Nonhle is a visiting researcher in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State and an M.S. student in Chemistry at the University of South Africa (UNISA). She holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and Chemical Technology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her research focuses on the occurrence, fate, and treatment of emerging contaminants in water, with particular emphasis on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Her work involves photocatalysis, membrane filtration, and the development of advanced materials for water treatment applications. At Penn State, she is engaged in collaborative research on nanobubble technology for PFAS treatment and in-depth analysis of PFAS in aqueous systems, with a focus on analytical training and characterization methods. Her broader interests lie in developing sustainable approaches for water quality improvement and environmental remediation. Outside of research, she enjoys travelling, exploring new places and cultures and spending time outdoors.

Caroline is a PhD student studying environmental engineering at Penn State. She received a BS in chemistry from the University of Florida. There she focused on applications of sustainable technologies by minoring in sustainability studies, holding leadership positions focused on implementing sustainable practices, and working for an activated carbon company developing technologies for water treatment. Upon graduation, she was promoted and continued to work developing activated carbon technologies for a flagship production facility. Upon developing a successful technology, she assumed a technical sales role where she learned about water treatment facilities, their operations, and how they cope with regulatory compliance. Building off this experience, she continues her education at Penn State where her work focused on the modification of biochar to improve properties and facilitate application in a variety of industries, particularly water treatment. Her goal is to develop scalable carbon-based technologies , making regulatory compliance more sustainable and affordable. Outside of research, Caroline enjoys rock climbing, yoga, Pilates, and spending time outdoors.

Domenic is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering at Penn State. He received his BS from the University of Florida where he conducted undergraduate research and published work surrounding activated carbon surface chemistry and adsorption mechanisms. After graduating from the University of Florida, he worked for an activated carbon manufacturing company developing technologies for mercury adsorption in the air and liquid phase, phosphorous removal from wastewater, and in-situ remediation of toxic algal blooms in Florida. Having returned to Penn State for a graduate education, he was awarded the Diefenderfer Graduate Fellowship in Entrepreneurship, completed the NSF I-Corps regional program for two new-business ventures, and has earned his MS in Environmental Engineering. His work at Penn State surrounds the investigation of several renewable biomass sources for conversion to biochar or activated carbon, and comparisons to coal-based materials. Outside of research, Domenic is a Graduate Advisor for the First-Gen Advocates student organization on campus, and enjoys cycling, rock climbing, and watching ice hockey.    

Lina is a Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at Penn State University. She holds an M.S. degree in Municipal Engineering (Water Treatment) from Tongji University in Shanghai, China. Her master’s research focused on exploring the applications of nanobubbles in water treatment, including  the effect of ozone nanobubble on in-situ algal control and its impact on microbial community structure and function, as well as the effects of nanobubbles on the manganese oxidation of a manganese-oxidizing fungus Cladosporium sp. and the biogenic mechanism. During her Ph.D. studies, Lina will continue to investigate the potential of nanobubble technology in environmental engineering. In her free time, she enjoys photography, listening to music, and traveling.

Paulina is a Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at Penn State University. She holds an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Maine and a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Quito, Ecuador. Her research focuses on the fate and transport of pollutants across environmental media, from understanding the mechanisms and scenarios that lead to contamination to identifying safer materials and practices that prevent it. She is also interested in developing and optimizing remediation strategies that restore ecosystems and protect human health, while incorporating sustainability principles into her experimental design to enhance long-term environmental resilience. Outside of research, she enjoys biking, trail-running, painting, visiting museums and galleries, watching movies, and traveling.

Kenneth is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State. He has an M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology in Egypt and a B.S. degree in Minerals Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology in Ghana. Kenneth's research interests include advanced oxidation processes, adsorption, and biological treatment of water and wastewater. He is researching metastable oxygen nanobubbles for space exploration and other environmental applications, with the Apul Research Group. Kenneth spends his leisure time playing soccer, exercising at the gym, traveling, swimming, and hanging out with friends.

Would you like to live and work in the "Happy Valley" of the US while working in a vibrant, creative, collaborative and diverse research group? At Penn State we always seek motivated and hard working team players to fill in positions. If you are interested in becoming a team member, please email your (i) research interests in a cover letter (ii) a CV along with (iii) the names of your references to oga5061@psu.edu.  

Penn State is an elite research university, an AAU member, and a Carnegie R1 school with $1.34 billion annual research expenditures. Penn State has an extremely powerful alumni network enabling $4.5 billion endowment making Penn State Alumni Association is the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world. Also the university is one of the three land-, space-, sun-, and sea-grant schools in the nation and often ranked top 30 in public schools (according to US News).

Our research group is located in one of the newest interdisciplinary engineering buildings (eCORE built 2024) on the flagship campus of Penn State in College Park. The campus and the city are presenting a safe, productive, balanced and rewarding grad school experience. The campus is home to Beaver Stadium, the second-largest stadium in the Western hemisphere. Whether you're living on campus or commuting, you'll be part of a close-knit community that supports your personal growth, encourages collaboration, and provides a network of lifelong friendships.