Principal Investigator
Dr. Xavier Fonoll Almansa
Assistant Professor
Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Michigan
Ph.D. in Engineering and Advanced Technologies, University of Barcelona
M.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Barcelona
B. Eng. in Chemical Engineering, University of Barcelona
Dr. Fonoll Almansa's research combines microbial community Engineering, and environmental and chemical Engineering to develop new technologies that work towards the recovery of resources from urban and agricultural organic waste streams. His lab focuses on the use of Hydrothermal Liquefaction and anaerobic biotechnologies to recover resources like biocrude, biogas and volatile fatty acids. The technologies developed aim to solve global challenges such as the lack of proper sanitation in developing countries and remote areas without infrastructure.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Tawsif Rahman
Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University
M.S. in Environment and Energy Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology, Korea
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST)
Tawsif Rahman has extensive experience with hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis and hydrotreatment technologies for fuels and chemicals.
Seunghwan Kim
Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University
M.S. In Environmental Science, Sejong University
B.S. in Environment, Energy and Geoinformatics, Sejong University
Dr. Kim is interested in research on recovering resources and energy from waste using anaerobic digestion and membrane technologies.
Ph.D. Students
Xuemei Li
M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Hunan University
B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Qingdao University
Xuemei is currently working on simulating rumen-like environments to enhance lignocellulose hydrolysis. Prior to joining UT, she focused on identifying and controlling emerging contaminants in the environment and researching microbial processes in the anaerobic digestion of sludge.
William Wehner
M.S. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Riverside
B.Eng. in Civil Engineering, University of Dayton
Will returned to finish his Ph.D. after 8 years in wastewater consulting at HDR. He is active in leadership for WEAT (Water Environment Association of Texas) and WEF (Water Environment Federation) Although his professional and academic experience has focused on wastewater, Will has also designed processes for drinking water systems and infrastructure for developing communities. Along with his professional interest in treatment processes, Will also pursues process design with his automated homebrewing beer system.
Master’s Students
Yunfan Lu
Pursuing M.S. in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
B.S. in Chemical Molecular Engineering, Stonybrook University
Yunfan is focusing on the impact of propylene glycol's influence in wastewater treatment process. After he completes this project, Yunfan will work with HTL liquid.
Undergraduate Students
Violet Dinh Boyd
B.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Violet is a current undergraduate research assistant who built and now maintains the group’s website using GitHub Pages.
Micah Li
B.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Alumni
Iris Bradbury
B.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin