Final registration ends on April 21, 2027.
Professor, Korea University
President , International ESG Association (IESGA)
South Korea
Title:Distinguished Professor, University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University (NCSU),USA
About: Sunkyu Park is the Associate Department Head, Jordan Family Distinguished Professor, and University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University (NCSU). He joined the NCSU faculty in 2009 after earning his Ph.D. in the same department, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Dr. Park’s department is a national leader in Pulp and Paper education, where he teaches process simulation for pulp and paper operations and biorefinery systems. His research encompasses a broad spectrum of biorefinery development, emphasizing the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials, with primary funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
He is recognized as a leading researcher in bio-based graphite production, a field with significant potential to reduce dependence on foreign sources of battery-grade graphite. Dr. Park has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, holds an h-index of 54 with over 12,500 citations, and is currently leading seven DOE-funded projects, serving as principal investigator on four of them.
Title: Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
About: Dr. Bruce E. Dale received his bachelor’s (summa cum laude) and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Arizona and the doctorate from Purdue University in 1979. Dr. Dale is currently University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at Michigan State University. He serves as Editor in Chief and Founding Editor of the journal Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. He won the Charles D. Scott Award (1996) for contributions to biofuel production and the Sterling Hendricks Award (2007) for contributions to agriculture. Professor Dale was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2011 and a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers in 2015. In 2017 he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Inventors. He has published over 325 archival journal papers which have been cited over 50,000 times and has received 63 US and international patents. His research interests are the relationship between energy use and prosperity and the design of integrated agroenergy systems to produce fuels, chemicals, animal feed, food and environmental services.
Title: Assistant Professor, United Arab Emirates University, U.A.E..
About:Dr Kit Wayne Chew is an Assistant Professor at the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, U.A.E. His research and technological development interests are in sustainable bioprocess engineering for food and biofuel products, focusing on the utilization of algae biotechnology to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly methods for the synthesis of functional ingredients. He received the Highly Cited Researcher award 2023, MIT Technology Review 2023 Innovators under 35, Green Talents Award 2022 and was listed as the Top 2% World Top Scientists in The Stanford List since 2021.
Title: Research Scientist - Synthetic Biology ,Biological Systems and Engineering ,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
About: Justin Panich, Ph.D., is a research scientist working at the intersection of microbial metabolism, redox biochemistry, and biomanufacturing. His research focuses on engineering microbial systems to couple electrochemistry and C1 feedstocks to the production of fuels, chemicals, and materials, with particular emphasis on hydrogenases, electro-microbial interfaces, and alternative feedstocks. He has led interdisciplinary research programs spanning fundamental enzymology, strain engineering, and process-relevant system design, supported by federal and industrial funding. Justin also engages in translational and investment-oriented work exploring pathways to scale low-carbon biomanufacturing technologies.
Title:Postdoctoral Associate,University of Maryland, USA
About: Anga Awonke Hackula is a Research Fellow and Postdoctoral Associate in Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He holds a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from University College Cork, where his research focused on decarbonizing industrial systems through anaerobic digestion and biorefinery concepts. His work centers on dark fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and circular bioeconomy strategies, with a growing emphasis on saline and marine bioenergy systems. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and has presented internationally on waste valorization, volatile fatty acid production, and sustainable energy recovery technologies.
Title:Associate Professor,Arizona State University, USA
About: Dr. Ellie Fini is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, an Invention Ambassador at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fulbright Scholar of Aalborg University of Denmark, a Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation and Director of the Innovation Network for Materials, Methods and Management. Her research focuses on the design, synthesis, characterization, and atomistic modeling of novel materials to promote the sustainability and health of civil infrastructure.
In addition to more than 200 scholarly publications and numerous invited talks, her research has been featured by BBC Women in STEM, Science Nation, Wired Magazine, and CNBC. She is editor of the ASCE Journal of Materials and Journal of Resources, Conservation & Recycling. She has served as the president of ASCE’s North Carolina Northern Branch and a program director of the National Science Foundation. Her achievements have been recognized via multiple awards including an NSF CAREER award, ASEE Gerald Seeley award, BEYA Emerald STEM Innovation award, NC BioTech Research Excellence award and WTS Innovative Transportation Solution award to name a few.
Title:Executive Director,Bioenergy Association of California (BAC), USA
About: Julia Levin is an attorney who specializes in energy and climate policy. She has served as the Executive Director of the Bioenergy Association of California (BAC) since its founding in 2012. Prior to BAC, Julia served as the Deputy Secretary for Climate Change and Energy at the California Natural Resources Agency where she chaired the Governor’s Inter-Agency Bioenergy Working Group and led development of California’s 2012 Bioenergy Action Plan. Julia has also served as a Commissioner on the California Energy Commission, where she led the Commission’s work on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Previously, Julia worked for the National Audubon Society, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the World Bank, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Julia has a B.A. from Brown University and a law degree from the University of California, San Francisco.
Title:Adjunct Professor,University of California, Berkeley, USA
About: Jennifer C. Fletcher is an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Plant Molecular Geneticist at the USDA-ARS Plant Gene Expression Center. She has served as a member of numerous plant biology advisory boards and as Acting Director of the PGEC in 2021 and 2022. Known for her lab’s groundbreaking work to decipher the genetic regulation of plant stem cell activity, currently Jennifer’s group is translating their research into yield trait optimization for the neo-domestication of bioenergy crops and analysis of the development of brown macroalgae to enhance their utility as bioenergy sources for the blue bioeconomy. She received her BA in Biology from the University of Chicago and her PhD from the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah.
Title:Research Scientist,The Ohio State University, USA
About: Beenish Saba is a Research Scientist in the Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University. Her research centers on bioelectrochemical systems for wastewater treatment and the valorization of food waste. She is also engaged in the design and analysis of biomass-to–value-added renewable chemical and biopolymer production systems, with a particular focus on converting solid wastes into biofuels and other high-value bioproducts. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Engineering from the Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering as a Fulbright Scholar.
