Anders Damgaard is an Associate Professor and Head of BSc studies at the Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering (DTU Sustain), Technical University of Denmark. His research focuses on environmental assessment methodologies, particularly Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and their application to waste management systems, resource recovery, and policy development. He leads the development of LCA models like EASEWASTE/EASETECH and collaborates with institutions such as the Danish EPA and Nordic Council of Ministers. Key research areas include carbon footprints of waste treatment, textile waste composition, and additive impacts in plastics recycling. Education: Not explicitly stated in provided texts. Research Interests: Waste management optimization, circular economy frameworks, sustainable technologies, and policy-driven environmental assessments. His recent publications address topics such as carbon footprints of sewage sludge treatments, Nordic textile waste composition, and challenges in plastic additive inclusion in LCA studies. He supervises PhD students in projects involving lifecycle modeling, construction waste recycling, and consumer practices in circular economies. As part of DTU Sustain, he contributes to interdisciplinary teams advancing sustainable resource management and policy solutions.
Dr. Jeremy Guest is the Levenick Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering (and courtesy appointment in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He serves as Associate Director for Research at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) and leads the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI). His research focuses on advancing circular bioeconomies through sustainable sanitation systems, resource recovery from wastewater, and biofuel/bioproduct development from lignocellulosic biomass. Guest's work emphasizes Quantitative Sustainable Design (QSD) methodologies to bridge engineering innovation with policy and investment decisions. Education: PhD in Environmental Engineering (University of Michigan, 2012); MS (Virginia Tech, 2007); BS (Bucknell University, 2005). Research interests include wastewater treatment innovation, nutrient recovery, bioenergy systems design, and sustainable agriculture practices. Key contributions include the EcoRecover phosphorus recovery process, the QSDsan modeling platform, and leadership in CABBI's $262.5M DOE-funded initiative. Guest has secured funding from NSF, US EPA, USDA, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Recognitions include the NSF CAREER Award, 2021 James J. Morgan Early Career Award, and the Paul L. Busch Award. He advises over 15 graduate students and leads multiple high-impact projects like the NEWgenerator sanitation system and oilcane biorefinery integration. Lab/Group: Guest Research Group focuses on experimental, computational, and policy-oriented research to solve global sustainability challenges. Current projects address algae-based wastewater treatment, fecal sludge management in low-income regions, and precision fermentation systems development.
Professor George Britovsek (FRSC) is a leading figure in catalysis and sustainable carbon management at Imperial College London . As Director of the MRes in Catalysis & Engineering and Head of Teaching in Inorganic Chemistry, he bridges academic leadership with cutting-edge research. His work focuses on transition metal complexes for converting ethylene , alkanes , biomass , and CO₂ into valuable chemicals and fuels through industrial collaborations. Education : M.Sc. (Technical University of Aachen, 1990), Ph.D. (Aachen, 1993) under Prof. W. Keim Postdoctoral Training : University of Tasmania (1994-1996), Imperial College London (1996-2000) His research interests span: Selective oxidation of alkanes using bio-inspired iron complexes Alkene conversions to functional polymers via novel catalysts CO₂ valorization into polymers and cyclic carbonates Biomass-derived feedstocks for chemical synthesis Recent catalysis trends highlight his work on: Designing Fe-N/C catalysts for epoxidation Developing PN3P pincer ligands for H₂ activation Creating degradable polyethylene via iron-catalyzed chain growth Modeling alternating α-olefin distributions in chromium systems Awards : Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) Students & Collaborators actively engage in: Photocatalytic polymer degradation Electrocatalytic CO₂ conversion Functionalized polymeric materials 3D-printed catalytic scaffolds His Britovsek Research Group operates at the Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, advancing both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis through experimental and computational approaches.
