Andy Ball is a Distinguished Professor in the School of Science at RMIT University, specializing in environmental microbiology and biotechnology. He leads the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource and has held key roles at institutions including the University of Essex and Flinders University. His research focuses on bioremediation, organic waste treatment, and environmental pollution solutions, with over 300 peer-reviewed publications and significant industry collaboration. Andy's academic career spans 30 years, with roles such as Director of the Centre for Environment and Society at Essex and Director of Flinders Bioremediation. He has attracted >$22M in research grants, particularly in applied environmental microbiology. His awards include the Royal Society of Victoria Medal (2021) and RMIT Research Excellence Award (2018). Research interests emphasize sustainable remediation of contaminated environments, leveraging microbial ecology and biotechnology. His teaching spans environmental science and biotechnology programs at RMIT. Andy advises on projects addressing bioremediation, bioenergy, and pathogen survival, with active collaborations with industries like Shell and Melbourne Water.
Dr. David Burton is a Professor in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture. He serves as Director of the Centre for Sustainable Soil Management and leads initiatives in soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable agricultural practices. His teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in soil science, nutrient management, and climate change. Research focuses on microbial metabolism in soil, nitrogen cycling, and the environmental impacts of agricultural practices. He co-founded the Atlantic Soil Health Lab and manages the Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab. Key affiliations include the Canadian Society of Soil Science (Fellow), Soil Conservation Council of Canada, and Fertilizer Canada's 4R Research Network. Recent work emphasizes soil's role in climate resilience, including presentations on regenerative farming and soil carbon sequestration. He collaborates with government and industry to develop climate-smart soil management policies and tools for nitrogen management optimization. Awards: Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science Labs: Centre for Sustainable Soil Management, Greenhouse Gas Analysis Lab, Atlantic Soil Health Lab Grants: NSERC CREATE Climate Smart Soils
Bruno Basso serves as the Hannah Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at Michigan State University, based in 307A Natural Science Building. He teaches GLG 446: Water and Food and maintains active research in sustainable agricultural systems, with contact via 517-353-9009 or basso@msu.edu. His work bridges academic research with practical farm applications across the US Midwest. His core research interests include: Food Security and Plant Resilience mechanisms Soil Science with emphasis on organic carbon dynamics Precision Agriculture technologies (drones, remote sensing) Climate-Smart Agriculture practices Nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency Yield stability analysis through spatial-temporal modeling Regenerative agriculture impacts on greenhouse gas emissions Ecosystem services valuation in crop-livestock systems Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals a dominant focus on quantifying climate benefits from regenerative practices using multi-model ensembles. His work consistently addresses scalability for farmer adoption, with strong emphasis on N₂O emissions mapping, soil carbon durability, and yield stability zones. Key methodological innovations include hybrid SAR-remote sensing integration and AI-driven nutrient prescription systems, primarily applied across Midwest corn-soybean systems. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. While specific advising details are absent, his leadership in the LTAR cropland common experiment and Soil Inventory Project indicates active mentorship of graduate researchers. His research likely attracts significant USDA and NSF funding given the scale of field experiments and modeling initiatives focused on decarbonizing agriculture. Dr. Basso co-leads the Soil Inventory Project at Kellogg Biological Station, developing integrated sampling, data repository, and modeling frameworks for regenerative agriculture. His team combines ground observations, remote sensing, and biophysical modeling to quantify soil carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes, collaborating with farmers, industry partners, and international researchers to translate science into on-farm practices.
Dr. Ryan Ziels is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Applied Science. His research focuses on sustainable biological wastewater treatment and resource recovery through advanced microbial biotechnologies, with affiliations to the BioProducts Institute and Clean Energy Research Centre. Education: PhD and MSE in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington BS in Environmental Resources Engineering, Humboldt State University Research Focus: Ziels pioneers microbial ecology studies in engineered waste treatment systems, employing multi-omics approaches to optimize anaerobic digestion for biomethane production and biological nutrient removal. His work targets recovery of water, nutrients, and bioenergy while enhancing human and environmental health through microbial community engineering. Publication Trends: Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal intensified focus on metaproteomics for syntrophic metabolism characterization, high-throughput sequencing for microbial community analysis, and wastewater-based epidemiology for pathogen surveillance. His research increasingly integrates ethical frameworks for public health applications while advancing fundamental understanding of microbial processes in anaerobic systems. Academic Engagement: Ziels teaches core courses including Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering (CIVL 204), Environmental Lab Analysis (CIVL 407), and Environmental Biotechnology (CIVL 569). He supervises graduate students in Civil Engineering and Genome Science and Technology programs through UBC's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, directing the EMBERr Lab for microbiome engineering research.