Title:Research Analyst,World Resources Institute, USA
About: Angela Isabella Scafidi is a Research Analyst at World Resources Institute, supporting the US Lands and Land & Carbon Lab teams with research, data and GIS analysis. Her work spans a range of topics, from US biofuels and biomass to community-level GHG emissions.
Prior to joining WRI, Angela worked as a contractor for the US EPA’s Office of Research and Development. Angela holds a M.S. in Geospatial Information Sciences from the University of Maryland and two Bachelor of Arts degrees from New York University in Environmental Studies and Romance Languages.
Title:Analytical chemist,Berkeley, United States
About: Emine Akyuz Turumtay received her MSc and PhD degrees from the Department of Chemistry at Karadeniz Technical University, TĂĽrkiye. She studied in the Pfizer Analytical Research Centre, Ghent University, Belgium with supervisor, Prof. Partick Sandra focusing on advanced chromatographic analysis of plan extracts. She worked at Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy on a project led by Prof. Dr. Robert Arnold. Since April 2024, she has been working as a Senior Research Associate at LBNL and the JBEI. My research focuses on the quantitative analysis of metabolites generated during the modification of energy plants and microbial communities using a QTOF-LC-MS system.
Title:Associate Professor,TecnolĂłgico de Monterrey, Mexico
About: Karina Guadalupe Coronado-Apodaca is a Chemical and Environmental Engineer and Associate Professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, where she also serves as Associate Director of the Department of Sustainable Technologies and Civil Engineering. Her research focuses on circular bioeconomy, bioenergy from waste, and nature-based solutions for water and resource recovery. She leads the international project “Circular Economy Pathways for Agro-Industrial Waste,” collaborating with partners in Europe and the Americas. Dr. Coronado-Apodaca has received multiple recognitions, including the Emerging Woman in Energy Transition Award and Mujer Tec 2026 (Environment). She is a member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI).
Title: Professor,Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
About: Dr. Elsayed Elbeshbishy is a Professor at Civil Engineering Department at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is the Immediate Past-President of the Canadian Association on Water Quality (CAWQ) and a Governing Member-IWA Canada. Dr. Elbeshbishy has extensive experience on developing new technologies for converting the organic wastes to renewable natural gas (RNG) and recover the value-added products from municipal wastes. He is currently leading a team on quantifying and modeling the greenhouse gas emission (GHG) from Wastewater Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) using multiple tools. His research areas also include intensification of anaerobic digestion, pretreatment technologies, fermentation process, and solid waste management. He received many research and teaching awards. He is one of the team received the 2024 International Water Association (IWA) – Project Innovation Award (PIA) for the IntensiCarb TM (All in One Tank, Innovative Anaerobic Digestion Technology).
Title: President & Founder,Group Science Director,Enhanced Biofuels and technologies, India & USA
About: Dr Ganapathy Arumugam- President & Founder with experience extending over a period of 30 plus years, including both academic and commercial appointments. As the founding member of the Green World Biotech, Ganapathy Arumugam's work includes fundamental research into all aspects of Biofuel, Green Energy Green Hydrogen Non Edible Feed stock for SAF, SMF, STF from Tree Bone Oil Seeds Such as Jatropha, Pongamia, Rubber and Micro algae as a source of non-edible feedstock to National & International Energy security. His expertise includes Net Zero Emission, Carbon offset, Biofuels, Green Energy, Waste Management, Agarwood, Coconut based Multi Storied Cropping system (High Carbon Credit) development of new varieties, plant tissue culture, bio fertilizers, bio control agents etc. He has developed high yield, high quality and pest/ disease resistant types of various crops in the field of agriculture, horticulture, forestry and energy crops, Crop residue into Biochar, Green Graphene . Er. Aravinth Muthusamy is the COO of Enhanced Biofuels and Technologies LLC, USA, leading global projects in biofuels, SAF, hydrogen systems, biochar and carbon credit development. He specializes in scaling carbon-negative clean-energy infrastructure for data centers, aviation and industrial decarbonization. The company has top expertise Carbon credit from Mangroves and Best Green technology to retrieve heavy metal from Gold Tailing and extract green gold followed by mined soil refilled and plant trees for Biofuel. Ramalakshmi Arumugam, Dr Sornamuki Arumugam, and Vigneswari Gowri Arumugam are the founder Directors responsible for the Carbon Audit, Robotics based Vertical Farming and Micro Algae based Photobioreactors in association with University of Arizona, and Ramalakshmi Arumugam are the founder Directors our custom designed Algae technology are the best source of carbon mitigation.
Title:Professor, University of Maine, USA
About: Clay Wheeler is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute (FBRI) at the University of Maine. He earned his Ph.D. in 1997 from the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in heterogeneous catalysis and surface adsorption phenomena. Wheeler’s career spans industry, national laboratories, and academia. He worked as a research engineer at Texaco, Inc., focusing on enhanced oil recovery and Fischer–Tropsch gas-to-liquids technologies. He later served as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where he applied catalytic principles to advance chemical sensor selectivity. As Director of FBRI, Wheeler leads efforts to convert under‑utilized biomass into fuels, chemicals, and advanced materials. The institute operates a 40,000‑square‑foot research facility equipped with two pilot plants and an extensive array of chemical processing unit operations.
Title: Director, Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley,
About: Dr. Simmons is the Director of the Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (biosciences.lbl.gov). He also serves as the Chief Science and Technology Officer and Vice-President of the Deconstruction Division at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (www.jbei.org), a DOE Office of Science funded project tasked with the development and realization of advanced biofuels and bioproducts produced from sustainable, non-food lignocellulosic biomass. After spending 15 years at Sandia National Laboratories, he joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has over 400 publications and holds more than 50 patents.
Title:Principal at Azolla Ventures, Massachusetts, Cambridge, USA
About:Jillian Chase is a Principal at Azolla Ventures, an impact-first climate fund that blends catalytic and full-cycle capital to support companies with gigaton-scale GHG emissions reduction potential. Jillian is trained as a biochemist, with a specific focus on structural biology, protein structure & function, DNA structure & function and biotechnology. Prior to Azolla, Jillian was Vice President of Flatiron Venture Partners. Her work at Flatiron fostered a keen interest in cellular manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing techniques and AgTech.
