Visiting Fellows

Mojtaba Jarrahi
Université Paris-Saclay (Saclay, France)

Theme 3:  Nature-inspired solutions for carbon transformation
May, July 2024

Microalgae is gaining attention as a potential source for carbon capture and sequestration. Dr. Mojtaba Jarrahi (Université Paris-Saclay) specializes in algae's biophysical behaviour in fluids.  He is interested in microalgae's potential applications in many different industries (e.g., pharmaceutical, nutracutical, water treatment, and renewable energy).

Dr. Jarrahi has also studied cyanobacteria as a possible source for biofuel, a renewable energy source drawn from agricultural or industrial biowaste.  

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Jalel Ben-Othman
Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (Villetaneuse, France)

Theme 4:  Interdisciplinary Research to Address Technical and Social Barriers in Smart Cities and Communities
June 2024

Dr. Jalel Ben-Othman (Université Sorbonne Paris Nord) is a leading researcher in mobility management and traffic forecasting in the urban environment, as well as mobility modelling for multi-lane highways. A noted expert on security in wireless networks, Dr. Ben-Othman's areas of interest include mobility management in urban environments, wireless adhoc and sensor networks, and IoT. His work appears in IEEE ICC, Globecom, LCN, VTC, and PIMRC.

Dr. Ben-Othman is an editoral board member of Wiley Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, Inderscience International Journal of Satellite Communications Policy and Management. He serves as an Associate Editor of Wiley International Journal of Communication Systems.

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Paola Giudicianni
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche (Naples, Italy)

Theme 3:  Nature-Inspired Solutions for Carbon Transformation
July—August 2024

Dr. Paola Giudicianni is a recognized expert in the chemical and physical characterization of biomass, a renewable energy source that is derived from plants.  She has also made contributions to the study of chemical and physical pre-treatments and thermochemical conversion processes (including torrefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification). Currently, Dr. Giudicianni is a researcher at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche (CNR) at the Institute of Science and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility, which a public research entity in Italy.

Dr. Giudicianni contributes extensive knowledge about new and innovative downstream processing technologies for biomass. Her research explores the role of sustainable and economical production chains, especially on-site production of biochar, in improving the circularity of waste processing methods.

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Katharine Willis
School of Art, Design, and Architecture, University of Plymouth (Plymouth, UK)

Theme 4:  Interdisciplinary Research to Address Technical and Social Barriers in Smart Cities and Communities
July—August 2024

A leading expert in smart cities and communities, Dr. Katharine Willis brings insights into how technologies connect with the places where we live. Dr. Willis is particularly interested in social and digital inclusion, and in how smart city technologies may be used to encourage citizen participation.

As a Professor of Smart Cities and Communities at the University of Plymouth (Plymouth, UK), Dr. Willis developed Smart City Futures, a graduate-level program that trains future leaders in smart city design. Currently, she is a member of the International Telecommunication Union, an agency of the United Nations that focusses on information and communication technologies.

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Damien Batstone
Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biology, University of Queensland (St. Lucia, Australia)

Theme 3:  Nature-Inspired Solutions for Carbon Transformation
TBA

Dr. Damien Batstone is an internationally recognized expert in water resource recovery, anaerobic digestion, and photobioreactor design. Currently he serves as the Director of the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biology, a world-leading water research group at the University of Queensland, and is an active member of the International Water Association.

Dr. Batstone brings a wealth of experience related to photobioreactors and phototropic bacteria for wastewater treatment. He was among the first to consider purple phototrophic bacteria for these applications and has commissioned a number of successful pilot reactors based on his research. Dr. Batstone provides critical expertise in the area of photobioreactor design and process modelling.

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