Dr. Leonardo Pantoja Munoz is a Technical Tutor in Analytical Chemistry and Instrumentation at Middlesex University's Science & Engineering Labs . His research spans environmental science, focusing on bioleaching of rare earth elements from electronic waste, soil biocementation using bacterial carbonic anhydrase enzymes, and contaminant analysis through advanced analytical techniques. Recent work highlights include optimizing bioleaching processes with Penicillium expansum for rare earth recovery, bacterial-driven soil stabilization , and natural-based conservation techniques for copper artefacts. His analytical expertise extends to microplastic/nanoplastic detection in hygiene products and radionuclide quantification via diffusive gradient thin-film (DGT) methods. Research trends integrate biotechnology with geoengineering and sustainable resource management , addressing both environmental remediation and industrial material recovery challenges. Scientific Activities: External reviewer for journals (Academic Press, Elsevier) Grants: Co-investigator on EPSRC grant EP/P005888/1 and BBSRC grant BB/L002671/1 . Laboratory Affiliation: Middlesex University's Science & Engineering Labs, where he specializes in analytical instrumentation and environmental chemistry.
Christopher Langdon is a Professor at the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station and holds an adjunct appointment in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University, affiliated with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. He is actively involved in the Molluscan Broodstock Program and the USDA-ARS Pacific Shellfish Breeding Center. Ph.D. in Marine Science, University of Wales, U.K. (1980) M.S. in Marine Science, University of Wales, U.K. (1977) B.S. in Ecological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, U.K. (1975) His research focuses on aquaculture of oysters and bivalves, including nutrition, genetic selection, microencapsulation of nutrients, and the impacts of ocean acidification and hypoxia. He also studies polyculture systems involving abalone and sea vegetables like dulse. His work integrates physiology, genetics, and environmental science to improve sustainable shellfish production. Langdon's recent publications highlight advancements in genetic resistance to OsHV-1 and Vibrio, probiotic and phage-based disease control, seaweed cultivation, and larval physiology. His research contributes to breeding programs that enhance oyster resilience and productivity. CAPES scholarship, University of Brazil (2018) Fellowship from the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences (2012) Briskey Award, OSU College of Agriculture (2006) Leiv Eriksson Mobility Fellowship, Norway (2006) Shining Star Award, Dept. Fisheries and Wildlife (2002) OECD Fellowship, Kagoshima University (1998) He advises graduate students, including Henry Fleener, and teaches courses in aquaculture. His research is supported by collaborations with institutions such as the USDA-ARS and Hatfield Marine Science Center, where he is based. He leads studies on larval feeding, shell formation under acidification, and sustainable co-culture systems. Langdon contributes to major initiatives on ocean acidification monitoring and its impacts on the Pacific Northwest shellfish industry, working with interdisciplinary teams to develop adaptation strategies. His lab focuses on genetic improvement, disease resistance, and sustainable aquaculture technologies.
Tommy Licht Cederberg serves as Senior Adviser at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), leading the Research Group for Analytical Food Chemistry. His work encompasses research and development for determining organic environmental contaminants and process-related compounds in food and human samples, dietary intake assessment, and directing Denmark's national reference laboratory for dioxins and PCB in food and feed. His research focuses on analytical methodologies for food safety, including dioxins, PCB, brominated flame retardants, and emerging contaminants in food contact materials. He develops high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques and conducts dietary exposure assessments to support regulatory frameworks, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals through contaminant monitoring and risk assessment. Recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward evaluating chemical risks in novel food packaging systems, with emphasis on non-intentionally added substances in recycled plastics, PFAS migration from paper packaging, and microplastic interactions with persistent pollutants in aquaculture. His work bridges analytical chemistry with toxicological assessment to address evolving food safety challenges. Dr. Cederberg has led and participated in six research projects including the active ScreenFood Project (2024-2027) on food packaging safety, the Biomonitoring and food project (2009-2013), and specialized studies on dioxin reduction in salmon processing (2005-2006) and brominated flame retardants in food (2005-2008), collaborating extensively with national and international food safety authorities. He oversees Denmark's chemical survey of the food supply and serves as scientific advisor through the national reference laboratory for dioxins and PCB, ensuring rigorous monitoring and evidence-based recommendations for food safety policy and practice.
