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Research Theme: Engineered Biological Systems

Engineered biological treatments such as wastewater treatment plants are amazing.

Successful biological treatment remains one of the most cost-effective methods of pollutant removal.

Engineered biological treatments such as wastewater treatment plants are amazing. Thousands of different micro-organisms come together in an engineered space to remove pollutants.

All biological treatment plants operate to the same rules. Understanding the rules that govern microbial communities is essential. They underpin the successful design and operation of such treatment plants.

Microbial ecology provides a new scientific basis for engineering better systems. In environmental engineering, we are applying a synthesis of ecological theories and DNA-based molecular measurement tools. This helps us to predict how microbial communities assemble and change over time. We are developing our understanding of how they respond to nutrients and other resources.

Our environmental engineering research also focuses on integrating quantitative microbial data into simple process models. We model the actions of microorganisms involved in specific process functions or problems.

Environmental Engineering student

Our research