Dr. Stephanie Lansing leads the Bioenergy and Biotechnology Lab at the nexus of renewable energy, water quality, waste treatment, and human health. She is committed to understanding the ecological, engineering, and social systems that influence these intertwined areas. Dr. Lansing serves as a Vice Chair of the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council. Her research focuses on strengthening the biocircular economy, anaerobic digestion, bioplastic formation from waste, microbial fuel cells, and nutrient management. She has 20 years of experience in renewable energy research, extension education, and conducting sustainability life cycle assessments of waste to energy systems. Her work in bioenergy spans from large to small-scale anaerobic digestion in the US, Africa, and Latin America.
Dr. Lansing is leading two new grants totaling >$6 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop sustainable products, such as biofuels and bioplastics from food waste. These grants are aimed at understanding the waste sources we have, particularly the quantities of food waste, and determining what opportunities exist for us to create renewable resources and energy from that waste. One grant is focused on the production of bioplastics from food waste, while the other is focused on characterizing the municipal solid waste stream to create biofuels that can replace liquid fuels like aviation fuel.
Anaerobic digestion is a technology that transforms waste into renewable energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. During anaerobic digestion, biogas is produced from a natural consortium of microbes that break down biodegradable material inside a sealed, oxygen-free reactor. Anaerobic digesters can use a wide range of waste, such as food scraps, manure, crop waste, or sewage sludge.
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Research factsheet: Waste to energy
In the US, 34 million people are food insecure. Yet a third of the food produced in the US is wasted. Our integrated team, NourishNet, funded by that National Science Foundation, offers a cutting-edge toolbox that enhances food security and reduces food waste by putting healthy food in the hands of the food insecure. Our tools include the complete integration of a real-time software app, named FoodLoops, to optimize surplus food distribution with an electronic sensor, named Quantum Nose, to detect early-stage food spoilage. The FoodLoops platform incorporates consumer education, connects small farmers within the food ecosystem, and provides greenhouse gas emission data to allow for data-driven decision-making on food system resiliency. The collaborative NourishNet team includes University of Maryland researchers and entrepreneurs, Prince George’s County Food Equity Council, ChowMatch, LindaBen Foundation, SCS Engineers, and Well Said Media.
Our tools will strengthen food system resiliency by promoting equitable donations and redistribution of nutritious surplus food. Our real-time data collection and modeling will empower government agencies and institutions to strategically invest in waste prevention, food diversion, anaerobic digestion, composting, and climate-smart infrastructure for local food markets. The nationwide deployment of FoodLoops and Quantum Nose will increase equity, connect key food system stakeholders, empower underserved populations, create new educational resources, and allow for real-time forecasting and data-driven decision-making.
Food, water, and energy systems are intimately connected. Water and nutrients are needed to grow crops and feed animals. Agricultural runoff can degrade water quality and increase eutrophication, while energy is integral to both agricultural production and water treatment. The connection between these systems is known as the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus.
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VOA News: Algal Turf Scrubbers
Food Energy Water Nexus Research featured on the Big Ten Network
Antimicrobial resistance is of increasing concern, with antibiotics use in agriculture and public health settings leading to an increase in bacterial resistance in the environment.
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Find the full list of publications on Google Scholar.
Awarded 47 grants valued at $16.8 million. I served as the PI for >$12 million of the grant dollars awarded. Granting agencies have included federal government (NSF, USAID, USDA-AFRI, DOE, US Air Force, US Dept. of Transportation, Sustainable Agricultural Research & Education (SARE), private foundations (Gates Foundation - 2 grants), state agencies (MD Dept. of Agriculture, MD Energy Innovation Institute, MD Industrial Partnerships, MD Energy Admin), UMD competitive programs, and one patent approved.
1. NSF Convergence Accelerator Track J: MidAtlantic Food Resiliency Network – Securing the Future of Food through a Multi-Mindset Approach
2. Systematic Characterization of Variability in MSW Streams to Identify Critical Material Attributes for Fuel Production
3. Innovative Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) Production with Microbial Electrochemical Technology (MET) Incorporation for Community-Scale Valorization
4. Maryland Animal Waste Technology Assessment and Strategy Planning
5. Quantifying Cattle Manure-AMR Perceptions and Treatment System Variabilities to Develop a Novel Communication Framework for Conveying AMR Science and Mitigation Opportunities
6. NSF-INFEWS: UMD Global STEWARDS (STEM Training at the Nexus of the Energy Water Reuse and FooD systems)
7. Poultry Litter Biochar: Markets and Sustainability
8. Poultry Litter Digestion and Nutrient Recovery: Maryland Eastern Shore
9. Surveys and Communication of AMR: Human Dimensions Conference
10. Co-digestion of Algae from Algal Turf Scrubbers in Farm-Based Digesters to Increase Profitability and Reduce Nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay
11. Biogas Enhancement and Ammonia Extraction for Increased Revenue in Waste-to-Energy Systems
12. Energy Answers for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher
13. Third Party Monitoring of the Anaerobic Digester Project Implemented by Kilby Farm, LLC as a Demonstration of Animal Waste Technology
Some of Dr. Lansing's lectures and teaching recordings on renewable energy and ecological design topics are available on her YouTube Channel: @stephanielansing5768.
