Research and Innovation Community

The WEF Research and Innovation Community will support the execution of WEF's programs for academics and other researchers and WEF's efforts to foster collaboration between and to meet the needs of these professionals.

Specifically, the committee will:

• Improve communication between researchers working in academic and other research settings and coordinate input to WEF's efforts to understand and address priorities such as knowledge development and transfer, research funding, and so forth.
• Support and foster the participation of members from the academic and research communities in WEF's critical objective of driving innovation.
• Lead and support efforts to increase the participation of academics and other researchers in WEF programs.
• Provide leadership for and coordination of WEF's research-related conferences, including proposing events and meetings.

Chair
Annalisa Onnis-Hayden, 2022-2023 

Vice-Chairs
Erika Bailey, 2022-2023
Pusker Regmi, 2022-2023

Staff Manager
Fidan Karimova
Senior Manager, Water Science & Engineering Center
Email: FKarimova@wef.org
Tel: 703-684-2400, ext. 7467
Email:  FKarimova@wef.org

View archived RIC Forum Webcasts and Research and Innovation Community Technical Resources.

Research and Innovation for Strengthening Engagement (RISE)

RISE will continue to support the core value of accelerating the adoption of innovative technology within the water industry, integrating utilities, academics, and consultants in the discussion.

Algae-based Treatment Processes

Chair: Craig Just, University of Iowa - craig-just@uiowa.edu
Vice Chair: Ron Patel, Hernando County Utilities Department - rpatel@hernandocounty.us 
Vice Chair: Embrey Bronstad, Washington State University -  embrey.bronstad@wsu.edu

Digester Mixing Technologies and Full-scale Applications

Chair: Rob Lantz, Smith Seckman Reid - rlantz@ssr-inc.com
Vice Chair: Ana Pena-Tijerina, Plummer - apena-tijerina@plummer.com

Hydrothermal Liquefaction

Chair: Craig Just, University of Iowa, craig-just@uiowa.edu 
Vice Chair: Simon Lobdell, Orange Water and Sewer Authority, smlobdell@owasa.org

Improvements on Pre-digestion Hydrolysis Processes

Chair: Tom Nangle, Brown and Caldwell - tnangle@brwncald.com 
Vice Chair: Rashi Gupta, Carollo - rgupta@carollo.com 
Vice Chair: Xavi Fonoll Almansa, Great Lakes Water Authority - xavier.fonoll-almansa@glwater.org 

Mainstream Carbon Efficient Nitrogen Removal through PdNA

Chair: Stephanie Klaus, Hampton Roads Sanitation District - SKlaus@hrsd.com 
Vice Chair: TBD

Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR)

Chair: Jeff Peeters, Suez - jeff.peeters@suez.com 
Vice Chair: Yueyun (Bridget) Tse, Black & Veatch - TseY@bv.com
Vice Chair: Per Henrik Nielsen, VandCenter Syd phn@vandcenter.dk 

Soft Sensors and Machine Learning Possibilities and Applications

Chair: Aditya Ramamurthy, Kennedy Jenks - adityaramamurthy@kennedyjenks.com 
Vice Chair: Jennifer Loudon, Intelligent Water Services - jloudon82@gmail.com 
Vice Chair: Fenghua Yang, MWRD Greater Chicago - fenghua.yang@mwrd.org 

Water Reuse

Chair: Ana Pena-Tijerina, Plummer - apena-tijerina@plummer.com 
Vice Chair: Mahmudul Hasan, Baltimore City Department of Public Works - Mahmudul.hasan@baltimorecity.gov 
Vice Chair: Jeff Mosher, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority - jmosher@sawpa.org