Jillian received a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences the University of Rhode Island, spent time working in the in vivo Immunology product development group at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and worked in the lab of Nobel Laureate Dr. Roderick MacKinnon at Rockefeller University / HHMI before receiving her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the City University of New York / City College of New York.
Title:Professor, Department of Bioengineering University of California, USA
About:Adam Arkin is the Dean A. Richard Newton Memorial Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley and Senior Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He and his laboratory specialize in the systems and synthetic biological approaches for discovery, prediction, control and design of microbial and viral functions and behaviors in environmental contexts
He is the chief scientist of the Department of Energy Scientific Focus Area, ENIGMA (Ecosystems and Networks Integrated with Genes and Molecular Assemblies, http://enigma.lbl.gov), designed to understand, at a molecular level, the impact of microbial communities on their ecosystems with specific focus on terrestrial communities in contaminated watersheds.
He also directs the Department of Energy Systems Biology Knowledgebase (KBase) program: (http://kbase.us) an open platform for comparative functional genomics, systems and synthetic biology for microbes, plants and their communities, and for sharing results and methods with other scientists.
He is the lead principal investigator for the three-year project Pro/Prebiotic Regulation for Optimized Treatment and Eradication of Clinical Threats (PROTECT). Berkeley researchers, in collaboration with a team from UC San Diego led by professor Karsten Zengler, will use microbiome engineering to create probiotic bacterial communities that prevent and treat lung pathogens — Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus — in immunocompromised people, such as those with cystic fibrosis or on respirators.
Title:Professor, Korea University , President of the International ESG Association, South Korea
About:Professor Yong Sik Ok is a Full Professor in the Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering at Korea University and President of the International ESG Association. He has been ranked as the world’s No. 1 environmental scientist by multiple global evaluation bodies, including ScholarGPS. His research spans climate change, soil biodiversity, and ESG management, conducted through a highly interdisciplinary approach. He has authored landmark publications in leading journals including Nature, Science, Nature Water, Matter (Cell Press), Nature Sustainability, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Nature Protocols, Nature Reviews Bioengineering, and Environmental Science & Technology. In 2019, he became the first Korean scholar to be named a Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) in the field of environmental ecology. In 2022, he achieved a world-first distinction by being simultaneously recognized as an HCR across environmental ecology, engineering, and biology/biochemistry.
Professor Ok previously served as President of the U.S.-based international society International Society of Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ISTEB). As Program Director of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), he has led large-scale international research initiatives addressing global environmental challenges in collaboration with the world’s top universities, including Stanford University. He is also the Korean partner of the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA), the world’s largest academic–policy collaboration launched at Harvard University and has spearheaded the establishment of the Korea headquarters of the Climate Governance Initiative in partnership with the University of Cambridge and Deloitte.
Currently, Professor Ok focuses on translating ESG management and sustainability science into corporate strategy and public policy. He has delivered ESG strategy lectures and provided executive advisory services to CEOs and CFOs of major global corporations, including Shinhan Financial Group, Samsung Electronics, LG, and POSCO. At Korea University Business School, he founded MBA and EMBA courses titled “Business and the Environment,” contributing to the training of next-generation ESG leaders. He also leads national-level research to establish ESG evaluation criteria and methodologies for Korea’s top 200 corporations.
Through extensive international collaborations, Professor Ok is conducting large-scale field research on biochar-based climate change mitigation technologies and solutions to plastic pollution. In collaboration with Stanford University, he recently developed ESG evaluation indicators related to corporate water use for leading global companies, with the results accepted in Nature Water. His work exemplifies integrative scholarship bridging science and engineering with the humanities and social sciences.
Professor Ok has accumulated over 133,750 citations, with an h-index of 188, and has received more than 105 Highly Cited Papers (HCPs). His annual citation rate has exceeded 20,000 citations per year consistently over the past four years (2022–2025), underscoring his sustained global impact and leadership in environmental and sustainability science.
Title:Research Scientist, Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, USA
About: Nawa Baral is a Research Scientist in Biological Systems and Engineering Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, United States, specializing in process modeling, technoeconomic analysis, and lifecycle assessment. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics, including the design and analysis of terrestrial and aquatic biomass feedstock supply systems, biomass-to-transportation fuels production system analysis (with a focus on renewable sustainable aviation fuels, ground transportation fuels for heavy-duty vehicles, and marine fuels). Additionally, he is actively involved in designing and analyzing biomass-to-value-added renewable commodity chemicals and biopolymers production systems, as well as exploring the conversion of solid and gaseous waste into biofuels, bioplastics, and other value-added bioproducts. He holds the position of Associate Editor at Bioenergy and Biofuels, a specialty section of Frontiers in Energy Research, showcasing his commitment to advancing the field. He earned his Ph.D. in Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering from The Ohio State University, United States.
Title:Dr. Wael Alnoby – Founder of Becom, Egypt
About:Dr. Wael Alnoby is an accomplished Egyptian entrepreneur and expert in bioenergy and sustainable waste-to-energy solutions, with over a decade of experience in developing clean energy technologies and advanced biomass processing systems.
He is the founder of Becom, the first company in Egypt and the Middle East registered with global bioenergy associations, with a clear vision to transform the region’s perception of renewable energy. Under his leadership, Becom specializes in converting agricultural residues and biomass into high-quality products such as wood pellets, biochar, and industrial-grade biofuel.
Dr. Alnoby drives innovation in the circular economy, focusing on reducing industrial carbon emissions, optimizing energy costs, and creating value from waste. He is also committed to raising awareness and educating communities and industries about sustainable energy practices and the benefits of bioenergy.
His leadership combines technical expertise, strategic vision, and a commitment to sustainable industrial growth and environmental impact.
