Jiying Zhu | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Jiying Zhu | Environmental Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Shandong University of Technology, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Ms. Jiying Zhu has established a strong academic foundation in agricultural and food engineering, beginning her distinguished career with a commitment to solving global challenges related to organic waste conversion. Her academic journey led her to international collaboration early on, particularly through her experiences at The Ohio State University-OARDC, where she served as a Visiting Scholar from 2008 to 2009, and later as a Postdoctoral Researcher from 2012 to 2013. These international experiences significantly broadened her research vision and expertise in biological engineering.

🧑‍🏫 Professional Endeavors

Ms. Zhu has been an integral part of the School of Agricultural and Food Engineering at Shandong University of Technology, China, for over a decade. She served as an Associate Professor from 2009 to 2018, and due to her outstanding contributions in research and education, she was promoted to Professor in January 2019. Throughout her tenure, she has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable agricultural engineering practices, mentoring students, and leading impactful research initiatives.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Ms. Zhu’s research primarily focuses on the conversion of organic wastes into volatile fatty acids (VFAs) through anaerobic mixed-culture fermentation. She investigates how the organic components of substrates and various fermentation conditions influence the yield and distribution of VFAs. Her studies also delve deeply into the metabolic pathways governing the chain elongation of small molecular intermediates, aiming to overcome bottlenecks and limiting factors. Her overarching goal is to develop carbon source flow regulation strategies that enhance the accumulation of specific target products, contributing to more efficient and sustainable waste management and bioresource utilization.

🌎 Impact and Influence

Ms. Zhu’s pioneering work addresses a critical global need — the sustainable transformation of organic waste into valuable biochemical products. By advancing knowledge on metabolic regulation during fermentation processes, she supports the development of circular bioeconomy models that can significantly reduce environmental pollution and enhance resource recovery. Her findings have practical implications for industries focusing on renewable bioenergy, waste valorization, and environmental sustainability.

📚 Academic Citations

Given the technical relevance and environmental urgency of her research, Ms. Zhu’s work has steadily gained recognition in the academic community. Her research outputs contribute significantly to fields such as biochemical engineering, environmental biotechnology, and waste-to-energy systems, building a strong citation record that continues to expand as sustainable waste conversion grows in importance globally.

🛠️ Technical Skills

Ms. Zhu’s technical expertise includes anaerobic fermentation technology, organic waste characterization, metabolic pathway analysis, volatile fatty acid production optimization, and process regulation for targeted bioproduct accumulation. Her skill set positions her uniquely at the intersection of biological engineering, sustainable waste management, and process optimization.

👩‍🏫 Teaching Experience

Alongside her research activities, Ms. Zhu has been deeply committed to academic mentorship and education. She has guided undergraduate and postgraduate students at Shandong University of Technology, fostering a research culture that emphasizes innovation, problem-solving, and sustainability. Her teaching philosophy integrates hands-on experimentation with theoretical modeling, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges in agricultural and food engineering.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions Highlight

Ms. Zhu’s legacy will be defined by her transformative contributions to the sustainable bioconversion of organic wastes. Looking ahead, she is poised to explore advanced metabolic engineering strategies and precision fermentation technologies to further optimize resource recovery from waste streams. Her continued research and mentorship efforts are set to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists dedicated to environmental sustainability and renewable resource development.

📖Notable Publications

Hexanoic Acid Production and Microbial Community in Anaerobic Fermentation: Effects of Inorganic Carbon Addition
Authors: Xiaofeng Ji, Zhengang Chen, Yingmeng Shen, Longlong Liu, Ranran Chen, Jiying Zhu*
Journal: Bioresource Technology
Year: 2024 | Volume 403: 130881

Regulation of Hydraulic Retention Time on Caproic Acid Production via Two-Phase Anaerobic Fermentation of Chinese Cabbage Waste with Autopoietic Electron Donors
Authors: Ranran Chen, Xiaofeng Ji, Zhengang Chen, Liu Huang, Jiying Zhu*
Journal: Journal of Biotechnology
Year: 2024 | Volume 381: 1-10

Effects of Yeast Inoculation Methods on Caproic Acid Production and Microbial Community During Anaerobic Fermentation of Chinese Cabbage Waste
Authors: Ranran Chen, Xiaonan Zhou, Liu Huang, Xiaofeng Ji, Zhengang Chen, Jiying Zhu*
Journal: Journal of Environmental Management
Year: 2024 | Volume 356: 120632

Acidogenic Fermentation of Potato Peel Waste for Volatile Fatty Acids Production: Effect of Initial Organic Load
Authors: Lu Yu, Ranran Chen, Liu Huang, Xiangyou Wang, Santao Chou, Jiying Zhu*
Journal: Journal of Biotechnology
Year: 2023 | Volume 374: 114-121

Effect of pH on Volatile Fatty Acid Production and the Microbial Community During Anaerobic Digestion of Chinese Cabbage Waste
Authors: Xiaonan Zhou, Yu Lu, Liu Huang, Qi Zhang, Jiying Zhu*
Journal: Bioresource Technology
Year: 2021 | Volume 336: 125338

