Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

Vanessa joined ISTC in 2021 as a Senior Research Specialist in Environmental Engineering. She previously worked at the UIUC College of Veterinary Medicine performing case work and research related to veterinary infectious disease with a primary focus on micro and molecular biology. She also spent her early career with the Allen Institute for Brain Science managing research on mouse genetics and neuroscience.

Improving the Productivity and Performance of Large Scale Integrated Algal Systems for Wastewater Treatment and Biofuel Production. 2019-2024. Funding agency: US DOE. Our research is currently focused on improvement of algal systems for wastewater treatment. Projects topics include hydrothermal liquifaction, nanofiltration, algal toxin destruction, bioaugmentation, and endoreduplication.

M.S. Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022

B.S. in Biology, St. Norbert College, 2009

Assistant Research Scientist- UIUC ISTC, (Champaign, IL) 2024-current.

Visiting Senior Research Specialist - UIUC ISTC, (Champaign, IL) 2021-2024.

Veterinary Research Specialist - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (Urbana, IL), 2015-2021.

Animal Keeper - Smithsonian National Zoo (Washington D.C), 2014-2015.

Research Associate II (Lead) - Allen Institute for Brain Science (Seattle, WA), 2011-2013.

Microbiology

Environmental Microbiology

Bioenergy from food waste and wastewater

Emerging contaminants

Infectious disease; especially in the environment, zoonotic, emerging disease