Title:DFSP Chair, Professor at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
About:Rafael Luque (PhD in 2005 from Universidad de Cordoba, Spain) has significant experience in biomass and waste valorization practices to materials, fuels and chemicals including nanoscale chemistry, green chemistry and catalysis as well as environmental remediation with a particular interest on plastic waste (>1000 publications, h-index 121, >65,000 citations, 7 patents, >10 edited books). He was named 2018-2022 Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate Analytics) and received Honorary Professor titles (Doctor Honoris Causa) at Universitá degli studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria and RUDN University
Prof. Luque is currently Head of B4 group (Bioresources, Biopolymers, Biotechnology and Biorefineries) and Project Director at National University of Science and Technology Polytehnica Bucharest (Romania), holding various positions as DFSP Chair Professor at King Saud University (Saudi Arabia), Distinguished Visiting Professor at University of Lahore (Pakistan) and International Distinguished Scientist and Rectoral Advisor at Universidad ECOTEC (Ecuador).
Title:Master and PhD candidate in Economic Development, University of Campinas (UNICAMP) Sao Paulo, Brazil
About: Stéphani Cetimia Mariotti Ruiz is a PhD Candidate in Economic Development at the Institute of Economics, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), with research funded by FAPESP and CAPES. Her work focuses on bioeconomy, biomass supply chains, advanced biofuels, and the application of Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) to analyze market dynamics and governance structures. She has participated in international research networks and conferences, including ICABR, BBEST-IEA Bioenergy, SOBER. At CEPAL (United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean), she conducted research on the promotion of bioeconomy in the Caribbean, particularly on the development of biomass supply chains based on invasive seaweed (Sargassum fusiforme) for bioenergy and bioproducts. Stéphani has more than ten years of combined academic and consulting experience in sustainability, project management, and innovation policies. She has served as a consultant for strategic environmental projects and as a researcher at NIPE/UNICAMP, producing technical reports, policy analyses, and simulation-based studies on the transition to low-carbon energy systems. Her scientific contributions include articles and conference proceedings on biomass governance, risk and transaction cost analysis, and the role of institutional arrangements in supporting second-generation ethanol and other renewable energy pathways. She has received academic awards, including the Scientific Merit Prize from ABEIN (2023), and was a Santander Luso-Brazilian Fellow (2016).
Title:Principal Consultant and Director ,Enpro Envirotech Pty Ltd,Australia
About:A highly experienced sustainability expert with 30 years of expertise in environmental management, circular economy, and resource recovery. Extensive global experience in India, Australia, and New Zealand, with a strong background in delivering keynote addresses, conducting international workshops, and presenting innovative technologies and at global seminars. Passionate about driving sustainable solutions through innovation, policy development, and capacity building.
Key Expertise :
Professional Experience :
Environmental & Sustainability Consultant 30+ years of experience across India, Australia, and New Zealand
Title:Professor, University of California, Berkeley, USA
About:David Zilberman is a Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Berkeley. He received the 2019 Wolf Prize in Agriculture and was elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Science in 2019. David was the 2018- 19 President of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) and is a fellow of multiple associations. David's research analyzes water, innovation, supply chains, agriculture, energy, and the environment and the bioeconomy. He has served as a Consultant to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA, the World Bank, FAO, MARS, BP, WWF, Shell and others. David got a BA from Tel Aviv University and a Berkeley Ph.D.
Title:Terragia Biofuel Inc. Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth University of Campinas, Brazil Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Lab
About:Lee Lynd is Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Terragia; Paul and Joan Queneau Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Adjunct Professor of Biology at Dartmouth College; Sao Paulo Excellence Chair and Director of the Advanced Second Generation Biofuel Laboratory at the University of Campinas (Brazil); and Research Council member at the US Department of Energy Bioenergy Science Center. Past leadership positions include Executive Committee Chairman of the Global Sustainable Bioenergy Initiative, Co-Leader of the Role of Biomass in America’s Energy Future Project, Co-Founder and Director of Mascoma and Enchi Corporations, and Biofuel Industry Representative on the Advisory Committee to the Executive Office of President Clinton on Reducing Greenhouse Emissions from Personal Vehicles. His work in the biofuels field includes over 300 papers cited over 44,000 times as well as 23 granted patents.
Title: Assistant Professor, UCD School of Civil Engineering, Ireland
About: Dr Yuansheng Hu is an Assistant Professor in the UCD School of Civil Engineering. His primary teaching and research area is Water and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Hu joined the School of Civil Engineering as an Assistant Professor in July 2023. Prior to that, he was a faculty member at the Department of Civil Engineering & Construction, Atlantic Technological University Sligo (2022-2023). Dr. Hu also worked as a faculty member at the Department of Municipal Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (2012-2017). Dr. Hu’s research interests include:
Title: Professor,University of California, Berkeley, USA
About: David Wells Roland-Holst is a Research Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resources Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Roland-Holst is a leading expert on economics related to energy, environment, international trade, and agriculture, authoring seven books and over 150 articles and chapters in professional journals and books. Professor Roland-Holst has served in academic posts in the United States, Europe, and Asia, conducting research in over 40 countries. He advised to public institutions including Federal and state agencies, the Asian Development Bank, Inter- American Development bank, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Bank, and several United Nations agencies, as well as governments in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Professor Roland-Holst holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and is a US citizen.
Title: Associate Professor, University of louisville, USA
About:Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Louisville (USA), where he leads research at the intersection of solvent engineering, biochemical conversion, and materials design. His work focuses on transforming lignocellulosic biomass into renewable fuels, bioproducts, and energy materials through integrated chemical–biological pathways for a circular carbon economy.