Bruno Klein is a Researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) working in the Economic Sustainability & Market Analysis group within the Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center. His expertise lies in techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) for biomass conversion pathways to biofuels and bioproducts. Bruno's educational background includes: PhD in Chemical Engineering from State University of Campinas Master's in Chemical Engineering from State University of Campinas Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Bachelor's in Multidisciplinary Engineering from École centrale de Lille His research spans conceptual process design, process integration, and sustainability assessment of biomass conversion technologies. Bruno specializes in biochemical conversion pathways with particular focus on algal biomass production and conversion systems. His work integrates techno-economic analysis with environmental impact assessment to evaluate the viability of emerging bioenergy technologies. Recent projects examine microalgae cultivation systems, sustainable aviation fuels, and ethanol production pathways from biomass feedstocks. Bruno's publication record shows consistent output with 29 research contributions between 2020-2025, demonstrating increasing productivity over time. His work addresses critical challenges in environmental sustainability metrics including greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and land impacts while maintaining economic viability considerations. As an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Bruno contributes to the professional community in chemical engineering and renewable energy research.
Susie Dai is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Missouri, with a laboratory located at the Bond Life Sciences Center. Her research bridges chemistry, biology, and engineering to address critical environmental and sustainability challenges. Education: PhD in Chemistry from Duke University; Certificate in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University; Certificate in Regulatory Science from Texas A&M University; BS in Chemistry from Fudan University Dr. Dai specializes in biological and material engineering, carbon waste conversion, contaminant remediation, and synthetic biology. She is developing RAPIMER, a lignin-based fungal scaffold for PFAS removal, and pioneering electro-microbial systems to convert CO2 into bioplastics and biofuels. Her work focuses on scalable, sustainable solutions for environmental pollutants and carbon utilization. Recent research trends include creating biomimetic materials for sustainable packaging, optimizing lignocellulosic biorefineries, and designing lignin-derived photocatalysts. She leads projects funded by Tito's Handmade Vodka's philanthropic arm for PFAS remediation and collaborates with the NSF Engineering Research Center CURB at Washington University in St. Louis. At Mizzou, Dai integrates engineering and life sciences, leveraging both Mizzou Engineering and Bond Life Sciences Center's resources. Her interdisciplinary approach combines electrochemistry, microbial engineering, and social impact analysis to advance circular bioeconomy solutions.
Dr. Edward L. Quitevis is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University, holding joint appointments in Physics. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University (1981) and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto (1981-1984). His research focuses on the dynamics of complex fluids, particularly ionic liquids and supercooled liquids, using advanced techniques like optical heterodyne-detected Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy (OHD-RIKES) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Key interests include nanostructural organization in ionic liquids, intermolecular dynamics, and the glass transition phenomenon in supercooled systems. Current research themes include understanding the relationship between nanostructure and dynamics in ionic liquids, studying ultraslow translational/rotational diffusion near the glass transition, and exploring applications of ionic liquids in materials science. His group has developed novel insights into the role of cation-anion interactions and nanoscale segregation in these systems. Dr. Quitevis collaborates widely, with publications in top journals like Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics and Journal of Chemical Physics . Students advised include Jagdeep Kaur, Dujuan Meng, Mahesh Thakurathi, and Sophia Sagala. His lab focuses on experimental and theoretical approaches to probe liquid-state dynamics, with recent work on cellulose dissolution, graphene exfoliation in ionic liquids, and lubrication applications.
Professor Paolo Fornasiero is a Full Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Trieste, Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he has worked since 1998. He serves as Deputy Director of the department since 2021 and Scientific Responsible of the CNR Research Unit associated with the Institute of Chemistry of OrganoMetallic Compounds (ICCOM) since 2008. His career spans EU projects, bilateral collaborations with China, India, and Argentina, and leadership roles in journals like ACS Catalysis (Executive Editor since 2021). Full Professor (2016–present) Associate Professor (2006–2016) Assistant Professor (1998–2006) Post-Doc, University of Reading (1996–1997) His research focuses on multi-functional metal-oxide nanosystems for energy and environmental catalysis, including green hydrogen production , CO2 valorization , and methane emission control . He pioneered core-shell catalysts and single-atom systems for stability and selectivity. His work extends to solid oxide fuel cells and photocatalytic water depollution . Recent publications highlight trends in photothermal catalysis , single-atom catalysts , and CO2 electroreduction . His 280+ papers (3 in Science , 2 in Nature Communications ) reflect expertise across Environmental Catalysis , Nanomaterials , and Green Energy . 2022 Malatesta Medal 2021 European Academy of Sciences member 2017 Edoardo Kramer Award 2016 Heinz Heinemann Award 2013 Chiusoli Gold Medal He oversees PhD/postdoc advising and participates in global capacity-building via UNIDO and World Academy of Sciences . His lab collaborates with institutions like KAUST , Czech Academy of Sciences , and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics .
Pedro Carlos De Barros Fernandes is an Associate Professor at Universidade Lusófona , Deputy Director of the 1st cycle in Biotechnology, and an integrated researcher at the Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB-IST). He holds a PhD in Biotechnology (1999) and a Master in Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering (1994) from Universidade Técnica de Lisboa (IST), along with a Chemical Engineering degree from IST (1989). A member of the Order of Engineers (ID 24667), he co-founded Biotrend, a Portuguese bioprocess development company. Education PhD in Biotechnology (1999), Universidade Técnica de Lisboa MSc in Biotechnology (1994), Instituto Superior Técnico BSc in Chemical Engineering (1989), Instituto Superior Técnico Research Interests span biocatalysis, enzyme immobilization for food and pharmaceutical applications, marine biotechnology, microfluidic device development for biosensing, and steroid bioconversions using mycobacterial systems. His work integrates process engineering principles with sustainable bioprocessing techniques. Publication Trends show a focus on microreactor technology, enzyme stabilization in non-conventional media, marine-derived biocatalysts, and food waste valorization. Key themes include biocatalytic process intensification, aqueous two-phase systems for biomolecule purification, and sustainable carbon sources for biopolymer production. Scientific Awards UTL/Santander Totta Scientific Award in Biological Engineering (2011) Advising has included supervision of 5 doctoral theses and over 32 master’s theses. His expertise extends to peer-reviewing scientific articles and evaluating R&D projects. Labs & Teams are associated with iBB-IST (Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences) and BioRG (Universidade Lusófona), with contributions to the Ciência Viva program for science dissemination.
Bert F. Sels is a Full Professor at KU Leuven (Catholic University Leuven) in the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Molecular and Microbiological Sciences, where he founded and heads the Center for Sustainable Catalysis and Engineering (CSCE). He is also a Visiting Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou and co-founder of the spin-off company Zeopore. Previously, he directed the Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis (COK) from 2016-2019 and served as Head of the Division Bio-refinery and Sustainable Chemistry (2015). He obtained his Ph.D. in 2000 from KU Leuven under Professor Pierre Jacobs, specializing in heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. His research focuses on heterogeneous catalysis for sustainable industrial processes, with expertise spanning: Biorefinery and biofactory systems for chemical production Design of hierarchically structured zeolites and carbon materials Spectroscopic characterization of catalytic active sites Methane activation and small molecule kinetics Renewable chemistry and biomass valorization His group has published 350+ papers (h-index 88) and holds 30 patents. Publications demonstrate strong focus on catalytic biomass conversion, zeolite engineering, and sustainable fuel production, with recent work emphasizing lignin valorization, carbohydrate upgrading, and low-carbon chemical synthesis. Key trends include hierarchical catalyst design and integrated biorefinery processes. Awards and Honors: Green Chemistry Award (2015) INEOS Research Award (2019) European Academy of Sciences and Arts Membership (2018) DSM Chemistry Award (2001) TOTAL Research Award (2013) UMICORE Research Award (2012) First Clean Tech Challenge (2009) He leads the CSCE research group and co-founded the European Research Institute of Catalysis (ERIC). As former co-chair of the International Zeolite Association's Catalysis Commission and associate editor of ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, he maintains extensive collaborative networks.
