Lauren Greenlee

Lauren Greenlee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Penn State University, College of Engineering. Her research spans sustainable food, energy, and water systems, with a focus on materials chemistry, electrochemical processes, and environmental applications. She is affiliated with interdisciplinary research themes including Health and the Environment, Integrated Energy Systems, and Water Sustainability.

Research Interests:

• Interfaces and surfaces in aqueous environments
• Materials and nanotechnology for catalysis and separation
• Electrocatalysis for energy conversion and bio-based chemicals
• Resource recovery from wastewater (e.g., struvite, nutrients)
• Sustainable membrane technologies
• Dynamics of materials chemistry in water systems

Her recent publications (2022–2023) highlight a strong trend in electrochemical nutrient recovery, particularly struvite precipitation for fertilizer use, and the development of advanced catalysts for water splitting and oxygen evolution. She also investigates functionalized membranes for fouling resistance and in-situ degradation of environmental toxins like microcystin-LR. These works reflect interdisciplinary collaboration across chemical engineering, environmental science, and agriculture.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• No specific scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text.

Advising and Grants:

• Lauren Greenlee leads research projects funded by seed grants and institutional awards, including work on methane emissions mitigation via biofiltration and nano-structural characterization of water splitting catalysts.
• She collaborates with graduate students and researchers, as evidenced by co-authorship on numerous publications, though formal advisee names are not listed.

Labs and Research Teams:

• Her work is conducted within the Chemical Engineering department at Penn State, likely involving a dedicated research lab focused on electrochemical systems, materials synthesis, and environmental applications.
• She is part of interdisciplinary teams working on sustainable energy, water treatment, and nutrient recovery, including collaborations with agricultural scientists and environmental engineers.