Dr. Liang Yu is an Adjunct Professor at Washington State University (WSU) within the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), Department of Biological Systems Engineering. He holds roles as a Guest Editor for the Journal of Fermentation (Energy Converter-Anaerobic Digestion), Faculty Senator for Non-Tenure Track Faculty, Anti-Hazing Advisory Committee member, and Review Committee member for undergraduate research scholarships at WSU. His research focuses on biorefinery-based industrial symbiosis and the circular economy, employing multi-scale mathematical modeling (molecular simulation, CFD, bioprocess control, machine learning) to optimize anaerobic digestion systems. His work aims to convert organic waste (animal manure, food waste) into renewable natural gas, fertilizers, and bioproducts. He has secured funding from the DOE and USDA, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications and five patents. Key research themes include hydrothermal pretreatment, ammonia recovery, microbial community dynamics, and techno-economic analysis. Recent articles emphasize anaerobic digestion innovation, biodesulfurization, and biohydrogen production. His contributions bridge environmental engineering, biotechnology, and sustainable systems design. Dr. Yu’s grants and patents reflect a commitment to applied sustainability solutions, with projects addressing agricultural waste valorization and energy recovery. Collaborative efforts drive his work, integrating computational modeling with experimental validation for scalable bioenergy systems.
Mohan Qin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research focuses on developing novel approaches for resource recovery from waste streams and the concentration and detection of microplastics in the Great Lakes. Dr. Qin received her educational degrees as follows: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech (2017) M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Peking University (2013) B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Shandong University (2010) Her primary research areas include: Bioelectrochemical systems for resource recovery from wastewater Environmental biotechnology for sustainable wastewater treatment Electrochemical processes for desalination and water treatment Membrane-based technology for selective ion removal Her work particularly emphasizes ammonia recovery from manure and wastewater, and the detection of microplastics in freshwater systems, contributing to sustainable water management and resource conservation. Analysis of Dr. Qin's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on ammonia recovery using membrane and electrochemical systems, with increasing attention to microplastics detection in lake water. Her work spans from fundamental transport mechanisms to practical applications in dairy manure treatment and Great Lakes monitoring, often integrating novel sensor technologies and renewable energy sources. Dr. Qin has received numerous awards, including: 2024 IWA Membrane Technology Specialist Group (MTSG) Rising Star Award 2024 University of Wisconsin-Madison Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship 2023 UW-Madison Media Fellow and Sustainability Fellow 2022 UW-Madison Madison Teaching and Learning Excellence (MTLE) Fellow Multiple awards during her graduate studies at Virginia Tech Dr. Qin actively mentors students through thesis and independent study courses (CIV ENGR 890, 990, 699) and has been awarded the Hilldale Fellowship for undergraduate research collaboration. Her research is supported by several fellowships including the UW-Madison Sustainability Fellow and Media Fellow, which likely fund her innovative work in resource recovery and microplastics detection. She leads a research group at UW-Madison focused on environmental biotechnology and electrochemical systems, collaborating with institutions like Yale University (where she completed her postdoc) and contributing to journals as an associate editor for Desalination and Water Treatment and on the early career editorial board of ACS ES&T Engineering.