Professor Jukka Konttinen serves as Professor of Chemistry of Biorefining at Tampere University within the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and Department of Materials Science and Environmental Engineering. Previously, he held professorships at the University of Jyväskylä (2009-2014) and research positions at Åbo Akademi University and industry firms including Carbona Inc. His expertise spans thermochemical biomass conversion and sustainable energy systems. Education: D. Sc. (Chemical Engineering), Åbo Akademi University, 1998 Research Interests: Konttinen specializes in biorefining via thermochemical conversion processes including gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, and combustion. His work encompasses hybrid energy systems integrating solid/liquid biofuels, biogas, and solar power at distributed scales. He develops chemical process engineering solutions through modeling, simulation, and experimental validation from laboratory to commercial implementation. Publication Trends: His recent publications (2013-2024) demonstrate concentrated expertise in biomass conversion technologies, emphasizing process optimization for lignocellulosic feedstocks, syngas quality enhancement, and techno-economic-environmental assessments. Key themes include pretreatment methods, gasification kinetics, and integration of thermochemical processes with circular economy principles across agricultural and industrial waste streams. Scientific Awards: Supervisor of Best Academic Dissertation (Tiina Keipi) by Tampere University (2019) Supervisor of Best Academic Dissertation (Tiina Keipi) by Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK (2019) Advising and Grants: Konttinen has supervised 13 PhD students (10 completed, 3 ongoing), 70 Master's theses, and 25 Bachelor's theses. His funding portfolio includes €250k as PI for Bio4all (Business Finland, 2024), €861k as WP leader for BL2F (EU Horizon, 2019-2024), plus €425k in confidential contracts (2014-2024) and €1.5M in prior grants. Labs and Teams: He leads the Bio and Circular Economy research unit and previously directed the Laboratory of Chemistry and Bioengineering (2017-2018). Current projects include EU Horizon's BL2F and Business Finland's Bio4all initiatives focused on climate-neutral energy systems and biorefinery commercialization.
Dr. Giulio Santori is a Reader in Chemical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering. He holds a PhD in Energy (2009) and an MSc in Mechanical Engineering (2004) from Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy. His research focuses on thermal energy storage, adsorption-based cooling and desalination systems, low-grade heat utilization, and advanced materials like ionic liquids and ionogels. He is a member of the Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre and the UK Carbon Capture Research Centre. Teaching: Chemical Engineering laboratories, design courses, and research projects. Research interests include optimizing sorption strategies for heat storage, developing sustainable adsorption heat pumps, and exploring applications of 3D-printed components in thermal systems. Current projects involve structured ionic liquids for vapor sorption and ionogels for desalination using low-grade heat. Recent publications highlight advancements in thermal storage technologies, adsorption cooling systems, and CO2 capture. Open PhD projects focus on ionic liquid-based sorption and hydrochar applications.
Dr. Xi Yu is a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Southampton, affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment. He holds a Bachelor's from Tianjin University and a Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield. His research focuses on low carbon fuels, granulation techniques, and computational fluid dynamics. He has supervised PhD students such as Jerin Jacob and is currently accepting new PhD applicants in these areas. Dr. Yu's educational background includes degrees in Chemical Engineering and prior academic roles at Aston University and the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI). His work spans bioenergy systems, particle technology, and multi-physics modeling. Key research projects include advancements in biomass gasification, biofuel production, and sustainable energy systems. His publications emphasize computational modeling, fluid dynamics, and biomass utilization. Recent articles explore topics like absorption chiller systems, fluidization validation, and bio-oil aging strategies. He contributes to teaching modules such as CHEG3000 and CHEG3004, reflecting his commitment to both research and education.
Roles and Affiliations: Dibs Sarkar is a Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. He serves as the Founding Director of the Stevens Center for Sustainability and the Sustainability Management MS and dual-degree MS-MBA programs. He is also an Adjunct Research Professor at Michigan Technological University and has held prior positions at Montclair State University and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Education: PhD (1997) in Geochemistry from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville MS (1991) and BS (1988) in Geology from the University of Calcutta Research Interests: Dr. Sarkar’s work focuses on environmental sustainability through a multidisciplinary lens, including soil/water chemistry, green technology development, and risk assessment. His research integrates geochemical, biological, and engineering principles to address environmental contamination, sustainable remediation of PFAS, phytoremediation, and stormwater management. He emphasizes holistic approaches to environmental problems, such as using vetiver grass for lead and TNT cleanup and developing biochar-based solutions. Grants and Funding: He has secured over $17 million in grants as PI/Co-PI for projects like PFAS remediation, sustainable stormwater management, and acid mine reclamation. Recent funding includes DOE projects on phytoextraction and NJDEP-supported studies on PFAS in wastewater. Awards and Recognition: Fellow of the Geological Society of America (2011) Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America (2019) Research Excellence Award (2022) Top 40 Under 40 San Antonio Rising Star Award (2004) Advisory and Editorial Roles: He chairs the Sustainability Minor at Stevens, edits multiple journals (e.g., Current Pollution Reports ), and serves on panels for NSF, NIH, and professional societies like SETAC and AGU. He is a founding member of SIROM Scientific Solutions, an environmental R&D firm. Labs and Teams: His research group collaborates on projects at the Stevens Center for Sustainability, focusing on green technologies, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental policy. The group emphasizes interdisciplinary innovation, from lab-scale studies to field demonstrations.
