John Stolz is Professor of Environmental Microbiology and Director of Environmental and Energy Engineering at Duquesne University's School of Science and Engineering. His NASA-trained research examines microbial metal reduction, modern stromatolite ecosystems, and shale gas extraction impacts. His lab investigates arsenic/selenium biotransformation pathways, microbial communities in Shark Bay stromatolites, and environmental impacts of unconventional energy development. Recognized with multiple excellence awards including the Nobel J. Dick Endowed Chair. Over 150 publications explore microbial respiration mechanisms, biogeochemical cycling, and environmental bioremediation. Current grants support water quality testing near shale gas operations.
Professor Jason Hall-Spencer is a globally recognized marine biologist at the University of Plymouth and a full professor at the University of Tsukuba (Japan), with an adjunct role at Xiamen University. His research focuses on ocean acidification, invasive species (e.g., lionfish), and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. He pioneered the use of underwater CO2 seeps as natural analogues for climate change studies, a methodology now adopted globally. His work has influenced policies to protect deep-water corals and Arctic reefs, and he leads projects like RELIONMED to combat lionfish invasions in the Mediterranean. Education: Studied Applied Marine Biology at Heriot-Watt University, completed a PhD on coralline algae at Millport Marine Station, and conducted fieldwork across Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. His career includes discovering UK deep-water coral reefs and Arctic reefs, leading to their legal protection. Research Interests: Ocean acidification effects on marine organisms, invasive species management, CO2 seep dynamics, coral reef ecology, and marine conservation. His work combines field experiments, policy advocacy, and community engagement to address global marine challenges. Grants and Collaborations: Secured €1.7M from the EU Life Programme for lionfish control and a $400K grant on plankton dynamics. Collaborates with organizations like the Marine Biological Association and international researchers on projects such as the Ocean Organ to visualize CO2 impacts. Labs/Teams: Leads the Marine Conservation Research Group at Plymouth, coordinating initiatives like RELIONMED and influencing global marine policies through partnerships with governments and NGOs.
Joanna Aizenberg is the Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science and Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). She is a Core Faculty Member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Co-Director of the Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology. Her research focuses on understanding biological architectures and applying these principles to develop advanced synthetic materials and devices. Current Positions: Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science, Harvard SEAS Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard Core Faculty Member, Wyss Institute Co-Director, Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology Research Interests: Joanna Aizenberg’s lab explores adaptive materials, biomineralization, surface science, bio-inspired optics, self-assembly, and bio-nano interfaces. The group investigates how biological systems economically design multifunctional, adaptive materials to inspire new synthetic routes and nanofabrication strategies. These advancements aim to impact fields such as architecture, energy efficiency, and medicine. Recent Article Trends: Her recent publications emphasize bio-inspired materials, catalysis, surface engineering, and fluid dynamics. Topics include superhydrophobic coatings, PdAu alloy catalysts, liquid crystal elastomers, and microbial contamination reduction. The interdisciplinary work integrates nanofabrication, computational modeling, and environmental applications. Research Group Members: Kathy Liu Gurminder Paink Haritosh Patel Atalaya Wilborn Garrick Lim
Dr. Seung-gu Lee is a Principal Scientist and Director of the Synthetic Biology Institute at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). He holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from KAIST and serves as the President of the Korean Society of Enzyme Engineering. His leadership extends to multiple national research initiatives focused on advancing synthetic biology infrastructure and applications. Dr. Lee is a leading expert in genetic circuits and enzyme engineering for synthetic biology. He pioneered the development of GESS (Genic Enzyme Screening System/Circuits) technology, which enables ultra-high-speed screening of trace enzyme activities at the single-cell level. His research focuses on applying intelligent genetic circuits to biosensors, metabolic control, and bioprocess development. He is actively integrating AI-based automated workflows with synthetic biology to revolutionize the speed and scale of biological research. His work spans multiple disciplines including enzyme engineering, genetic circuit design, metabolic engineering, and biofoundry development. Dr. Lee currently leads several major research initiatives including the Korea-North America Biofoundry Collaboration Global Joint Research Center, the development of core technologies for advanced synthetic biology, and the establishment of biofoundry infrastructure. His research team at KRIBB works at the intersection of synthetic biology, enzyme engineering, and AI-based automation to develop next-generation bio-manufacturing platforms. The lab has made significant contributions to genetic circuit design, biosensor development, and plastic biodegradation technologies.