Craig L. Just holds the Donald E. Bently Professorship in Engineering and serves as a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa's College of Engineering. He also works as a Faculty Research Engineer at IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering. With a PhD in Environmental Engineering and Science (2001) and an MA in Chemistry (1994), both from the University of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa respectively, his career spans over two decades of academic and practical contributions. Education: PhD, Environmental Engineering and Science, University of Iowa (2001) MA, Chemistry, University of Northern Iowa (1994) BS, Chemistry, University of Northern Iowa (1992) Dr. Just's research focuses on water quality monitoring through sensor technology, freshwater mussel biosensing , pharmaceutical contaminant removal , and PCB exposure analysis from dredging operations. His work bridges environmental engineering with ecological health and sustainable systems. Recent publications highlight trends in anaerobic digestion optimization , PCB emission characterization , and machine learning applications for biogas prediction. He has extensively studied constructed wetlands , nitrogen cycling , and flood risk mitigation in agricultural and urban contexts. As director of the Iowa Wastewater and Waste to Energy Research Program, he leads initiatives connecting bioremediation , smart infrastructure , and community engagement . His projects span from hydrological modeling in Iowa to international water programs in Honduras.
April Z. Gu is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University, joining the faculty in 2018. She holds a B.S. from Tsinghua University and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington. Previously, she served as a full professor and program leader at Northeastern University's Department of Environmental Sciences. Her research focuses on applying microbial agents to mitigate environmental pollutants, with emphasis on water quality monitoring, bioremediation, and sustainable wastewater treatment. She is a WEF Fellow (2017) and served on the AEESP Board (2017). Her research interests include microbial processes in phosphorus cycling, enhanced biological phosphorus removal, and next-generation biosensors. Current projects address climate change impacts on phosphorus utilization, energy-efficient wastewater treatment, and mechanistic toxicity assessment platforms. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and led interdisciplinary collaborations on water sustainability. Education: B.S., Environmental Engineering and Science, Tsinghua University (China) Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering (with Microbiology), University of Washington (USA) Awards: WEF Fellow, AEESP Board Member Grants/Projects: Includes studies on side-stream EBPR systems, ENRe biotechnology for manure management, and hurricane-impacted water quality. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes integrative problem-solving and mentors students in water engineering and biotechnology. She leads a research group advancing translational technologies for sustainable water systems.
Juan Luis Ramos Suárez is a Researcher at the University of La Laguna within the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering , focusing on Agricultural and Natural Environment Engineering . His work bridges organic waste treatment with renewable energy systems. Education : PhD in Agro-Environmental Technology (2014) from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. International Experience : Professional roles in Chile, Germany, and Spain. His research interests include: Biogas production from agricultural residues and microalgae Biorefinery concepts for waste valorization Development of low-cost anaerobic digesters Combining amino acid extraction with energy recovery Key trends from his publications (2024–2014) show: Advancements in cheese whey and poultry manure co-digestion Innovations in plug-flow digester design Economic viability studies for industrial applications Mechanistic analysis of biodegradable plastic biodegradation Scientific Achievements : PhD grant from Spain's Ministry of Science and Innovation (2010–2014) He contributes to project technical coordination, pilot plant development, and applied research in circular economy systems.
Prof. Jan-Willem van Groenigen is a full professor in the Department of Soil Biology at Wageningen University. He serves as Chair of the Editors-in-Chief of Geoderma and Subject Chair for Agriculture & Biological Sciences on Scopus's Content Selection and Advisory Board. His research focuses on soil biogeochemistry, emphasizing nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, and the role of soil fauna like earthworms in agricultural systems. He advocates for integrating natural processes with agricultural practices to enhance sustainability and mitigate climate change. Education: Not explicitly detailed in provided text, but holds a PhD in Soil Science or related field. Affiliations: Wageningen University, Geoderma leadership, Scopus CSAB. His research interests include understanding how soil organisms influence nutrient cycles in managed ecosystems, with a focus on carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable agriculture. He has supervised 19 PhD students and over 100 MSc/BSc students, contributing to projects like phosphorus availability in manure and peat soil management. Prof. van Groenigen has received prestigious awards, including the Philippe Duchaufour Medal (2024) for integrating agricultural management with environmental science. He actively communicates research through media outlets and popular science platforms, emphasizing soil's role in global challenges.
