Applications of novel nitrogen-cycling microorganisms towards carbon neutral wastewater treatment

Jianhua Guo
The University of Queensland, Australia

Associate Professor Jianhua Guo is the Deputy Director- Research of Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC) at The University of Queensland, Australia. His research focuses on effective integration of process engineering, environmental microbiology and environmental biotechnology to develop innovative and sustainable technological solutions for water and wastewater treatment. He is also an active researcher in environmental dimension of antibiotic resistance, an area of increasing concern in urban water management. He was awarded Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award in 2013 and Future Fellowship in 2017. He has published more than 180 fully refereed papers to date. He is an Editor of the Journal of Hazardous Materials, Water Science & Technology, and an Associate Editor of Water Research.

Integration of fermentative processes and bioelectrochemical systems. Application to agro-industrial effluents

Francisco Jesus Fernandez Morales
University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Chemical Engineer from the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in 1998, Master in Business Management from the National University of Distance Education in 2003 and PhD in Chemical Engineering (2004, UCLM). Currently, Full Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the UCLM. Teaching activity in the Degree and Master of Chemical Engineering, in the Master of Renewable Energies and in the Degree in Food Science and Technology of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) and in the Master in Management, Treatment and Valorization of Organic Waste of the Miguel Hernández University (UMH).
His research activity mainly focuses on the environmental treatments and on the energy and material recovery of residual effluents through the use of biological and electrochemical techniques. He has participated in projects funded by European and Spanish institutions as well as from private companies. He is an evaluator of R&D projects in different agencies (Portugal, Poland, Chile, Argentina, Spain) and belongs to the editorial committee and is a regular censor of several scientific journals.

Recovery of valuable products from food waste fermentation: hydrothermal intensification and mixed microbial consortium regulation

Xiang Li
Donghua University, Shanghai

Prof. Xiang Li, Donghua University, graduated from Tongji University, visiting scholar of Rice University and TU Delft. Deputy chef of Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Emission Reduction in the Textile Industry. His research focuses on:
1) Waste activated sludge and food waste bioconversion to high value-added organic acids;
2) High strengthen organic wastewater treatment using AOP or anaerobic microbe;
3) Organic waste reduction using catalytic hydrothermal pretreatment.
 
Prof. Xiang Li is Principal coordinator in SHENG2 project. Published 50+ paper in ES&T, Water Research, Chemical Engineering Journal, Green Chem. et al. Owned 50+ authorized patents, Kaohsiung International Invention & Design Expo, Gold Metal.

Reduction of Methane Emission from Wetlands: A new insight of manganese-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation

Jun Zhai
Chongqing University, China

Dr. Jun Zhai is a Professor of College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, and the Vice Dean of Institute for Smart City of Chongqing University in Liyang; Regional Coordinator (China) of the IWA Specialized Group on “Wetland systems for Water pollution Control”. He does the research works in the areas of Nature-based solution for water pollution control and reuse, and industrial waste treatment and resources recovery. He has been published extensively as author and co-author of over 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Krishna Pagilla, PhD, PE
Ralph and Rose Hoeper Engineering Professor

Foundation Professor
Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Director, Nevada Water Innovation Institute

Dr. Krishna Pagilla is the Ralph E. and Rose A. Hoeper Engineering Professor,  Foundation Professor, and Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is also the Director of Nevada Water Innovation Institute, a university-utility collaboration to meet regional water technology and development needs, and to drive leading edge research and innovation in the water sector. Dr. Pagilla’s expertise is in water quality, water resource recovery, indirect potable water reuse, and environmental biotechnology. His research group currently focuses on water reclamation for indirect potable reuse through ozone-biologically active carbon filtration based treatment systems, nutrient control and recovery in water reclamation, and wastewater based epidemiology to determine community prevalence of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
He has published 125 peer-reviewed journal papers and over 100 other publications in various aspects of water engineering and science. Dr. Pagilla received numerous awards from national and international organizations, and is a Fellow of Water Environment Federation (WEF), International Water Association, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Dr. Pagilla received the Engelbrecht International Service Award (2021), McKee Groundwater Protection, Restoration, or Sustainable Use Award (2020), Thomas R. Camp Applied Research Award (2013), and Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Award (2013), and Harrison Prescott Eddy Medal for Outstanding Applied Research on Wastewater Principles and Processes (2011) from the Water Environment Federation (WEF). He received the Bill Boyle Outstanding Educator Award (2012) from the Central States Water Environment Association. Dr. Pagilla was inducted into the Illinois Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers (5S) in 2011 and Nevada 5S in 2021.
Dr. Pagilla held numerous leadership positions in the water profession. He served as President of Illinois Water Environment Association (2012-13), as President of Nevada Water Environment Association (2020-21), and as the Chair of the USA National Committee of IWA (2016-19). He currently serves as an International Juror for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition conducted by the Stockholm International Water Institute, and as a member of the USEPA Science Advisory Board. Dr. Pagilla hosted the IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies in Reno-Sparks, Nevada in March-April, 2022 as its Organizing Committee Chair.
Dr. Pagilla holds a PhD degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering from the University of California (Berkeley, CA) and MS and BE degrees in Civil/Environmental Engineering. Dr. Pagilla is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Illinois and California, and Board-Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.