)
• PGCert Researcher Professional Development, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK (2019)
• MSc Environmental Engineering (Distinction), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK (2014)
• BEng Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (First Class Hons), University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria (2009)

Salifu's research focuses on applying interdisciplinary engineering perspectives to develop climate-resilient nature-based solutions for food security, contaminant remediation, ecological restoration, soil erosion mitigation, and decarbonization of the built environment. His work centers on soil improvement through environmental geotechnics and biogeotechnics, including microbial and macrofungi-mediated approaches, enzyme applications, and biochemicals. He investigates mycoremediation of contaminated lands and soil/water management for agriculture, with additional interests in land sustainability, circular economy principles, environmental impact analysis, and life cycle assessment.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward fungal-based soil stabilization technologies, with emphasis on mycelium networks for erosion control and dust mitigation. His work spans fundamental research on fungal growth in various soil conditions to applied studies on engineered living materials for environmental challenges, particularly in arid and degraded landscapes. The research demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary collaboration across environmental science, microbiology, and civil engineering.

Scientific Awards:

• Mistletoe Research Fellowship (2022-2023)
• ICT Award for Best Paper at YRF-V (2021)
• Best Research Pitch Award at SILBERSALZ Festival (2020)
• 1st Place Winner at Falling Walls Lab –MSCA (2019)
• DLCS Prize for best MSc Environmental Engineering student (2014)
• University Prize for Overall Best Graduating Student (2010)

Salifu has secured significant research funding as both Principal and Co-Investigator, including projects with the Department of Defense's Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and Salt River Project. His Salifu Lab at ASU focuses on bio-mediated and bio-inspired engineering applications, particularly using plants, microbes, fungi, and their biochemical derivatives for sustainable infrastructure solutions. The lab integrates digital twin modeling with environmental assessment methodologies to support climate adaptation strategies and sustainable land management policies.