Ditte Hededam Welner is a Senior Researcher & Group Leader at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark. Her research focuses on Enzyme Engineering and Structural Biology, particularly the development of enzyme biocatalysts for sustainable industrial production of natural products like aromas, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. She leads efforts to replace petroleum-based chemical synthesis with eco-friendly bio-based processes, emphasizing glycosyltransferase (GT) engineering to enhance substrate specificity, efficiency, and stability. Education: Biochemistry, University of Copenhagen (2000–2011). Research Interests: Glycosylation mechanisms, high-throughput enzyme discovery/evolution, structural biology techniques (X-ray crystallography, NMR), and biocatalysis applications in sustainable chemistry. Her work contributes to UN SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Recent publications highlight advancements in alginate degradation mechanisms, sucrose synthase engineering, and glycosyltransferase applications in biocatalytic routes for indigo/indican production. She supervises multiple PhD projects on enzyme optimization, machine learning for enzyme engineering, and sustainable bioprocessing. Professional Activities: Peer review for journals like Nature Catalysis and Metabolic Engineering , conference organization, and editorial contributions. Active in promoting open-access science and sustainable biotechnology. Labs/Teams: Leads the Enzyme Engineering and Structural Biology group at DTU, collaborating with industry and academic partners globally to advance biocatalytic solutions for environmental challenges.
Roland Ludwig is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Food Technology, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). He is also the current Senate Chairman at BOKU, demonstrating strong institutional leadership. His research is centered on enzyme technology, biocatalysis, biosensors, and electrochemistry, with a particular focus on oxidoreductases such as cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), which are crucial in biomass degradation and bioenergy applications. His research interests span food biotechnology, enzyme technology, biocatalysis, biosensors, process engineering, electrochemistry, and nanobiotechnology. He investigates the molecular mechanisms of electron transfer in redox enzymes, their application in biosensors and biofuel cells, and their role in the depolymerization of lignocellulosic biomass. His work integrates biochemical, electrochemical, and structural approaches to understand and engineer enzyme function. The recent publication trends highlight a strong focus on LPMOs and CDHs, with studies on their kinetics, substrate specificity, domain dynamics, electron transfer mechanisms, and engineering for improved stability and activity. These works frequently appear in high-impact journals such as ACS Catalysis and Bioelectrochemistry, reflecting the significance and innovation of his research in biocatalysis and bioelectrochemistry. International DropSens Award for Applied Electroanalytical Chemistry Medal of Honour, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb RIZ Genius Award for Innovative Sensor Technology Austrian APART Fellowship INiTS Award 2007 (Life Science) Förderpreis der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Biotechnologie Roland Ludwig actively supervises students and leads multiple externally funded research projects from FWF and EU, including grants focused on electron transfer in oxidoreductases and the kinetic analysis of oxidative biomass-degrading enzymes. He collaborates with international research groups and is a frequent speaker at major scientific conferences. His research contributes to sustainable bioprocesses, green chemistry, and the development of novel bio-based technologies. He is involved in research teams and collaborative projects such as the FWF-funded Doktoratskolleg "Biomolecular Technology of Proteins" and participates in interdisciplinary initiatives bridging food technology, biotechnology, and materials science. His lab focuses on enzyme characterization, protein engineering, and the development of bioelectrochemical devices.