Md. Tushar Ali | Environmental Chemistry | Young Scientist Award -1966

Mr. Md. Tushar Ali | Environmental Chemistry | Young Scientist Award

Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh

👨‍🎓Profiles

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Md. Tushar Ali began his academic journey in Civil Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), Bangladesh, majoring in Structural Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering. From January 2019 to March 2024, he maintained a strong academic record, graduating with a CGPA of 3.47 out of 4.00, peaking at an impressive 3.94 in a single term. His undergraduate foundation laid a solid groundwork in structural systems, sustainability, and environmental dynamics, which became the springboard for his transition into multidisciplinary research. Early exposure to complex environmental problems inspired Tushar to explore intersections between engineering, atmospheric science, and ecological resilience.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Currently, Tushar serves as a Research Assistant in the SCIP Plastics Project—an international collaboration between KUET and Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, funded by the German Government. In this role, he engages in diverse tasks ranging from field surveys and lab analyses to advanced modeling and scientific reporting. His work focuses on real-world issues like landfill gas emissions, plastic pollution, and ecological risk assessments. Tushar applies sophisticated tools such as MATLAB, Fuzzy Logic systems, and statistical modeling to analyze landfill impacts. In parallel, he contributes to atmospheric research alongside Dr. Towfiqul Islam and Dr. Hamidul Bari, exploring urban air quality, greenhouse gas trends, and climate behavior through satellite remote sensing and analytical models like PCA and GAM. His dual involvement in waste and climate research marks him as a rare multidisciplinary asset.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Tushar’s research contributions span across several pivotal areas in environmental science and engineering. His field measurements of landfill gases across various waste compositions and seasons offer critical insights into emission patterns. He has developed environmental risk models integrating PCA, DEA, and Fuzzy Logic in MATLAB, enhancing the precision of hazard prediction. His research also explores how plastics escape from landfills via wind, floods, and human interaction, supporting data-driven plastic waste mitigation strategies. A noteworthy technical endeavor includes using LiDAR drone-based Digital Terrain Modeling (DTM) to estimate landfill capacity and predict operational lifespan. Furthermore, his satellite-based work investigates air pollution trends, GHG dynamics, and meteorological variables before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Tushar has also delved into Atmospheric River (AR) behavior using ERA5 and GrADS, highlighting links between rainfall surges and atmospheric circulation. His seasonal studies on GHG trends and their interaction with urban heat island effects demonstrate a mature understanding of urban climate interactions.

🌱 Undergraduate Research Highlights

Even during his undergraduate years, Tushar was deeply involved in both computational and experimental research. He carried out comparative studies on the thermal performance of traditional vs. pervious concrete pavements using embedded thermocouples, which later resulted in a Q2 journal publication. He further explored the mechanical and thermal behavior of pervious concrete systems and studied cement grout behavior under temperature variations—research that he presented at a national conference. Additionally, his work on using recycled aggregates in sustainable construction is currently under review in a prestigious Q1 journal. These early achievements reflect his commitment to sustainability and innovative material use in civil engineering.

💡 Impact and Influence

Tushar’s interdisciplinary approach enables him to address critical environmental challenges in both urban and rural contexts. His work provides valuable data for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental scientists tackling the pressing issues of waste management, air quality, and climate adaptation. Through high-impact research and modeling, Tushar is influencing conversations around landfill safety, urban emissions, and infrastructure planning. His Bangladesh-centered studies are equally relevant to other rapidly urbanizing regions across the globe. By combining engineering rigor with environmental awareness, he serves as a bridge between academia and real-world climate solutions.

📚 Academic Recognition and Publications

Md. Tushar Ali has published several journal articles and conference papers in Q1 and Q2 indexed journals—an impressive achievement for a researcher at this early stage. His work in landfill gas modeling, satellite climate analytics, and sustainable construction materials has already been recognized in professional and academic forums. Several of his studies are under peer review, indicating a consistent research pipeline. His early academic and research excellence positions him as a rising star in environmental engineering and climate science.

🧠 Technical Skills

Tushar possesses a wide-ranging technical skillset that enhances his research versatility. In programming and modeling, he is proficient in MATLAB, Python, and Google Earth Engine. His mapping and remote sensing capabilities include ArcGIS, GrADS, and satellite image analysis. From a civil engineering perspective, he is skilled in ETABS and AutoCAD for structural modeling. He also excels in data visualization and analysis using OriginPro, Microsoft Excel, and scientific presentation tools such as MS Word and PowerPoint.

👨‍🏫 Teaching and Mentorship Experience

Though not formally appointed as an instructor, Tushar has played an active mentorship role within his academic and research teams. He has guided junior peers in lab experiments, environmental modeling, software tools, and research methodologies. His collaborative style and ability to simplify complex tools have made him an informal but impactful mentor, laying the groundwork for future academic leadership and teaching roles.

🚀 Legacy and Future Contributions

Md. Tushar Ali is crafting a legacy built on research excellence, cross-disciplinary integration, and commitment to solving real-world environmental problems. His work in landfill management, urban climate studies, and sustainable construction is already contributing to both national and global sustainability goals. As he moves forward, Tushar aims to expand his impact through international collaboration, higher academic pursuits, and climate policy engagement. With a strong foundation and a clear vision, he is well-positioned to become a key figure in shaping resilient and sustainable environmental infrastructures for the future.

📖Notable Publications

  • mpact of brick dust addition on the physical and mechanical performance of pervious concrete
    Authors: Md. Tushar Ali; Muhammad Harunur Rashid
    Journal: Innovative Infrastructure Solutions
    Year: 2025

  • Environmental risks of plastic losses from landfills: A comparative study of divisional cities in Bangladesh
    Authors: Md. Tushar Ali; Islam M. Rafizul
    Journal: Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
    Year: 2024

  • Dynamics of atmospheric emissions and meteorological variables in Bangladesh from pre-to post-COVID-19 lockdown
    Authors: Md. Tushar Ali; Islam M. Rafizul; Quazi Hamidul Bari
    Journal: Heliyon
    Year: 2024

  • The effects of coarser sand addition on thermal properties of pervious concrete
    Authors: Md. Tushar Ali; Muhammad Harunur Rashid
    Journal: Innovative Infrastructure Solutions
    Year: 2024