Odei Garcia-Garin is a Postdoctoral Researcher (Juan de la Cierva program) at the University of Girona's Department of Environmental Sciences since 2024. He earned his PhD in Biodiversity from the University of Barcelona in 2022, focusing on marine pollution impacts on vertebrates. Research Focus: Marine pollution (microplastics, plasticizers, metals), cetacean conservation, drone-based monitoring, and trophic modeling. Teaching: Over 500 hours in undergraduate and master's courses. Outreach: Led communication team for OYSTER project with 4,500+ followers on X (Twitter). His work spans marine pollution dynamics, plastic transfer through food webs, and conservation strategies. Key methodologies include drone surveys, chemical analysis (PFAS, OPEs, phthalates), and isotopic niche modeling. Scientific Awards: Juan de la Cierva Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024) Margarita Salas Postdoctoral Fellowship (2022) Beca de Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU) (2018) Beca de Colaboración Universitaria (2015-2016) He contributes to international networks like FLT Mediterranean Monitoring Network and participates in EU marine policy frameworks.
Marianna Soler i Ortega is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Girona. She specializes in environmental physics, focusing on sediment transport, coastal geomorphology, and microplastics pollution. Her research integrates field and laboratory studies to analyze hydrodynamic interactions with aquatic vegetation and climate impacts on ecosystems. PhD in Environmental Physics (University of Girona, 2008) Master in Research (University of Girona, 2001) Master in Teaching (University of Girona, 1999) Licenciatura in Physics (University of Barcelona, 1998) Her research centers on sediment dynamics and microplastics transport in coastal and marine systems. She investigates how vegetation canopies (e.g., seagrass meadows) influence hydrodynamics, erosion, and pollutant retention. Current projects include PlastikHUM (microplastics in wetlands) and WINDERS (wind-induced sediment resuspension in the Mar Menor lagoon). Recent publications highlight her work on turbidity currents , gravity flows , and vegetation-wave interactions , with interdisciplinary applications to coastal management and pollution mitigation. Contact: marianna.soler@udg.edu
Agata Feldens is a researcher affiliated with the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research in the Marine Geology section, specifically working within the Marine Geophysics Group . Her research focuses span marine geophysics, coastal and shelf geology, and habitat mapping in the Baltic Sea region. Key Research Areas: Submarine landform analysis Boulder detection using sonar data Coastal sediment dynamics Marine habitat mapping Paleoenvironmental reconstruction Submarine geomorphology Recent publications highlight her work on boulder distribution in coastal waters, AI-based sonar data analysis, and sedimentary processes in glacial fjords. She collaborates extensively with Peter Feldens and other marine scientists, utilizing advanced geophysical techniques for environmental studies. Her academic background includes a 2008 diploma in Geology/Paleontology from the University of Kiel, followed by doctoral studies at the same institution. She has been actively involved in marine research since 2008, progressing through various research associate positions.
Kristina Enders is a Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research , focusing on microplastic pollution in marine environments. She collaborates with R. Lenz and T.G. Nielsen on method development and ecological impact studies.
Guangchun Bai is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease at Albany Medical College , focusing on bacterial pathogenesis. He earned a PhD and MD from the Fourth Military Medical University in China in 1999 and 1991, respectively. Research spans Bacterial Pathogenesis , Molecular Biology , and Signal Transduction , with emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus pneumoniae . His work investigates cyclic nucleotides like c-di-AMP and c-di-GMP in bacterial virulence and vaccine development. Recent publications highlight diverse interests: Esophageal cancer immunotherapy (2024) Lung cancer immune heterogeneity (2025) Microplastics' impact on fertility (2023) Genotyping methods (2023) Neurodegenerative disease mechanisms (2023) Vaccine strategies for tuberculosis (2018-2020)
Margaret Byron is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on the transport of organisms and objects in environmental flows, particularly turbulence, with two main thrusts: particle settling/sedimentation and millimeter-scale animal locomotion. Research Interests: Hydrodynamic interactions in turbulent flows Microplastic transport influenced by biofilms Metachronal coordination in biological systems Computational fluid dynamics of low-Reynolds-number swimmers Shape-dependent particle dynamics in isotropic turbulence Scientific Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2022) Publications Trends: Her work spans interdisciplinary applications in environmental flows, marine science, and bio-inspired robotics, emphasizing metachronal propulsion, microplastic dynamics, and vortex-fluid interactions across scales.