Wiebke Kirleis is Professor for Environmental Archaeology and Archaeobotany at the Institute for Pre- and Protohistory, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU). She has held this position since May 2014 and was previously a junior professor at the same university from 2008 to 2014. She is actively involved in major interdisciplinary research projects, including the Cluster of Excellence ROOTS and the Collaborative Research Centre 1266 'Scales of Transformation', where she serves as co-speaker and technical platform speaker. PhD in Natural Sciences, University of Göttingen (2002) Diploma in Biology, University of Göttingen (1998) Studies in Botany, Anthropology, and Environmental History, University of Göttingen (1990–1998) Wiebke Kirleis' research centers on the interaction between humans and plants during the late Pleistocene and Holocene, with a focus on plant economy, domestication, agricultural development, and landscape transformation. Her work explores how wild and cultivated plants were used for nutrition, ritual, and technical purposes, and how agricultural innovations such as ploughing and manuring impacted Central European landscapes. She has a strong geographical focus on Northern and Central Germany, Southeastern Europe, the Near and Middle East, and Southeast and East Asia, particularly Indonesia. Her methodological expertise includes archaeobotany (analysis of charred and waterlogged plant remains), palynology (pollen and spore analysis from sediment cores), and anthracology (study of charcoal remains). Her recent research includes studies on broomcorn millet diffusion, early farming in Scandinavia and Russia, and plant use in Bronze Age settlements across Europe and Turkey. She leads and collaborates on numerous interdisciplinary projects, emphasizing the integration of botanical data into broader archaeological narratives. Her publications reflect a consistent trend in environmental archaeology, focusing on plant domestication, agricultural transitions, and human-induced landscape change. Keywords across her recent work include archaeobotany, palynology, Neolithic and Bronze Age subsistence, and environmental reconstruction. Her research spans subfields such as food security, cultural transmission of plant use, early monumentality, and socio-economic aspects of prehistoric agriculture. Board member, Cluster of Excellence ROOTS Co-speaker, CRC 1266 'Scales of Transformation' Speaker, ROOTS Technical Platform Board member, Johanna-Mestorf-Akademie Chair, Scientific Advisory Board, Dithmarschen Stone Age Park (since 2023) Full member, German Archaeological Institute (DAI) Elected member, Commission for Archaeology of Non-European Cultures (KAAK) Wiebke Kirleis has supervised numerous research projects funded by the DFG and other agencies, including the Graduate School 'Human Development in Landscapes'. She has advised students and collaborated internationally with institutions in Italy, Norway, Indonesia, and Australia. Her leadership roles in academic self-administration include serving on planning, budget, and equality committees at CAU Kiel. She is committed to science communication, having launched the digital exhibition 'Alles bleibt anders' and produced educational films on archaeobotany. She is also involved in mentoring female postdocs through the via:mento program. She leads the archaeobotanical component in the 'Superfood' module of the SFB 1266 digital exhibition and is actively involved in the ROOTS Cluster’s Subcluster 'Dietary ROOTS'. Her lab and research team operate within the Institute for Pre- and Protohistory, contributing to the university’s strong focus on interdisciplinary landscape archaeology.
Dr. Lisa Bai is a Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB) within the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland. She also maintains affiliations with the ARC Training Centre for Bioplastics and Biocomposites. Her research focuses on sustainable waste and wastewater management with expertise in resource recovery technologies and bioenergy production from organic waste streams. Dr. Bai earned her PhD from the University of Queensland and has a background in Bioengineering and Environmental Engineering. Prior to her academic career, she spent four years working at an environmental consultancy in North Queensland, where she specialized in aquaculture water bioremediation using macroalgae technologies and waste stream utilization for biomass production. Her research program spans four interconnected themes: 1) Data-Based Waste Identification and Characterisation for both core and non-core organic wastes; 2) Tailored Organic Waste and Wastewater Treatment Technology focusing on anaerobic digestion and nutrient recovery; 3) Biotechnology Assisted Process Optimisation for co-digestion modeling; and 4) Biotechnology Based Process Enhancement investigating microbial ecology mechanisms. Her work bridges molecular biology with engineering applications for practical waste management solutions. Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent research trajectory in anaerobic digestion technologies and resource recovery, with recent work (2023-2025) focusing on enhancing digestion of challenging waste streams like paunch waste from meat processing. Her research demonstrates progression from fundamental laboratory studies to pilot-scale implementation with industry partners. Dr. Bai is actively involved in research funding, currently leading the 'Pilot-scale Validation of Anaerobic Co-digestion at Large Municipal STP' project (2024-2025) funded by Urban Utilities. Previously, she contributed to the 'Waste-to-Energy' project (2020-2024) under the Fight Food Waste CRC program. She serves as an Associate Advisor for PhD students working on biotechnologies for PHA production. Her research team collaborates closely with industry partners including Central SEQ Distributor-Retailer Authority and Red-Meat-Processing facilities to translate laboratory findings into commercial applications for sustainable waste management, demonstrating strong industry engagement and practical implementation focus.