Title: Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University, USA
About:Cheryl Kerfeld is the Hannah Distinguished Professor of Structural Bioengineering at the MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University. The Kerfeld Group (www.kerfeldlab.org) is focused on structural synthetic biology, specifically understanding and engineering of modular carotenoid-binding proteins that mediate cyanobacterial photoprotection and of self-assembling metabolic organelles in bacteria, with the goal of repurposing these protein-based architectures into nanoreactors and biomaterials. In this context she currently leads the Center for Catalysis in Biomimetic Confinement, a US Department of Energy Energy Frontier Research Center. Professor Kerfeld received her B.A. in Biology and English from the University of Minnesota, an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Biology from UCLA. She also holds appointments in the Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology and the Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Divisions of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Title: Senior scientist , Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
About:Aindrila Mukhopadhyay is a senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Vice President for Biofuels and Bioproducts at JBEI, where she leads advances in microbial strain and pathway engineering for sustainable biomanufacturing. Her recent work integrates systems biology with high-throughput design to develop robust microbial hosts, emphasizing tolerance engineering to overcome industrial stresses. She is recognized for creating versatile, high-performance platforms that accelerate the discovery and deployment of bio-based fuels, chemicals, and materials.
Title: postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
About:Xueli Chen, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory working with Dr. Blake Simmons, focusing on deconstructing lignocellulosic biomass, textiles, and plastics using advanced solvent systems. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University in 2023, where he was advised by Prof. Nathan Mosier and Prof. Michael Ladisch at the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering (LORRE). Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from China Agricultural University, conducting research on ball milling and catalytic biomass conversion under the guidance of Prof. Weihua Xiao and Prof. Lujia Han. He also holds a dual Master’s degree in Applied Mechatronic Engineering from Harper Adams University in the UK (2019). Following his Ph.D., Dr. Chen joined the group of Prof. Shang-Tian Yang at The Ohio State University, where his contributions involved developing and evaluating novel bioprocesses and bioreactor systems for lignocellulosic butanol production. His research interests include biomass and waste resource valorization, reactor development, as well as process intensification and evaluation.
Title: Fermentation and bioprocess engineer ABPDU and LBNL , USA
About:Young Eun Song, Ph.D., is a fermentation and bioprocess engineer at the Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Process Development Unit (ABPDU) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). He is currently working with Dr. Eric Sundstrom, focusing on the optimization of biohydrogen production processes using lignocellulosic biomass and COâ‚‚ gas fermentation for sustainable fuel and chemical production. Dr. Song earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2020 from Pusan National University, South Korea, under the supervision of Prof. Jung Rae Kim. His doctoral research focused on C1 gas conversion using bioelectrochemical reactors for power-to-gas and power-to-product (P2G/P2P) biological electrosynthesis, leveraging renewable electricity and microbial platforms. His current research interests include biohydrogen production using waste biomass, REE recovery, biological C1 gas valorization, and process optimization, contributing to the advancement of low-carbon energy and circular bioeconomy technologies.
Title: Associate Director, Wisconsin Energy Institute Madison, USA
About:Mary Blanchard is the Associate Director of the Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) at UW – Madison. Blanchard’s career portfolio spans business development, international and domestic product management and marketing, and governmental relations. Formerly the Director of Marketing and Government Affairs at a bioenergy start-up company, Blanchard has extensive knowledge of the bioenergy industry and a broad understanding of energy technologies, challenges, and the economic, social, and environmental opportunities created by sustained, cross-disciplinary energy research. She has served on bioeconomy and biofuels advisory groups for the Midwestern Governors Association and the Wisconsin Legislative Council. Blanchard holds bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering and English from the University of Notre Dame, a master's degree from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from Northwestern University.
Title: Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India
About:Dr. Amit Ghosh is an Associate Professor of School of Energy Science and Engineering with a joint appointment in PK Sinha Centre for Bioenergy and Renewable at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He earned his PhD from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 2009. Thereafter done his Postdoctoral Research from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, during 2009 to 2011. He also worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, during 2011 to 2015. His research interest includes Systems and Synthetic Biology for systematic metabolic engineering for production of biofuels. Recipient of Faculty Excellence Award 2020 (IIT Kharagpur) and Ramalingaswami Fellowship 2015-2021, DBT govt. of India.
Title: Senior Lecturer, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
About:Dr. Intan Salwani Mohamed (Google Scholar h-index = 22; Scopus h-index = 10) is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia. Her PhD thesis has been formally subscribed to and catalogued by the libraries of leading Ivy League and internationally renowned universities, including Harvard, Cambridge, Yale, Columbia, and Duke University.
Dr. Intan Salwani has received extensive recognition for her research and innovation achievements at both international and national levels. Notably, her Book Award (2019) was for a scholarly book published by Oxford University Press (OUP). Her other awards include the Outstanding Scientist Award (Google Scholar Citations, 2017), Gold Medal at the Geneva Invention Exhibition (2009), Gold and Silver Medals at the Brussels Invention Exhibition (2008), two Silver Medals at the INPEX Invention Show, Pittsburgh, USA (2007), and a Bronze Medal at the Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF), South Korea. She has also won more than 70 medals at invention and innovation competitions, including ITEX, PECIPTA, MTE, and UiTM Invention & Innovation Exhibitions. In addition, she has received Best Paper Awards at several international conferences, including the ICAAF Conference at the University of Western Australia (2024), the EABR Conference in Prague (2009), the ICFC Conference in Jakarta (2024), and the ICiFFC Conference in Malaysia (2020).
In terms of scholarly output, Dr. Intan Salwani has published 86 articles in Flagship, High Impact, and Indexed Journals, 13 books and book chapters, and 44 conference proceedings. She serves as an Emerald Peerwith Expert, an Inderscience Reviewer, and is the current Co-Editor-in-Chief and former Managing Editor of Management & Accounting Review, a Scopus and ERA indexed journal. She is also an active reviewer for several high-impact journals, including Research in International Business and Finance, International Journal of Electronic Governance, and International Journal of Organizational Analysis.
Throughout her academic career at UiTM, Dr. Intan Salwani has been frequently invited as a keynote and invited speaker at international and national conferences, research colloquiums, and capacity-building workshops. Notable engagements include the distinguished guest speaker at Universitas Brawijaya Indonesia (2025), keynote speaker at ICOBEST Conference in Bandung (2020), invited speaker at the Seoul MMF Conference in South Korea (2015), and invited lectures and workshops at institutions such as the Malaysia Nuclear Agency, University of Malaya–Wales, and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). She is an Associate Member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants, a Visiting Lecturer at Widyatama University, Bandung, and has served as an Academic Advisor and External Examiner at SEGi University and Limkokwing University, Malaysia.