Professor Iseult Lynch is a leading environmental chemist at the University of Birmingham's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, where she holds the position of Professor of Environmental Nanosciences, Theme Lead for Environmental Sciences, and Director of Research for the Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ). She also serves as Chair of DEFRA's Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee, advising the UK government on chemicals in the environment, and is an affiliate of the Birmingham Institute of Sustainability and Climate Action. Professor Lynch earned her BSc (Hons) in Chemistry in 1995, followed by a PhD in Chemistry in 2000, and later an MBA in 2012. Her educational background has equipped her with a unique interdisciplinary perspective that bridges environmental science, policy, and management. Professor Lynch's research focuses on the environmental interactions of nanoparticles and nanostructured surfaces with biological entities, ranging from macromolecules to organisms, and the interactions of nanoscale materials with other co-pollutants as part of mixture toxicity. She is a pioneer in making toxicology research data and models Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable (FAIR), co-leading the workpackage on FAIR Research data for the EU Horizon Europe funded Partnership for Assessment of the Risks of Chemicals (PARC). Her work spans developing predictive models of nanomaterials toxicity, creating safe and sustainable by design materials and chemicals, and applying nanoscale and advanced materials to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in precision agriculture, water purification, and clean energy. Analysis of Professor Lynch's recent publications reveals a strong focus on environmental nanotechnology applications for sustainability challenges. Her work demonstrates significant contributions to developing safe and sustainable by design materials, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for environmental applications. There's a clear emphasis on nanomaterial safety assessment, water purification technologies, and the development of computational tools for predicting nanomaterial behavior in environmental systems. Her research increasingly integrates FAIR data principles and digital approaches to enhance materials innovation while ensuring environmental safety. Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry Chair of DEFRA's Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee Associate Editor for Environmental Science: Nano Editorial Board member for Particle & Fibre Toxicology Steering Committee member for Work Group 7 (dissemination) in the EU Nanosafety Cluster Professor Lynch plays an active role in academic leadership and mentoring. She serves as the undergraduate admissions tutor for Environmental Science and leads undergraduate modules on molecules and materials, environmental protection, and environmental pollution. Additionally, she is the deputy director of the MRes in Biological and Environmental Nanoscience and module leader for the MRes module 'Biological and Environmental Nanoscience'. Her research is supported by significant grants from EU Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs, including NanoFASE, NanoGenTools, EC4SafeNano, and PARC, demonstrating sustained funding success in competitive international research programs. Professor Lynch is an integral member of the Birmingham Plastics Network, an interdisciplinary team of over 40 academics addressing the global plastics problem through a holistic approach that brings together chemists, environmental scientists, philosophers, linguists, economists, and experts from diverse fields. She also contributes to the Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ), which focuses on environmental justice issues, and collaborates extensively with international colleagues to advance the field of environmental nanoscience.
Professor Christian Pfrang (DPhil, Oxford; BSc, FU Berlin) is a leading atmospheric chemist at the University of Birmingham , focusing on gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions affecting air quality and climate. His work bridges physical chemistry , environmental science , and urban ecology , with recent emphasis on indoor air quality and plant-pollution interactions. Education : DPhil in Physical & Atmospheric Chemistry (Oxford), BSc in Chemistry (FU Berlin), Vordiplom in Chemistry (TU Munich), Post-Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Reading) His research explores atmospheric oxidation mechanisms involving ozone and nitrate radicals with volatile organic compounds, utilizing advanced techniques like acoustic levitation , X-ray scattering , and MultilayerPy modeling . Key applications include understanding urban greenery's air quality impact , pollination disruption , and health effects of cooking emissions . Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends across atmospheric dynamics, nanoplastic environmental fate , and plant stress detection via hyperspectral imaging . Professional recognition includes CChem , CSciTeach , and editorial roles at Atmosphere and Sci . Collaborations span NERC Peer Review College , EuCheMS , and DEFRA advisory work . Advising activities and research grants are integrated with experimental method development and computational modeling . His environmental impact extends to policy consultancy for UK Department for Transport and Johnson Matthey, while maintaining cross-institutional partnerships with University of Reading and European research networks.
Elizabeth Wattenberg is a Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, where she also serves as Associate Dean of Education and Student Engagement. She is a member of the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wattenberg holds a PhD in Toxicology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University. Dr. Wattenberg's research spans molecular toxicology, environmental health, and public health. Her primary focus is on molecular toxicology, particularly the mechanisms by which carcinogenic agents modulate cellular signal transduction pathways. She has also conducted significant research in risk assessment and environmental regulation. Her expertise encompasses chronic diseases, environmental exposures, cancer, and toxicity. Her work bridges laboratory-based molecular research with population-level environmental health investigations. Analysis of her recent publications reveals an evolving research trajectory from fundamental molecular toxicology mechanisms toward broader environmental public health applications. While her earlier work focused on palytoxin and signal transduction pathways, her more recent publications examine temperature-related health impacts in Vietnam, anthropogenic contamination in everyday products, and hydraulic fracturing fluid hazards. This demonstrates a progression from molecular mechanisms to population-level environmental health concerns. Member, Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health Charles N. Hewitt Creative Teaching Award, School of Public Health Faculty Excellence Award in Environmental Health, School of Public Health Dr. Wattenberg's work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly evident in her recent projects examining environmental health impacts in Vietnam and contamination issues in consumer products. Her role as Associate Dean of Education and Student Engagement suggests significant involvement in academic program development and student mentorship within the School of Public Health.