ENST 415/ENST 615/MEES 615 (3 credits)
An overview of renewable energy technologies, their current applications and design criteria. Emphasis is placed on bioenergy (anaerobic digestion, biodiesel, and ethanol) solar, and wind energy. Fall Semester. See syllabus for more details.
ENST 481/ENST 681 (3 credits)
This is an advanced survey course on the field of ecological design and engineering. Principles of ecological engineering are applied through design of biologically-based waste treatment systems. Spring Semester. See ENST481 syllabus for more details. Or ENST681 syllabus here.
MEIH691
A data analysis course for the NSF-funded Global STEWARDS. See syllabus for more details.
ENST 689K (1 credit)
This seminar is co-taught via Zoom with six participating institutions (UMD, University of Nebraska, University of Minnesota, Oklahoma State University, North Carolina State University, Washington State University) with guest lectures in-person or via Zoom from experts in AMR throughout the world.
Dr. Stephanie LansingPrincipal Investigator
Contact: slansing@umd.edu |
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Dr. Amro HassaneinAssistant Research Scientist & Lab Manager
Contact: ahassane@umd.edu Website: www.amrohassanein.com
Dr. Amro Hassanein's experience includes anaerobic digestion, microbial fuel cell, microbial electrolysis cell, coagulation, nutrient capture, modeling, bioenergy, life cycle assessments, pyrolysis, and nanotechnology. |
Dr. Naresh Kumar AmradiPostdoctoral Research Associate
Contact: nareshka@umd.edu Mobile: +1-240-726-2280 0512A An.Sci./Ag. Eng. Bldg.142 College Park, MD 20742
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Danielle DelpAlgal Digestion and Watershed Management
Contact: ddelp@umd.edu
Danielle is a doctoral student researching anaerobic digestion of algae in the department of environmental science and technology department. Her interests lie in the application of algal biotechnology for use in bioremediation and bioenergy production. She currently works with algal turf scrubber systems to grow algae on water drawn from tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay to produce a feedstock for methane production via anaerobic digestion. This combined technology presents a potential method for carbon-neutral bioenergy production while providing continuous remediation to impacted waterways. |
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Carlton PoindexterAntimicrobial Resistance and Manure Treatment
Contact: cpoindex@terpmail.umd.edu
Carlton Poindexter is an NSF-NRT doctoral student in the department of environmental science and technology at the University of Maryland . His research is focused on environmental antimicrobial resistance and the effectiveness of anaerobic digestion and other waste/ wastewater treatment technology. This research seeks to determine ecological mechanisms involved in the occurrence and transmission of antibiotic resistant genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria. |
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Usoshi ChatterjeeWaste Conversion and Systems Engineering
Contact: uchatter@terpmail.umd.edu
Usoshi is a doctoral student in the department of Environmental Science and Technology at University of Maryland. She has a Master's and BS from Ohio State University in Food and Biological Engineering and is interested in learning various ways to incorporate sustainable systems. Her doctoral research focuses on conversion of waste into soil amendments for plants and potential use of carbon sequestration and pollution abatement, as well as analyzing the life cycle of a system. This proposed research is to develop innovative bioenergy/processing technologies to increase agricultural productivity.
AGNR Momentum Magazine Article: From Poultry Poop to Possibility |
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Kirk MahoneyAnaerobic Digestion and Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs)
Contact: kmahone4@umd.edu |
Derrick SandersNanotechnology and Microbial Electrolysis Cells |
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Olivia RobinsonMunicipal Waste to Energy Analysis and Waste Conversion Systems Engineering |
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Emily McCoyEfficiency of Co-digestion of Dairy Manure, Poultry and Food Wastes |
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Briana MercadoNutrient Transformations and Biogas Production from Anaerobic Digestion |
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Dahlia AdresNutrient Transformations and Biogas Production from Anaerobic Digestion |
Mandy ZhangVolatile Fatty Acid Production from Dark Fermentation |
Name |
Current Position |
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Jenna Schueler, MS |
Water Quality Research Assistant, Chesapeake Bay Foundation |
Andrew Moss, MS |
Technical Director, Plant Found Energy Development, LLC |
Katherine Klavon, MS |
Senior Water Resources Engineer, WSP: Colorado Springs |
Abhinav Choudhury, PhD |
Environmental Research Engineer, Freshwater Institute, The Conservation Fund |
Freddy Witarsa, PhD |
Assistant Professor, Colorado Mesa University |
Ashley Belle, PhD |
Extension Educator, University of Illinois Extension |
Andrea Yarberry, PhD |
Organic Chemical Metrology Group, NIST |
Emily Keller |
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Ahmed Abdellah |
University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Student |