![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/unnamed-1-1-edited.png)
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.
Graduate Students
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/09/Slide6.jpg)
Yanina Nahum
Yanina is a doctoral student investigating the use of low-frequency ultrasound to enhance antibiotic efficiency in biofilm infections. She has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires.
Contact: ynahum@nd.edu
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/09/Slide8.jpg)
Saúl García Perez
Saul’s research focuses on algal biofilms as photoreactors as well as characterization of fungal biofilms.
Contact: jgarciap@nd.edu
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/09/Slide9.jpg)
Alejandro Martin Linares
Alejandro is a doctoral student studying fungal biofilm 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
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/09/Slide10.jpg)
Isaiah Murrel-Thomas
Isaiah is a Masters student studying biofilms and opportunistic pathogens in premise plumbing systems, with a special focus on biofilms in shower hoses. Isaiah earned a degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.
Contact: imurrell@nd.edu
![](http://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/02/WhatsApp-Image-2023-02-10-at-1.47.58-PM-edited-1024x1024.jpeg)
Francisca Schiaffino Pereira
Fran is a doctoral student studying the effect of low-frequency ultrasound on the inactivation of biofilms. Francisca has a degree in Biological Engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Contact: fschiaff@nd.edu
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/08/Cason-1-edited.png)
Cason Wilburn
Cason is a masters student studying the effect of hydrocyclones on the physical characteristics and microbial community structures of flocs in the activated sludge process. Cason has a degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.
Contact: cwilburn@nd.edu
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-5.jpg)
Undergraduate Researchers
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/08/Vinvent-min-1-814x1024.png)
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/03/Dastan-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/03/IMG_3276-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/02/Frqan.jpg)
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/Screenshot-2022-05-14-131804-3.jpg)
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/Screenshot-2022-05-14-132121-1.jpg)
Visiting Scholars
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/visiting1-1-edited.jpg)
Yan Yang
PhD student
Chongqing University, China
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/visiting2-2-edited.png)
Bruno Garcia Silva
PhD student
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/visiting3-2-edited.jpg)
Eduardo Leiva
Assistant professor
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/visiting4-1-edited.jpg)
Claudia Sanchez Huerta
PhD student
KAUST, Saudi Arabia
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/visiting5-1-edited.jpg)
Minmin Jiang
PhD student
Guiling University of Technology, China
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/02/Picture-me-1-edited-1.jpg)
Erika Espinosa Ortiz
Assistant Research Professor
Montana State University, USA
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/02/WhatsApp-Image-2023-02-10-at-1.47.58-PM-edited.jpeg)
Francisca Schiaffino
Undergraduate student
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
Alumni
Postdocs
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/posdoc1-edited.jpg)
Patricia Perez Calleja
Current position: Manager of R&D at Cimico, Spain
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/posdoc2.png)
Aura Ontiveros Valencia
Current position: Assistant professor at IPICIT, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Doctoral Students
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2023/08/Emily.jpg)
Emily Clements (2023)
Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, Southern Nevada Water Authority
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/06/bk-edited.jpg)
Bumkyu Kim (2022)
Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/Mengfei-edited.jpg)
Mengfei Li (2021)
Current position: Wastewater Engineer, Jacobs Engineering, Detroit, MI
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/Phd2-edited.jpg)
Marcela Vega Muñoz (2019)
Current position: Post-doctoral researcher, UIUC
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/Phd3-edited.png)
Fabrizio Sabba (2016)
Current position: Process Engineer, Black & Veatch, New York, NY
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd3-1.jpg)
Marcelo Aybar (2016)
Current position: Associate Professor, Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd5.jpg)
Yue Wang (2015)
Current position: The IFCE, China
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd6-1-edited.jpg)
Juan Pablo Pavissich (2014)
Current position: Associate Professor, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd4-edited.jpg)
Kelly Gordon (2013)
Current position: Process Engineer, Black & Veatch, Leawood, KS
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd8.png)
Brenda Read-Daily (2011)
Current position: Associate Professor, Elizabethtown college, Elizabethtown, PA
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd7.jpg)
Caitlyn Shea Butler (2009)
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd9-edited.jpg)
Leon Downing (2008)
Current Position: Global Practice & Technology Leader for Nutrient Removal and Recovery, Black & Veatch
Masters Students
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/master1-edited.png)
Sarajane Roenke (2022)
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/master3-1-edited.jpg)
Meenu Garg (2019)
Current position: Jacobs, Hampton Roads, VA
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/master2-1.jpg)
Lara Sisman Grotz (2018)
Current position: HDR, Charlotte, NC
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/master5-edited.jpg)
Andrew DeVries (2015)
Current position: Stantec, Ventura, CA
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/master4-edited.png)
Samuel Bruce (2015)
Current position: HDR, Columbia, SC
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/phd8-1.png)
Brenda Read-Daily (2011)
Current position: Associate Professor, Elizabethtown college, Elizabethtown, PA
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/download-1.png)
Margaret Dudley (2007)
Current position: unknown
![](https://sites.nd.edu/nerenberg-lab/files/2022/05/download-1-1.png)
Anna Salamone (2006)
Current position: unknown