Ecological Engineering for Sustainable Water, Resource Recovery, and Circular Bioeconomies

The Algal Systems and Ecological Engineering Laboratory at Auburn University develops innovative ecological engineering solutions to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing society. Our research integrates engineering design with ecological principles to create sustainable technologies that recover valuable resources from waste streams, improve water quality, enhance agricultural productivity, and support circular bioeconomies.

Our work focuses on the development and optimization of algae-based treatment systems, nutrient recovery technologies, ecological wastewater treatment processes, and integrated food-energy-water systems. By harnessing natural biological processes, we seek to transform wastewater and agricultural residuals from environmental liabilities into valuable resources while reducing impacts on aquatic ecosystems and improving the sustainability of food and water production.

We collaborate with federal agencies, industry partners, municipalities, and academic institutions to advance applied research that addresses real-world environmental challenges. Current projects include nutrient recovery from agricultural and municipal waste streams, attached algal biofilm systems, algal turf scrubbers, hydrogel-based bioreactors, sustainable aquaponics, and resource-efficient water treatment technologies.