Rob Nerenberg
Principal Investigator
Rob is a professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. His research addresses biofilms in a range of environments, from wastewater treatment systems, potable water systems, and clinical infections.
Laboratory Members
Yan Lu
Yan is a postdoc in Nerenberg’s lab. Her research focuses on biofilm detachment from membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs). Yan received her Ph.D. from the Australian Center for Water and Environmental Biotechnology at the University of Queensland (Australia).
Contact: ylu36@nd.edu
Alejandro Martin Linares
Alejandro is a doctoral student studying fungal biofilms in environmental and clinical systems. He has a degree on Mechanical Engineering from the European University of Madrid, and Masters degrees from Imperial College London and European University of Valencia.
Contact: amarti77@nd.edu
Diana Mora Jimenez
Diana is a doctoral student studying the microbial ecology of membrane-aerated biofilms reactors (MABRs), especially for partial nitritation/anammox. Diana has a master in Innovation in Bio Sciences and Bio Engineering from the University of San Sebastian.
Contact: dmorajim@nd.edu
Gabriela Andrino
Gabby is a doctoral student studying the microbial water quality of reusable water bottles. Gabby has a degree in Biology from Nevada State University.
Contact: gandrino@nd.edu
Camilo Parra Guzman
Camilo is a doctoral student studying the effects of hydrocyclones and other factors on floc characteristics and settleability. Camilo has a degree in Biological Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Contact: cparragu@nd.edu
Enso Torres Alegre
Enso is a doctoral student studying biofilm dynamics and detachment with an emphasis on understanding how environmental and physical stress influences biofilms.
Contact: etorresa@nd.edu
Undergraduate Researchers
Visiting Scholars
Yan Yang
PhD student
Chongqing University, China
Bruno Garcia Silva
PhD student
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Eduardo Leiva
Assistant professor
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
Claudia Sanchez Huerta
PhD student
KAUST, Saudi Arabia
Minmin Jiang
PhD student
Guiling University of Technology, China
Erika Espinosa Ortiz
Assistant Research Professor
Montana State University, USA
Francisca Schiaffino
Undergraduate student
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
Alumni
Postdocs
Patricia Perez Calleja
Current position: Manager of R&D at Cimico, Spain
Aura Ontiveros Valencia
Current position: Assistant professor at IPICIT, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Doctoral Students
Yanina Nahum (2024)
Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, Boston University
Emily Clements (2023)
Current position: Reuse Innovation Manager, Carollo Engineers, Arlington, VA
Bumkyu Kim (2022)
Current position: Research associate, Stantec, Boulder County, CO
Mengfei Li (2021)
Current position: Wastewater Engineer, Jacobs Engineering, Detroit, MI
Marcela Vega Muñoz (2019)
Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, UIUC
Fabrizio Sabba (2016)
Current position: Assistant professor, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Marcelo Aybar (2016)
Current position: Associate Professor, Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile
Yue Wang (2015)
Current position: The IFCE, China
Juan Pablo Pavissich (2014)
Current position: Associate Professor, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile
Kelly Gordon (2013)
Current position: Process Engineer, Black & Veatch, Leawood, KS
Brenda Read-Daily (2011)
Current position: Associate Professor, Elizabethtown college, Elizabethtown, PA
Caitlyn Shea Butler (2009)
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Leon Downing (2008)
Current Position: Global Practice & Technology Leader for Nutrient Removal and Recovery, Black & Veatch
Masters Students
Francisca Schiaffino (2025)
Cason Wilburn (2024)
Current Position: Burns & McDonnell, Chesapeake, VA
Isaiah Murrell-Thomas (2024)
Current position: Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, WA
Sarajane Roenke (2022)
Meenu Garg (2019)
Current position: Jacobs, Hampton Roads, VA
Lara Sisman Grotz (2018)
Current position: HDR, Charlotte, NC
Andrew DeVries (2015)
Current position: Stantec, Ventura, CA
Samuel Bruce (2015)
Current position: HDR, Columbia, SC
Brenda Read-Daily (2011)
Current position: Associate Professor, Elizabethtown college, Elizabethtown, PA
Margaret Dudley (2007)
Current position: unknown
Anna Salamone (2006)
Current position: unknown