At the institutional level, Dr. Intan Salwani has received numerous prestigious recognitions, including the Top WoS Q1 Author Award (2024), the Highest Number of WoS Q1 Journal Publications Award (Second Place, 2024), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award (Research and Innovation) (2022), the Promising Researcher Award (2009), the Incentive for Publishing in High Impact Factor Journals (2011), multiple Excellence Service Awards (2024, 2020, 2009, and 2005), and the Potential Research for Commercialisation Award (2005), among others.
Title: CEO, Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, AUSTRIA
About:Walter Haslinger studied mechanical engineering and completed his doctorate in the field of fluidized
bed systems at the Institute of Chemical Engineering, TU Wien. Since 2003, he has played a key role
in shaping the COMET K1 Center BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH (formerly
BIOENERGY 2020+ GmbH), until 2014 as Area Manager of the Area Small Combustion Systems and
head of the Wieselburg site, and since October 2014 as CEO and CSO. Haslinger and his team
successfully launched the repositioning of the COMET Centre with new research focuses in the areas
of residue-based biorefineries and the digitalization of energy and biorefinery systems and established
unique research and demonstration infrastructures such as the Syngas Platform Vienna, the Green
Carbon Lab and the Microgrid Lab Wieselburg to support the related research fields.
In addition to his duties at the K1 center, Haslinger was Associate Editor of "Biomass and Bioenergy"
published by Elsevier for over 10 years (until December 2020). Since 2009, Haslinger has represented
Austria in the European Technology and Innovation Platform for Renewable Heating and Cooling (ETIP
RHC), which advises the European Commission on the preparation of calls for proposals in its
framework programmes (FP7, H2020, HEUR). He is a member of the platform's board since 2011.
Thanks to the good cooperation with LuleĂĄ University of Technology in Sweden, Haslinger was
appointed Adjunct Professor of Energy Engineering there in June 2017 and holds this position ever
since then.
Title: Hydrothermal technology drives sustainable food-energy-water nexus
About:Dr. Zhidan Liu is a Leading Professor at China Agricultural University, the head of the Environment-Enhancing Energy Laboratory, Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Facility Agriculture Engineering of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and a key member of the State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources. He career has been dedicated to biomass energy, the resource utilisation of agricultural and rural waste, and interdisciplinary studies bridging water, energy, environment, and materials. He focuses on developing hydrothermal conversion technologies for biomass and organic solid waste to co-produce biocrude oil, hydrochar, and fertilisers. He has been awarded as the Chang Jiang Young Scholars, IAAM Fellow, Elsevier Highly Cited Chinese Researcher (since 2020), Stanford Top 2% of the World's Most-cited Scientists, and Beijing Young Elite Fellow, amongst others. He actively contributes to the academic community by holding roles such as Council Member of the IAAM Asia-Pacific Council, Member of the National Technical Committee on Solid Biofuels Standardisation, Vice Chair of relevant divisions within the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, and committee memberships in several other energy and agricultural societies. Concurrently, he serves in editorial capacities for prestigious international journals, including the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (IJHE) and Biochemical Engineering Journal (BEJ). His prolific research output includes over 100 first or corresponding author publications in top-tier journals like Nature Communications and Science Bulletin, more than 30 authorised international and Chinese invention patents, and authorship of 13 books. He has led multiple major research initiatives, such as projects funded by the National Key R&D Program of China and the NSFC Joint Key Fund. His work has earned him the Natural Science Award (Second Class) from the Ministry of Education as the primary completer, along with a suite of other prestigious awards including the IAAM Scientist Award and the Youth Progress Award of the ENN Energy Chemistry Award.
Title: Scientist ,Oak Ridge National Laboratory
About:Hugh O’Neill is a Distinguished Research and Development Scientist and Group Leader for Biological Labeling and Scattering in the Neutron Scattering Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He also serves as Director of the Center for Structural Molecular Biology, overseeing the Bio-SANS instrument and the laboratory’s biodeuteration program. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the National University of Ireland, where he investigated the mechanisms of electron transfer in flavoproteins. In addition to his ORNL roles, he is a faculty member in the University of Tennessee’s Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education and the Genome Science and Technology graduate program. His current research focuses on biofuels-related science, including the application of neutron scattering to develop more efficient biomass pretreatment strategies and to elucidate the structural properties of enzymes involved in cellulose synthesis in plants.
Title: Professor and Head,Department of Bioengineering
About:Dr. Alvina Farooqui, currently serving as Professor and Head, Department of Bioengineering at Integral University, Lucknow, India brings over 18 years of teaching expertise in Bioprocess Engineering and Fermentation Biotechnology. With 15 years of research prowess in Cyanobacterial Biotechnology and Stress Biochemistry, Dr. Alvina has spearheaded groundbreaking projects, including the development of a novel screening system using Cyanobacteria for toxicity studies of metallic nanoparticles—a pioneering initiative funded by the Council of Science and Technology, Uttar Pradesh.
Committed to sustainable development goals, Dr. Alvina's contributions extend to areas such as creating Spirulina-fortified cookies to combat malnutrition in rural women, exploring the anti-diabetic potential of cyanobacterial bioactive compounds, advancing bioenergy and biofertilizer production. Also contributing towards optimization of Algal based natural pigmets for textile dying applications.
