Ka Yu Cheng

Dr. Ka Yu Cheng is a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University's School of Engineering & Information Technology. He leads the Waste Beneficitation & Storage Team, focusing on innovative processes for PFAS degradation, mining waste treatment, and resource recovery aligned with circular economy principles. His collaborations span major industry partners like Water Corporation of Western Australia, NSW Environmental Trust, and South32.

Education:

• PhD in Environmental Engineering (Murdoch University, 2010)
• MPhil in Environmental Science (Hong Kong Baptist University, 2005)
• BSc (Honors) in Applied Biology (Hong Kong Baptist University, 2003)

Research Interests: Dr. Cheng specializes in (bio)treatment of industrial/municipal waste streams, biodegradation of contaminants (e.g., PFAS), microbial electrochemical technologies (e.g., fuel/electrolysis cells), mining biotechnology, and resource recovery. His work integrates bioremediation, bioelectrochemistry, and process engineering to address environmental sustainability challenges.

Publication Trends: His recent articles emphasize bioelectrochemical systems, waste valorization, metal recovery from e-waste, and bioreactor optimization for contaminant removal. Key themes include circular economy applications, microbial community dynamics, and techno-economic analysis of hybrid treatment processes.

Awards & Honors:

• Australia’s Leading Researcher in Biotechnology (The Australian, 2018)
• Top 1% in Environment & Ecology (Publons Peer Reviewer Award, 2018)
• CSIRO Land & Water Young Scientist of the Year (2012)
• Best Poster Award (IWA Leading Edge Conference, 2013)
• Huber Technology Prize (2008)

Professional Roles: He serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology and Editorial Board Member for Processes and Environmental Technology. His team at CSIRO pioneers solutions for industrial waste challenges, supported by grants from environmental agencies and mining sectors.