Dr. Momir Paunović is a Principal Research Fellow and Head of the Department of Hydroecology and Water Protection at the Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade. His research focuses on aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and environmental protection. Fields of interest include: Aquatic ecology and biomonitoring Ecotoxicology and climate change responses Conservation biology of endangered species Unionid taxonomy and invasive species dynamics Key projects under his department involve microplastic pollution monitoring (AquaμPlaS), Danube River health assessments (JDS5), and multidisciplinary studies on sediment-water biota interactions in the Sava River Basin.
Maria Giovanna Parisi is a Full Professor in Earth and Marine Sciences at the University of Palermo, where she serves as Rector's Delegate for relations with APRE and for the internationalization of the research system and the transfer of its results to the Third Mission. She also acts as Delegate for international development and cooperation activities with European countries, supporting the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Internationalization. Her research focuses on marine biology and environmental science with particular emphasis on: Immune responses in marine invertebrates Effects of pollution and environmental stressors on marine organisms Climate change impacts on Mediterranean marine ecosystems Regeneration processes in marine organisms Development and application of bioindicators for environmental monitoring Professor Parisi's recent publications reveal a sophisticated research program examining physiological and immunological responses of key Mediterranean species including mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ), corals, sea anemones ( Anemonia viridis ), and ascidians ( Ciona robusta ). Her work increasingly addresses complex interactions between multiple stressors such as microplastics, thermal stress, and pollution, employing integrated approaches that combine molecular, cellular, and organismal analyses to assess ecosystem health and resilience. Her laboratory research spans several critical environmental issues: Thermal tolerance mechanisms and stress memory in corals facing climate change Novel antimicrobial peptides from marine organisms with potential biotechnological applications Immunotoxicological effects of emerging pollutants including bioplastics and gadolinium Development of integrated biomonitoring tools using marine invertebrates Within the School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor Parisi teaches courses in Zoology, Bioindicators, and Animal Biology across multiple degree programs including Natural and Environmental Sciences and Environmental Analysis and Management, preparing students to address contemporary challenges in marine environmental science.
Bedri Kurtuluş is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering , Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University , specializing in Geological Engineering with a focus on Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri ve Uzaktan Algılama (Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing) . He earned his Bachelor's degree from Hacettepe University (2003), Master's from Université de Poitiers (2004), and PhD in Hidrojeoloji Mühendisliği (Hydrogeology Engineering) from Hacettepe University (2009). Research Interests: Hydrogeology, Karstic Aquifers, Groundwater Pollution, Remote Sensing, Environmental Geochemistry, Soft Computing Applications Research Trends from 2007–2023 show consistent work on karstic aquifer modeling, heavy metal contamination in lakes, and AI/soft computing applications for groundwater dynamics. His 2023 article on Fethiye-Göcek Bay sediment pollution highlights persistent environmental challenges in SW Turkey, while 2019–2022 studies on microplastic transport and hydraulic conductivity demonstrate methodological innovation. Karst aquifer characterization via geophysical methods (2020) and thermal remote sensing (2019) are recurring themes. Scientific Contributions include 15+ peer-reviewed articles (Elsevier, MDPI, Frontiers), with 2023–2021 works on pollution indices, AI-based discharge modeling, and UAV thermal monitoring. He has supervised theses on microplastic transport (2024), karst aquifer assessment (2019), and groundwater recharge (2015–2017). Key Projects : 2020–2024: Irrigation water allocation optimization in Saudi Arabia 2016–2023: EU-funded groundwater resilience study (GRECPIMA) 2013–2016: Amphibious UAV remote sensing for coastal investigation 2012–2019: Liwa Aquifer water well assessment (UAE) Leadership spans 10+ projects, including TÜBİTAK-funded studies on Aegean submarine faults (2019–2023) and Muğla groundwater resources (2018). He has served on editorial boards for journals like Computers & Geosciences (2017) and Journal of Arabian Geosciences (2020).
