Water Quality and Resource Engineering Research Area

Image 1 of 5
Illustrated visualisation of water in society
A container with a yellow liquid and plastic tubes attached
People in lab coats doing lab stuff
A monitor with lots of devices attached
Granules floating around in a glass tube

What’s in the water? Substances to remove, recover, or simply understand. We develop methods and technologies to analyse, treat, and manage water quality, from contaminants to valuable resources. Microbial ecosystems, natural organic matter, water and wastewater treatment processes, and monitoring technologies for both natural and engineered environments are central themes of our research. The goal: circular resource use and protection of the environment and human health.


Our research

Open microbial communities for societal services
Microorganisms are almost everywhere, and they play important roles in water systems. We study the fundamental mechanisms that shape microbial community composition and function, enabling us to harness positive effects such as pollutant degradation and minimize negative effects such as infrastructure biocorrosion.    

Resource-efficient water and wastewater treatment processes
We work to optimize existing systems and develop new technologies that combine high treatment efficiency with low climate impact and maximum resource recovery. Process technologies should enable a circular economy where water, energy, nutrients, and materials are recovered and reused.    

Real-time monitoring and early warning systems
Effective water management starts with timely information. We design advanced sensor technologies to monitor water quality in both natural environments and engineered systems, enabling rapid response and proactive decision-making.  

 

Research Area Members

Core members

Britt-Marie Wilén
  • Full Professor, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Frank Persson
  • Associate Professor*, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Kathleen Murphy
  • Professor, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Urban Wünsch
  • Assistant Professor*, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Ann Mattsson
  • Adjunct Professor, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Amir Saeid Mohammadi
  • Staff Scientist, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering

Postdocs

Aprajita Singh
  • Postdoc, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Veronica Gast
  • Postdoc, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering

PhD students

Aina Mc Evoy
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Ali Esmaeeli
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Cristian Francisco Hettige Silva
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Gordon Wong
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Julia Martha Iwan
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Maria Neth
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Nipuni Wijerathna Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Sri Laxma Alankar Senthilnathan
  • Doctoral Student, Water Environment Technology, Architecture and Civil Engineering

Alumni 

Elin Ossiansson, PhD student 2018-2025, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/546148

Dan Zheng, Post-doc 2022-2025

Lesly Paradina-Fernandez, Post-doc 2022-2023

Marie Abadikhah, PhD student 2019-2024, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/540783 

Zejia Zheng, Post-doc 2021-2023 

Jennifer Ekholm, PhD student 2018-2023,  https://research.chalmers.se/publication/535720 

Cecilia Burzio, PhD student 2017-2022, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/532837 

Sabina Karacic, PhD student 2016-2021, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/526100 

Raquel Liebana, PhD student 2014-2019, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/509925 

Masoumeh Heibati, PhD student 2014-2019, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/511993

Soroush Saheb Alam, PhD student 2013-2018, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/503062 

Enikö Szabo, PhD student 2011-2017, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/249274 

Johan Fredriksson, PhD student 2007-2013, https://research.chalmers.se/publication/183191 

 

Water & Environmental Engineering Laboratory

The Water Environmental Engineering (WEE) Lab is a research and education facility that provides infrastructure for experimental research focused on water, the environment, environmental biotechnology, energy materials and resources, and sustainability.