Matteo Nardello is a researcher affiliated with the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Trento. His work focuses on embedded systems, IoT, and energy harvesting technologies for sustainable applications. Current academic affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento Research interests: IoT, embedded systems, energy harvesting, machine learning, cyber-physical systems Contact: matteo.nardello@unitn.it His research integrates hardware-software co-design for batteryless IoT systems, with applications in smart agriculture, industrial monitoring, and autonomous vehicles. Recent work explores deep learning at the edge, energy-efficient sensor networks, and microbial fuel cells for self-powered devices. Key article trends highlight a focus on sustainable power solutions, wireless sensor networks, and machine learning optimization for constrained environments. He contributes to courses on embedded systems, IoT, and AI-powered industrial applications at the University of Trento.
Professor Chris Greening is a Research Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Monash University, leading the One Health Microbiology group at the Biomedicine Discovery Institute. He holds a first-class degree in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry from the University of Oxford (2010) and a PhD from the University of Otago (2013). His career includes postdoctoral roles at Otago, CSIRO, and the Australian National University, followed by appointments as a group leader in Monash’s School of Biological Sciences (2016) and a medically-focused NHMRC EL2 Fellow in the Department of Microbiology (2020). Research Focus: Bacterial persistence mechanisms, microbial metabolism, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and One Health approaches linking environmental, clinical, and public health challenges. Awards: Fenner Medal (2022) and Jim Pittard Award (2019). Key Projects: RISE, Global Research Alliance on Agricultural GHGs, SAEF, and the ARC Carbon Utilisation Hub. Leads Monash’s AMR R&D Facility. Research spans metabolic pathways enabling bacterial survival in extreme conditions (e.g., hydrogen oxidation, F420 cofactor roles), climate impacts (greenhouse gas regulation), and translational programs addressing diarrheal diseases and AMR. Grants: ARC DECRA Fellowship, NHMRC EL2 Fellowship. Cross-disciplinary collaborations with engineers, ecologists, social scientists, and industry. Lab facilities include advanced microbiology, structural biology, and systems biology tools. Contributions align with UN SDGs: climate action (SDG13), good health (SDG3), and sustainable cities (SDG11).
Alexandre Poulain is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Ottawa and Vice Dean for Research and Infrastructure in the Faculty of Science. His multidisciplinary research bridges biogeochemistry, microbial physiology, and environmental toxicology. Education: B.Sc. (Angers, France), M.Sc. (INRS, Canada), Ph.D. (Université de Montréal, Canada), Postdoc (MIT, USA) Research Interests: Mercury cycling in Arctic and temperate ecosystems, microbial metal transformations, biosensor development for contaminants, redox reaction dynamics, bioremediation using environmental microbes, and mercury-organic matter interactions. His lab (2017-2025) has produced 15 recent publications on mercury biogeochemistry in oil sands, rice paddies, and Arctic lakes, alongside arsenic speciation studies and pesticide impacts on pollinators. Current students explore archaeal mercury regulators, acidothermophilic biosensors, and microbial remediation. Scientific contributions include: NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007-2009) Co-PI on Microbright, a startup commercializing microbial water treatment Developed portable arsenic biosensor tested in Cambodia Co-edited mercury-climate synthesis in Nature Communications
Pietro de Anna is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences (ISTE), University of Lausanne, since August 2021. He holds an Italian nationality and completed a Master's in Theoretical Physics (2009) at the University of Florence, followed by a PhD in Earth Sciences at the University of Rennes 1 (2012). His research focuses on reactive transport in porous media, filtration, and interactions between bacteriological activity and flow dynamics. He directs the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory since 2015, employing microfluidics, numerical simulations, and theoretical models to study coupled physical, biological, and chemical mechanisms in confined systems. He has published 21 peer-reviewed articles, teaches environmental science courses at the Bachelor's and Master's levels, and supervised two PhD theses and four postdoctoral researchers. His work includes investigations into microbial biomass accumulation in porous media, diffusion-limited mixing, and biocementation processes. Key research themes are spatial heterogeneity effects, chemotaxis, and quorum sensing in microbial systems. He has pioneered methods combining microfluidics with microscopy to analyze transport at pore scales.
