Environmental Biotechnology Network

EBNet Working Groups

If you have an interesting in doing a specific activity or a number of activities with other EBNet members, we can provide funding for a Working Group. See the application form in our funding section.

Here are our current working groups, with more to follow. If you are interested in joining any of the working groups, contact EBNet or the working group leader.

  1. Aerobic granulation processes – Led by Dr Yongqiang Liu, University of Southampton. Aerobic granules technology is still relatively novel, with some fundamental knowledge gaps preventing its wider adoption and realisation of its numerous advantages in wastewater treatment. This working group aims to bring forward this technology with a number of directed activities.
  2. Anaerobic Digestion – Led by Dr Mark Walker, University of Hull. Through its activities the working group will aim to engage stakeholders from trade bodies, industry, water utilities and government departments such as the EA, Defra, BEIS and others.
  3. Bioinformatics Training for Microbial Environmental Biotechnologies – Led by Professor James Chong, University of York. The group will focus on the development of online resources for researchers wishing to gain and develop skills in the analysis and visualisation of ‘omics datasets.
  4. Environmental Sensors and Wastewater Surveillance – Led by Dr Zhugen Yang, Cranfield University and Dr Martin Spurr, Newcastle University. The group aims to gather a multidisciplinary group of researchers with interests in new environmental sensors development. Focus areas include wastewater surveillance (including wastewater epidemiology), water, air, soil, food, healthcare, biosecurity and beyond.
  5. Process Integration and Sustainability Assessment – Led by Dr Jhuma Sadhukhan, University of Surrey. This working group will identify problems in Pollutants & Media and Biosciences for Engineering – including global grand challenges and propose the ways to confront such challenges.
  6. BES Development for Environmental Technology – Led by Dr Sharon Velasquez Orta, Newcastle University. The group will promote education, collaboration and research by merging microbiology, engineering, material and biotechnology disciplines in the study of bioelectrochemical systems.
  7. N2O emissions from Environmental Biotechnologies – Led by Professor Tom Curtis and Ben Allen, Newcastle University. This group aims to bring nitrous oxide (and subsequently methane) emissions from environmental biotechnologies onto a sound methodological footing – with a particular emphasis on quantifying the role of the key microorganisms.