Current HKUST Members

Research Assistant Professor at HKUST focused on bioconversion of organic resources via anaerobic digestion, nanobubble technology, aquaponics/bioponics, and macroalgae-based biorefinery. Editor of Bioresource Technology Reports. Listed as Top 2% Scientist by Elsevier and Stanford University.

Joined HKUST in August 2025 with Ph.D. from University of Tübingen, Germany. Focuses on developing microaeration strategies to enhance anaerobic digestion for waste(water) treatment and resource recovery.

Joined HKUST in August 2025 with Ph.D. from Shandong University, China. Focuses on nanobubble technology to enhance phytoremediation for improving plant-based removal of environmental pollutants.

Specializes in sustainable waste treatment and resource recovery. Integrates experimental studies of anaerobic digestion with machine learning modeling to advance biowaste valorization.

Keliang Zhu is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering at HKUST, joining the university in September 2026. His research focuses on microaeration-assisted anaerobic digestion, with particular interests in anaerobic digestion and microbial community dynamics.

Senali is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering, specializing in the application of nanobubble technology for sustainable plant production. Her research explores the potential of nanobubbles to optimize plant growth and productivity across hydroponic, aquaponic, and bioponic systems, with a particular focus on uncovering their underlying mechanisms through the study of biochemical pathways, plant metabolism, and gene expression.

Gokarna Chand is a MPhil student in our group. He holds a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His research includes pyrolysis, biomass to energy conversion, ligno-cellulosic biomass extraction, and anaerobic digestion.

Nicolas Patricio is a MPhil student in our group. He holds a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering from University of São Paulo, Brazil. His research focuses on nanobubbles in hydroponic systems, vertical farming, and high-value crops like strawberries and cherry tomatoes.

Layas Thapaliya is a MPhil student in our group at HKUST. He holds a B.E in Chemical Engineering from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His research focuses on environmental biotechnology, including biological treatment processes for sustainable resource recovery and waste valorization.

Cindy Agriningsih Haruna is a researcher in sustainable materials technology, currently pursuing her MPhil degree at HKUST. She holds a M.Sc. in Bio-Chemical Engineering and Technology from Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, Thailand, and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Halu Oleo University, Indonesia. Her research focuses on biodegradable polymers and composite films, waste-to-value materials for food packaging, sustainable packaging technology, and circular valorization.

Yasaman Mohtat is an MPhil student in our group at HKUST. She holds an M.Sc. in Mining Engineering, Mining and Environment specialization, and a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran, where her thesis investigated trace element leaching from low-grade copper ore using experimental, kinetic, and machine learning approaches. Her research at HKUST will focus on phytoremediation, applying plant-based systems to the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water.