2024
Emma Bush
Undergraduate Independent Study Researcher, January 2024 – May 2024
Project: Optimization of drying regime to maximize energy efficiency and nutritional quality of duckweed biomass for use as a protein supplement.
Chemical Engineering, Penn State
Email: ezb5584@psu.edu
Marabelle DeLaurentis
Undergraduate Honors Researcher, October 2022 – May 2024
Thesis: Life cycle assessment of duckweed vertical farming systems for household protein production.
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email: mqd5760@psu.edu
2023
Dr. Femeena Pandara Valappil
Assistant Research Professor, July 2022 – Dec. 2023
Project: Sustainability assessment modeling and life cycle assessment at the water-energy-food nexus.
Email: fpp5057@psu.edu
Personal website
Jordan D. Brown
M.S. Student, January 2021 – Dec. 2023
Thesis: The formation of pelletized duckweed: evaluating its physical properties and feasibility as a fertilizer under varied rainfall intensities in laboratory soil columns.
Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Penn State
Email: jdb6581@psu.edu
Evan Kase
Undergraduate Researcher, Aug. 2022 – Dec. 2023
Project: Environmental impact assessment of a solar farm installation on agricultural grazing land to offset natural gas use at Penn State University.
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email: eok5195@psu.edu
Sarine McKenzie
Graduate Student, July 2022 – June 2023
Project: Recovery of waste nutrients under suboptimal conditions to generate protein-rich duckweed for food production.
Environmental Engineering, Penn State
2022
Lucy Traub
Undergraduate Independent Study Researcher, Jan. – Dec. 2022
Chemical Engineering, Penn State
Email: lrt5176@psu.edu
Sarah Lanphear
Drawdown REU Scholar, June 2022 – Aug. 2022
Project: Lowering the carbon footprint and environmental impact of agriculture: the potential of duckweed as a nutritious protein alternative.
B.S. Biology and B.A. Creative Writing, expected May 2024
Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA
Email: lansara1@lycoming.edu
Dr. Femeena Pandara Valappil
Postdoctoral Scholar, July 2020 – June 2022
Project: Sustainability assessment modeling at the water-energy-food nexus.
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Penn State
Email: fpp5057@psu.edu
Personal website
2021
Greg House
PhD Student, Jan. – Dec. 2021
Project: Upcycling waste nutrients on dairy farms to support the nitrogen bioeconomy.
Environmental Engineering, Penn State
Louise Shaffer
Drawdown REU Scholar, June 2021 – Aug. 2021
Project: Nutrient recovery and upcycling with duckweed: a strategy for reducing the environmental impact of dairy farms.
Chemical Engineering, Penn State
Email: lbs5399@psu.edu
Matthew Arenas
REU Scholar and Undergraduate Research Assistant, June 2020 – May 2021
Projects: “Integrating Law, Policy, and Engineering: Digital Open Badges for Sustainability” and “Water-Energy-Food Nexus Project Discovery Map”
Industrial Engineering, Penn State
Email: maa6334@psu.edu
Erin Anderson
Undergraduate Independent Study Researcher, Jan. 2021 – May 2021
Project: Duckweed as a sustainable alternative for protein production under catastrophic conditions: laboratory testing and virtual water analysis.
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email: eea5146@psu.edu
2020
Benjamin Roman
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Jan. 2016 – Dec. 2020
Dissertation: “The potential, safety, and environmental impacts of growing duckweed in an ecological wastewater treatment system as a source of protein for livestock or fish.”
Environmental Engineering, Penn State
Email: bjr5195@psu.edu
Divya Jain
Drawdown REU Scholar, June 2020 – July 2020
Project: “Carbon Negative Solutions: Reducing Dining’s Carbon Pawprint at Penn State”
Chemistry, Penn State
Email: dzj5165@psu.edu
Irene Posada Merida
Drawdown REU Scholar, June 2020 – July 2020
Project: “Drawdown for Sustainable Development: A Water-Energy-Food Nexus Initiative for La Guajira, Colombia”
Environmental Engineering, Ohio State
Email: irepo2000@gmail.com
Carlos (Junior) Fernandez Pulido
M.S. Student, August 2018 – May 2020
Thesis: “Anthracite as a Filter Media to Remove Petrogenic Hydrocarbons from Stormwater.”
Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Penn State
Email: cfernandezpulido@gmail.com
Courtney Dumm
Undergraduate Honors Researcher, Dec. 2018 – May 2020
Thesis: “Fate and Transport of Trace Organic Contaminants on Microplastics Discharged from the Penn State Wastewater Treatment Plant.”
Environmental Systems Engineering, Penn State
Email: cad5762@psu.edu
Eric Belles
Undergraduate Honors Researcher, Dec. 2018 – May 2020
Thesis: “A Systematic Carbon and Energy Balance of the Penn State Eco-Machine.”
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email: emb5931@psu.edu
Dr. Mathew Kurian
Postdoctoral Scholar, November 2019 – June 2020
Project: “A Systems Approach for Meeting Local and Global Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus Challenges.”
The Pennsylvania State University
Email: mkk5863@psu.edu
2019
Ashleigh Henry
Drawdown REU Scholar, May 2019 – July 2019
Project: “Full-Circle Nutrient Management Using Aquatic Biomass for Regenerative Agriculture in the State of Pennsylvania.”
Email: ashleighhenry630@gmail.com
Georgia Christopoulos
Drawdown REU Scholar, May 2019 – July 2019
Project: “Full-Circle Nutrient Management Using Aquatic Biomass for Regenerative Agriculture in the State of Pennsylvania.”
Email: gachristopoulos@gmail.com
A. Ozgul Calicioglu
Ph.D. Environmental Engr., Jan. 2014 – May 2019
Dissertation: “Feasibility Assessment of Large-Scale Duckweed Biorefineries: Technical, Environmental, and Economic Evaluation of Integrated Wastewater Treatment and Bioenergy Production using Duckweed.”
Environmental Engineering, Penn State
Email: auc261@psu.edu
Mpila Nkiawete
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Aug. 2018 – May 2019
Project: “Bioenergy Production from Duckweed.”
Energy Engineering, Penn State
Email: mmn19@psu.edu
2018
Michael J. Shreve
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering and NSF Fellow, August 2018
Dissertation: “Trace Organic Contaminants and Microbial Diversity in Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Systems.”
Environmental Engineering, Penn State
Email: mjs697@psu.edu
Kayla Wirth
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Aug. 2017 – May 2018
Project: “Methanogenic Digestion of Duckweed to Maximize Bioenergy Yields.”
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email:krw5342@psu.edu
Matthew Foltz
Undergraduate Independent Study, August 2017 – May 2018
Project: “Optimization of Duckweed Drying for Long-Term Storage: Minimizing Energy Consumption for Pathogen Inactivation.”
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email: mrf5321@psu.edu
Joseph L. Titman
Undergraduate Research Assistant, May 2017 – May 2018
NSF REU Project: “Adaptation of a Chemostat for Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) Experiments.”
Chemical Engineering, Penn State
Email: jlt5574@psu.edu
2017
Adam W. Wilusz
M.Eng. Student, August 2017 – December 2017
Project: “The Use of GIS Software to Display and Calculate Spatially Varied Duckweed Growth Rates.”
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email:adamwilusz@gmail.com
Nicole Urban
Undergraduate Research Assistant, May 2016 – May 2017
Project: “Sequential Ethanol Fermentation and Methanogenic Anaerobic Digestion of Duckweed to Maximize Bioenergy Yields from Ecological Wastewater Treatment Systems.”
Engineering Science, Penn State
Email:nlu5005@psu.edu
2016
Andrew Jackson
Undergraduate Honors Researcher, Aug. 2015 – Dec. 2016
Honors Thesis: “Quantification and Analysis of Microplastics in Penn State Wastewater Systems.”
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email: adj5125@psu.edu
Marissa Hartleb
M.S. Student, June 2014 – December 2016
Thesis: “Microbial community development in an ecological wastewater treatment system.”
Email: marissa.hartleb@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
Carlos (Junior) Fernandez Pulido
M.S. Student, January 2015 – August 2016
Thesis: “Duckweed as a sustainable soil amendment to support crop growth, enhance soil quality, and reduce agricultural runoff.”
Environmental Engineering, Penn State
Email: cfernandezpulido@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
Kara Slocum
M.Eng. Environmental Engineering, May 2016
Research Assistant, August 2015 – May 2016
Current employment: Civil Design Engineer
Sasaki Associates, Watertown, MA 02472
Email: kslocum93@gmail.com
Cody Campolong
Undergraduate Honors Researcher, August 2015 – May 2016
Honors Thesis: “A preliminary trial to determine the feeding preference of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) fingerlings for different preparations of Lemna minor (duckweed).”
Civil Engineering, Penn State
Email: cjc5575@psu.edu
Jonathan J. Caballero
Undergraduate Research Assistant, May 2014 – May 2016
COE REU Project: “Nutrient leaching and crop growth in agricultural soil amended with Lemna minor (duckweed).”
Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering, Penn State
Email: jvc5546@psu.edu
2015
Mohamad Kanbari
Undergraduate Honors Researcher, May 2015 – Dec. 2015
Project: “Design of a Solar UV Disinfection Unit for the Penn State Eco-Machine.”
Energy Engineering, Penn State
Email: mkanbari@gmail.com
Sarah L. Wood
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Jan. 2015 – Aug. 2015
NSF REU Project: “Development of an Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) System for the Removal of Emerging Contaminants from Wastewater.”
Chemical Engineering, Penn State
Email: slw5531@psu.edu
Andrew N. Kreider
M.S. Environmental Engineering and NSF Fellow, Aug. 2013 – Aug. 2015
Thesis: “Behavior of Duckweed as an Agricultural Amendment: Nitrogen Mineralization, Leaching, and Sorghum Uptake.”
Email: andrewkreider7@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
Dr. Neil E. Brown
Research Associate, Fall 2013 – Spring 2015
Project: Engagement and Education in Africa through Development of Ecological Wastewater Treatment Initiatives.
The Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering, and the Development of Africa (AESEDA), Penn State
Email: neb141@psu.edu
Victoria A. Whyte
M.Eng. Environmental Engineering, Jan. 2013 – May 2015
Current employment: Environmental Engineer
Brown & Caldwell, Houston, TX 77042
Email: victoria.whyte14@gmail.com
Wenyan Zhang
Visiting Scholar from Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu Province, China, Jan. 2014 – March 2015
Project: “Nitrogen Mineralization of Lemna in Agricultural Soils and Affects on Crop Production.”
Environmental Engineering
Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu Province, China
Email: 627389011@qq.com
2013
Dane J. Kelsey
M.S. Environmental Engineering, Jan. 2012 – Dec. 2013
Thesis: “Incorporation of Organic Fungicides in Bindered Anthracite Bricks for Improved Storage and Performance in Iron Foundries”
Current employment: Environmental Engineer
Arcadis, U.S., Inc., Newtown, PA 18940
Email: djk5094@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
Yishan Lin
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Aug. 2009 – Dec. 2013
Dissertation: “Evaluation of Microbial Communities and their Relationships with Chemical Performance in Passive Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Systems Amended with Crab Shell”
Current employment: Research Scientist
Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Email: yshanlisa@gmail.com
Shamir West
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Jan. 2013 – Sept. 2013
Chemical Engineering, Penn State
Email: sow5181@psu.edu
2012
Sean McKee
B.S. Civil Engineering with Honors, August 2012
Honors Thesis: “Start-Up of a Pilot-Scale Ecological Wastewater Treatment System: Water Quality Fluctuations as an Indicator of Ecosystem Development”
Email: seanmckee100@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
M. William (Will) Sheehan
B.S. Civil Engineering with Honors, May 2012
Email: willsheehan3@gmail.com
Shanxing (Tommy) Lin
B.S. Civil Engineering, May 2012
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Spring 2010 – Spring 2012
Sara S. Goots
B.S. Environmental Systems Engr., Honors in Environmental Engr, August 2012
Honors Thesis and NSF REU Project: “Cleaning Up Little Laurel Run: Design and Performance of Different Crab-Shell Mixtures for Supporting Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage in Pilot-Scale Reactors at the Klondike-1 Discharge”
Email: sara.goots@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
2011
Andrew N. Kreider
Undergraduate Research Assistant, May 2011 – Dec. 2011; Jan. 2013 – May 2013
Project: “Start-up Strategies and Life Cycle Assessment of Ecological Wastewater Treatment Systems”
Mechanical Engineering, Penn State
Email: ank5132@psu.edu
Jessica A. Grembi
M.S. Environmental Engineering, August 2009 – May 2011
Thesis: “Remediation of High-Strength Mine Impacted Water with Crab Shell Substrate Mixtures: Laboratory Column and Field Pilot Tests”
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Stanford University
Email: jgrembi@stanford.edu
Natthida (Kwan) Bihnsomprasong
M.S. Environmental Engineering, August 2009 – May 2011
Thesis: “Biocatalysis of Lignin and COD in Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent Using Immobilized Symbiotic Fungal Mycelia”
Current employment: Environmental Engineer
The Siam Cement Group, Thailand
Email: natthidb@scg.co.th
Erin Henry
M.S. Environmental Engineering, May 2009 – May 2011
Thesis: “The Development of an Advanced Treatment Process to Remove Endocrine Disrupting Compounds from Wastewater using Phanerochaete chrysosporium.”