Dr. Alvina Farooqui's global impact is undeniable, as she not only graced the international forum for Women in STEM at Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology but also served as the organizing secretary, leaving a lasting impression with her passionate and enthusiastic communication. She continued her journey by addressing a diverse audience of scientists, academicians and scholars at the University of Inha, Tashkent Institute of chemical technology, Institute of Microbiology, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, RMUTR and KMITL at Thailand, ITMO university, Russia, Izmir Institute of Technology, Izmir, Turkey and also invited for Plenary and Keynote talks in National and International conferences like ECBB 2025 at London and MaCKIE 2025, Turkey contributing to the exchange of ideas and fostering collaborations with fellow researchers. She is also involved in mentoring Startups providing strong research support to convert ideas into prototypes A prolific author, Dr. Alvina boasts 80+ research articles with 1344 citations, H index of 19 and i10 index of 35 , 20+ book chapters, 4 edited books, and holds 5 international patents and 4 Indian patents. Her academic influence extends to guiding 15+PhDs and supervising 20+ PG dissertations.
She was Awarded “Chirag-e-Awadh” award in recognition of work done for the betterment of society by Daily Insiders Media House. She was recently nominated among the Top 100 muslim women of U.P. shattering stereotypes by Rising Beyond the ceiling (RBTC) an global initiative by Dr. Farah Usmani (international health, gender & development expert based in New York) to shine a spotlight on the achievements of Muslim women of India.
Awarded the Excellence award during the National Book Fair organised by the Lucknow Tribune Creative Women’s Award 2025 by Khanam Art Gallery, Best Paper award for her contribution in Food Science at IcFOST 2024, Outstanding researcher award 2025 by Integral University
Title: Assistant Professor,Department of Bioengineering
About:Dr. Gyanendra Tripathi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Integral University, Lucknow. He holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology (2024) with specialization in algal biofuels, bioremediation, and microbial biotechnology. His research focuses on microalgal cultivation, bio-flocculation, nanobiotechnology, wastewater management, and sustainable bioenergy production. Dr. Tripathi has authored several peer-reviewed articles, book chapters with international publishers (Springer, Elsevier, CRC Press, IGI Global), and holds two patents on innovative biotechnological applications, including microalgal biofuel systems and microbial fuel cell–based street lamps.
He has presented his work at national and international conferences in India, Uzbekistan, and beyond, earning multiple awards such as the Best Oral Presentation (TISECON 2025, TIFT 2022) and Best Poster Presentation (BioSpark 2024, Nutrition for Health Summit 2023). He also serves as a reviewer for many reputed international journals and an editorial board member of Environmental Science Archives.
Committed to interdisciplinary research and teaching, Dr. Tripathi continues to explore novel sustainable technologies at the interface of microbiology, biotechnology, and environmental sciences, while mentoring young scholars and innovators.
Title: Addl. Pro Chancellor
Executive Director, Directorate of Entrepreneurship Development & Innovation – Integral Startups Foundation
About:Dr. Nida Fatima currently serves as the Additional Pro-Chancellor of Integral University and the Executive Director of the Directorate of Entrepreneurship Development & Innovation – Integral Startups Foundation. Under her dynamic leadership, the Integral Startups Foundation – Centre for Incubation & Entrepreneurship Development (ISF-CIED) has grown to support over 80 startups and grassroots innovators, establishing Integral University as a hub for innovation and sustainable entrepreneurial development.
Dr. Fatima has been at the forefront of driving innovation and entrepreneurial growth. A landmark milestone under her leadership is the signing of a historic MoU with the CM Yuva Mission- Department of MSME & Export Promotion-Government of Uttar Pradesh on 30th July 2025, a flagship initiative of the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s CM Vikas Udyami Yojana. This achievement reflects her unwavering commitment to empowering the youth of Uttar Pradesh, enabling them to become self-reliant, job creators, and changemakers in the journey of nation-building.
As the Nodal Centre Head, Dr. Fatima has co-organized several flagship programs in collaboration with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell- Government of India, including the Innovation, Design & Entrepreneurship (IDE) Bootcamp for Students, IDE Bootcamp for Teachers of PM SHRI Schools, the Smart India Hackathon, and IPR and Technology Transfer workshops, among others.
Her experience also includes international representation in the prestigious India-UK-Ireland Higher Education Summit, held in February 2025 in London, UK, organized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). During this summit, she fostered collaborations and explored synergies with the startup ecosystems of several universities/Incubation Centres in the UK, further strengthening Integral University’s global innovation network.
With leadership trainings on Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship and Ecosystem Development at T-Hub Hyderabad and Nexus – the Innovation Hub at the American Center, New Delhi, among several other leadership and entrepreneurship programs, Dr. Fatima has honed her expertise in the entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem.
A Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Dr. Fatima has also contributed to pivotal research projects at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, the Centre for Transgenic Plant Development, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, and the Department of Endocrinology at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow. Leveraging her technical acumen and visionary leadership, she is driving transformative innovation in Agri-Tech, Health-Tech, MedTech, Bio-Tech, AI/ML, and other emerging sectors.
Title: Postdoctoral Researcher
Joint Bioenergy Institute (JBEI) and Sandia National Laboratories
About:Md Maksudur Rahman, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), where he works in the Deconstruction Division within the Pretreatment Optimization and Process Integration Group under Sandia National Laboratories. He earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Curtin University, Australia, and has prior research and teaching experience at Curtin University, Australia, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
Dr. Rahman’s research focuses on the thermochemical and solvent-based deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass and waste resources for sustainable biofuel and bioproduct production. His expertise spans ionic liquid and amine-based biomass pretreatment, solvent recovery and recycling, pyrolysis of biomass and waste plastics, reaction chemistry and kinetics, reactor design, and process scale-up. His work emphasizes feedstock-agnostic pretreatment strategies, closed-loop solvent systems, and the integration of techno-economic and life-cycle assessments to evaluate emerging biorefinery technologies.
At JBEI, his current research focuses on the development of recyclable, low-toxicity solvents and integrated pretreatment–recovery workflows to enable economically viable and sustainable biorefineries. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters published in leading journals in energy & fuels, and biomass conversion, and he serves as a reviewer for journals including Applied Energy, Fuel, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, and Bioresource Technology Reports. Dr. Rahman has received multiple academic awards and scholarships and is actively involved in mentoring students and early-career researchers. His long-term goal is to translate fundamental chemical engineering research into scalable, industry-relevant solutions supporting the circular bioeconomy.