Dr. Beata Gorczyca is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Manitoba, affiliated with the Price Faculty of Engineering. Her research focuses on potable water treatment, with expertise in solid/liquid separation, chlorine disinfection by-products control, and fractal analysis of materials. She leads a research group collaborating with Canadian water utilities like Portage la Prairie and Pembina Valley Water Co-op. Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering (2000, University of Toronto), M.Sc. in Civil Engineering (1992, University of Toronto), B.Sc. in Geological Engineering (1986, AGH University, Poland). Active roles: Member of the Particle Specialist Group at the International Water Association, keynote speaker at conferences. Research interests include water purification processes, membrane filtration, and bioremediation. Her work addresses challenges in high-DOC and high-hardness water treatment, with contributions to nanofiltration fouling mechanisms and microbial remediation solutions. She has supervised numerous graduate students and is involved in advancing water treatment technologies through interdisciplinary collaborations.
Secil Ugur Yavuz is a Professor at the Faculty of Design and Arts, Department of Design, at Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. Her academic work spans eco-social design, research through design, and tangible human-technology interactions, with a particular focus on sustainable materials and collective making practices. She teaches courses including Design 3 for the Master in Eco-social Design and doctoral programs in Experimental Research through Design, Art and Technologies. Professor Yavuz's research explores the intersection of analog and digital through tangible human-technology interactions, with significant contributions to sustainable material systems. Her FERAL WOOL project investigates ecological and cultural dimensions of wool, while her work with biomaterials like microbial cellulose and open-source bioreactors addresses circular production systems. She employs embodied and speculative approaches to examine microplastic emissions, children's nature engagement through tools like TREESENSE, and social play with interactive toys. Her recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on material culture, sustainability, and human-centered design across multiple scales. The research demonstrates consistent exploration of how digital and physical realms interact to create meaningful user experiences while addressing ecological challenges. Key trends include the use of embodied interaction methods, speculative design for cultural critique, and co-creative processes that bridge technological innovation with social and environmental responsibility. Yavuz leads the Design Friction Lab, which investigates the philosophical foundations of design through customizable interfaces and DIY approaches. Her work with doctoral students in Experimental Research through Design emphasizes reshaping technologies through collective making processes. The FERAL WOOL research project represents a significant current initiative exploring sustainable textile futures through both ecological and cultural lenses.
Dr. Jake O'Brien is a Senior Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) within the University of Queensland. He holds an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship and serves as Chair of the EMCR@UQ Committee. His work focuses on wastewater-based epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental chemical exposure assessment. O'Brien co-leads the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program and has contributed to understanding pharmaceutical impacts on wastewater systems. His research spans analytical chemistry, environmental toxicology, and public health, with particular emphasis on antimicrobial resistance gene mobility and plastic pollution in air/water matrices. Key research areas : Wastewater-based epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, plastic pollution, pharmaceutical fate in environment Techniques : High-resolution mass spectrometry, non-target screening, in-sewer stability analysis O'Brien's recent publications examine antidepressant correction factors, tobacco product monitoring, and antimicrobial resistance gene dynamics. He has advised over 15 PhD students on topics including microplastics in biosolids, SARS-CoV-2 wastewater tracking, and novel psychoactive substance detection. Scientific Awards NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship His team's work impacts national drug policy evaluation, environmental health monitoring, and wastewater treatment regulations.