Current employment: Environmental Engineer I
Arcadis, U.S., Inc., Newtown, PA 18940
Email: erin.henry@arcadis-us.com
2010
Michael J. Shreve
B.S. Environmental Systems Engr., Honors in Environmental Engr., December 2010
Honors Thesis: “Alginate Encapsulation of Phanerochaete chrysosporium for the Fungal Biocatalysis of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Wastewater”
Environmental Systems Engineering, Penn State
Email: mjs697@psu.edu
Abby (Caporuscio) Wolford
M.S. Environmental Engineering, January 2009 – December 2010
Thesis: “The Road to Brook Trout Recovery: Crab Shell Restores Alkalinity to Watersheds Impacted by Acid Deposition”
Email: abbycapo@gmail.com
Linkedin Profile
Bradley A. Sick
B.S. Civil Engineering with Honors, Minor in Environmental Engr., May 2010
Honors Thesis: “Analysis and Design of Fractional Crab-Shell Amendments to Spent Mushroom Compost for the Treatment of High-Strength Mine Impacted Water”
Dr. Neil E. Brown
Research Associate, Summer 2008 – 2010
Project: Pharmaceutical Removal from Wastewater Using Fungal Mycelia
The Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering, and the Development of Africa (AESEDA), Penn STate
Email: neb141@psu.edu
2009
Amanda K. Brown
B.S. Civil Engineering, Minor in Environmental Engr., December 2009
NSF REU Project: “Passive Remediation of “High Risk” Acid Mine Drainage Using Crab-Shell Chitin as a Substrate Amendment: Microcosm Tests”
Email: amandabrown1120@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
Dr. Mary Ann Robinson-Lora
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Aug. 2007 – Dec. 2009
Dissertation: Evaluation of Chitinous Materials as a Multifunctional Substrate for the Remediation of Mine Impacted Water
Email: robinsonmaryann@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
Alessia Eramo
M.S. Environmental Engineering, Aug. 2007 – Aug. 2009
Thesis: Bioremediation of Diesel Contaminated Soil Using Spent Mushroom Compost
Email: Alessia_Eramo@golder.com
LinkedIn profile
Caroline Newcombe
M.S. Environmental Engineering, Aug. 2009 – May 2009
Email: cnewcombe@eaest.com
LinkedIn profile
2007
Mary Ann Robinson-Lora
M.S. Environmental Engineering, Aug. 2005 – Aug. 2007
Thesis: Biological Denitrification of Drinking Water Supplies Using Chitin
Email: robinsonmaryann@gmail.com
LinkedIn profile
Hua Cai
M.S. Environmental Engineering, Aug. 2005 – May 2007
2006
Linda Daubert
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Honors in Environmental Engineering, Jan. 2005 – May 2006
Honors Thesis: A Laboratory Investigation of Passive Remediation of Acid Mine Drainage Using Chitin from Crab Shells
Email: lndauber@us.ibm.com
LinkedIn profile
2005
Dr. Booki Min
Post-Doctoral Researcher, 2005
Current Employment: Assistant Research Professor
The Technical University of Denmark
Institute of Environment & Resources
Bygningstorvet bldg. 113
Kgs Lyngby, DK 2800, Denmark
Email: bom@er.dtu.dk
2005
- 2005