Knud Villy Christensen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Green Technology (IGT), University of Southern Denmark (SDU), and serves as Head of Section for SDU-Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on Chemical Engineering with emphasis on Membrane Technology , Biofuels , and Biowaste Valorization . He is actively involved in projects targeting sustainable energy and resource recovery from agricultural and industrial waste streams. His work spans Membrane Separation Technology (e.g., membrane distillation for food processing), Chemical Reactor Engineering , and Mathematical Modeling of unit operations. Recent publications highlight his expertise in green extraction of natural compounds biocascade approaches for biomass valorization biofuel production optimization Christensen has supervised numerous internships and projects at institutions like Fjernvarme Fyn, Carlsberg A/S, and Biogas Clean. His current projects include SUSTEPS (sustainable biofuel scaling) and ReCaP (phosphorus recycling). His research aligns with environmental sustainability and industrial process intensification.
Dr. Hans Oechsner is a leading academic in agricultural engineering and bioenergy, holding multiple leadership positions including Head of the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy (Landesanstalt für Agrartechnik und Bioenergie), Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Working Group on Agricultural Engineering and Rural Construction (ALB), and Project Leader for the International Graduate College focused on maize-based agricultural systems adaptation to limited phosphate reserves. He teaches advanced courses on biogas technology and bioenergy infrastructure at the Department of Agricultural Engineering in the Tropics and Subtropics. His research centers on optimizing bioenergy systems and sustainable resource management, with key interests in: Advanced biogas production techniques (e.g., mechanical pretreatment, two-stage digestion) Phosphorus recovery from organic waste streams Valorization of agricultural residues and livestock manure Development of circular bioeconomy models for crop systems Dr. Oechsner's recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on enhancing biogas plant efficiency, nutrient recycling from digestate, and sustainable biomass utilization. His work consistently integrates full-scale applications with fundamental research, particularly in pretreatment optimization and waste stream valorization. He leads research infrastructure at the State Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, coordinating teams working on large-scale biogas optimization and agricultural waste management. His projects frequently involve international collaborations and industry partnerships.
Prof. Dr. Göksel N. Demirer is a Professor at the Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey. His academic career spans over two decades, holding roles from Lecturer to Chairperson of the Department (2006-2012). He specializes in Anaerobic Biotechnology, Wastewater Engineering, and Sustainable Production systems. Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University (1996) M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Environmental Engineering, METU (1991, 1989) Research Interests: Focuses on anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, bioenergy generation, cleaner production, nutrient recovery (struvite precipitation), and industrial symbiosis. His work bridges environmental biotechnology with sustainable industrial practices, emphasizing waste-to-resource转化 and pollution prevention. Awards & Recognition: Recipient of METU's Academic Performance Award (2001-2012) Mustafa Parlar Educator of the Year Award (2000-2001, 2005-2006) Australian Endeavour Research Fellowship (2007) Professional Roles: President of Water Environment Association of Turkey (2001-2003) Editorial Board Member of Journal of Cleaner Production and International Journal of Environmental Sciences Lead over 25 research projects as PI, including EU-funded collaborations on nutrient recovery and bioenergy Advising & Capacity Building: Supervised 26 Ph.D./M.Sc. theses, developed METU's Cleaner Production course, and conducted nationwide training programs for municipalities and industries. Labs & Collaborations: Active in anaerobic digestion and bioenergy research through METU's Environmental Engineering labs. Collaborates with institutions like RMIT University (Australia), Trier University (Germany), and Villanova University (USA).