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Amann serves as Managing Director at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, and leads the Department of Molecular Ecology. His work pioneers molecular methods for studying marine microorganisms, with a focus on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to identify and quantify microbial cells. Managing Director, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (since 2018) Department Head, Molecular Ecology Research Center, Bremen, Germany Research Interests: Marine microbial diversity and ecology Carbon cycle dynamics in coastal and deep-sea environments Phytoplankton-bacterioplankton interactions Microbial taxonomy and phylogenetics Single-cell identification techniques (FISH, CARD-FISH) Integration of metagenomics and proteomics Publication Trends: Recent work focuses on microbial interactions in extreme environments (hydrothermal vents, Arctic waters), carbohydrate cycling in oceanic systems, and ecological differentiation of bacterial populations through advanced imaging and omics technologies. Contact: ramann@mpi-bremen.de
Dr. Benjamin Pontiller is a researcher at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany, within the Marine Biogeochemistry Research Division and Biological Oceanography Research Unit . His work focuses on microbial carbon cycling in marine environments, particularly the role of bacterioplankton in transforming dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Current projects: INDICOM, ICEBERG, HOMER, BIOCAT Recent expeditions: RV SONNE (Indian Ocean 2024), RV POLARSTERN (Arctic 2024), RV METEOR (Atlantic 2022) His research integrates omics technologies with chemical and rate measurements to understand microbial functional potential in: Coastal upwelling systems Deep Arctic Ocean (HAUSGARTEN) Baltic Sea phage dynamics Trace metal impacts on microbial communities Education: PhD in Ecology (Marine Microbial Ecology) - Linnaeus University 2021 MSc in Ecology (Marine Biology) - University of Vienna 2015 BSc in Biology - University of Vienna 2013
Professor Hu Qing serves as a Professor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), and Director of the Engineering Innovation Center (Beijing) at SUSTech. With over 30 years of research and professional experience in environmental science and engineering, she has established herself as a leading expert in soil and groundwater remediation, environmental policy, and sustainable development. Education: PhD in Soil Environmental Pollution and Hydrology, Imperial College London (1993-1998) MSc in Water Treatment and Environmental Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1987-1990) BSc in Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University (1982-1987) Professor Hu's research focuses on critical environmental challenges including soil and groundwater remediation, contaminated site management, environmental policy development, and sustainable urban development. Her work integrates technical innovation with policy implementation, particularly in the areas of green and sustainable remediation methodologies for contaminated sites. She has pioneered approaches that combine big data applications with traditional environmental engineering practices, contributing significantly to China's environmental protection framework and international collaboration efforts in ecological sustainability. Analysis of Professor Hu's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical environmental solutions with policy implications. Her work spans soil and groundwater remediation technologies, environmental policy development, and sustainable approaches to contaminated site management. A notable trend is the integration of international best practices with China-specific environmental challenges, particularly in the areas of brownfield redevelopment and soil pollution control. Her research demonstrates a consistent focus on translating scientific findings into practical applications that inform national environmental policies and standards. Scientific Awards: State Council Special Allowance Experts (2013) Second Prize of National Science and Technology Progress Award (2017) First Prize of Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award (2021) Science and Technology Progress Award of Ministry of Education (2012) IBM Global Distinguished Scholar Award (2016) Professor Hu has led and participated in more than ten national and provincial research projects, including the National 863 Program and the National Water Pollution Control and Treatment Science and Technology Major Project. She has managed dozens of site investigation and remediation projects across multiple industries including chemicals, printing and dyeing, petroleum, and electroplating. Her international collaboration experience is extensive, having served as the Chinese leading expert in the Sino-UK Soil & Groundwater Remediation Science & Technology Cooperation Program and as project leader for multiple World Bank and Asian Development Bank projects. As Director of the Engineering Innovation Center (Beijing), Professor Hu leads a multidisciplinary team focused on developing innovative solutions for environmental challenges. The center serves as a bridge between academic research and practical implementation, working closely with government agencies including the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Environmental Protection to shape national environmental policies and standards.
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.