Title: Research Scientist
Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI)
About:Linda Schmid serves as Multilateral Ethanol Policy Manager at the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council responsible for multilateral engagement. Formerly, as International Development Adviser at Trade in Services International, Linda provided advisory services to multilateral institutions and governments. Linda has delivered technical assistance and published widely with the International Trade Centre, World Bank, and Cambridge University Press. Linda specializes in trade and investment analysis, industry research, and project management. Recent work includes an assessment of policy issues under the African Growth and Opportunity Act as well as global sugar supply chains with a focus on Brazil, India, and Thailand.
Title: Researcher | NREL Intern
Colorado State University, USA
About:Smith Pittman is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University, where her research focuses on mathematical modeling and process design of electrodialysis and biorefinery systems that convert waste into sustainable fuels and chemicals. She is currently an intern at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, developing a deacetylation model for a digital twin project. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Arizona State University, where she researched wastewater treatment and biomass anaerobic digestion.
Title: Postdoctoral researcher,Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food
Development Authority of Ireland , Ireland
About:Dr Rajas Shinde is a postdoctoral researcher at Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority of Ireland. He completed his PhD at University College Cork under the supervision of Dr David Wall and Prof Jerry Murphy, and was awarded Teagasc’s Scholar of the Year within his research programme. His doctoral research focused on developing anaerobic digestion-based grass biorefinery models to advance the circular bioeconomy in Ireland. His expertise includes bioreactor engineering, techno-economic assessment, and stakeholder engagement. His work has created high impact through publications in Cell Press journals and has informed national policy discussions, including ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy.
Title: Research scientist
Massachusetts Institute of Technology , USA
About:Dr. Charles Forsberg is a research scientist. Before joining MIT, he was a Corporate Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He is a fellow of the American Nuclear Society and American Association for the Advancement of Science. Bruce Dale is a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Academy of Inventors.
Title: Research engineer ,National Laboratory of the Rockies, USA
About:Matthew Wiatrowski is a research engineer at National Laboratory of the Rockies, specializing in techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of technologies for converting bio-based feedstocks to fuels and products. His research focus areas include cultivation and conversion of algae biomass and conversion of wet waste feedstocks. He has contributed to multiple published analyses evaluating performance, costs, and deployment considerations of emerging bioenergy technologies. Matt holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering, and is a registered Professional Engineer.
Title: Professor ,Washington University, USA
About:Dr. Tang’s research focuses on applied environmental microbiology, bioprocess engineering, and biotechnology. He serves as an editor for several leading biotechnology and engineering journals, including Chemical Engineering Journal, Bioresource Technology, Biotechnology Advances, and Process Biochemistry. Dr. Tang has received numerous awards and honors, including the NSF CAREER Award (2010), the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2010), the Department Chair’s Award for Outstanding Teaching, the U.S. Air Force Faculty Summer Fellowship, an NSF Transition Award, and the AIChE Division 15a Plenary Award. At Washington University in St. Louis, he has taught a broad range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including Process Control, Metabolic Engineering, International Experience, Fluid Mechanics, Generative AI for Bioengineering, and Bioprocess Engineering.
Title: Staff Scientist ,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
About:Edward Baidoo, Ph.D., is a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Deputy Director of Functional Genomics in the Technology Division of the Joint BioEnergy Institute. His research interests lie in the use of metabolomics analyses to characterize engineered biosynthetic and metabolic pathways towards addressing key environmental challenges and engineering robust plant and microbial platforms for producing valuable renewable bioproducts. He received his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK (2003), where he was advised by Prof. Malcolm Clench, Dr. Robert Smith, and Dr. Lee Tetler. Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned his master’s and bachelor's degrees in Biomedical Sciences and Biochemistry, respectively, at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK.
Title: Research Scientist ,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
About:Dr. Deepika Awasthi, a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator at the Biological Systems and Engineering (BSE) Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida. She also completed a post-doctoral training at BSE, LBNL. Dr. Awasthi possesses extensive expertise in host metabolic engineering, multi-omics metabolic data modeling, and bioprocess optimization of sugar fermenting and C1 gas metabolizing bacteria for targeted recombinant product synthesis. Currently, she leads the efforts in the C1 conversion program, where her group develops robust molecular biology tools for non-model bacterial hosts, establishes novel product pathways, and applies state-of-the-art multi-omics approaches to study host metabolism.
Title: Massachusetts Institute of Technology , USA
About:Chiara Berretta is a visiting student at MIT and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at EPFL and the Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland, in chemical reaction engineering. Her research focuses on the development of fluidized-bed reactors for renewable methanol production. At MIT, she contributes to a broader Energy Initiative project on the conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels. Combining academic expertise in chemical engineering with industry experience in construction engineering, she is committed to advancing cleaner industrial processes.
Title: Professor , University of Washington, USA
About:James Carothers is the Charles W.H. Matthaei Endowed Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington and Co‑Director of the UW Center for Synthetic Biology. His research program spans design‑driven microbial engineering, CRISPR technologies, and next‑generation biomanufacturing, supported by more than $32 million in funding from DOE, NSF, NASA, and industry. He currently leads a $15 million U.S. Department of Energy project advancing genome‑scale engineering for the emerging bioeconomy.
Title:Distinguished Professor, University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University (NCSU),USA
About: Sunkyu Park is the Associate Department Head, Jordan Family Distinguished Professor, and University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University (NCSU). He joined the NCSU faculty in 2009 after earning his Ph.D. in the same department, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
Dr. Park’s department is a national leader in Pulp and Paper education, where he teaches process simulation for pulp and paper operations and biorefinery systems. His research encompasses a broad spectrum of biorefinery development, emphasizing the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials, with primary funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
He is recognized as a leading researcher in bio-based graphite production, a field with significant potential to reduce dependence on foreign sources of battery-grade graphite. Dr. Park has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, holds an h-index of 54 with over 12,500 citations, and is currently leading seven DOE-funded projects, serving as principal investigator on four of them.
