The global energy demand for water treatment is growing and, with it, an emerging need to treat and reuse water sources. This increasing demand is being driven by quickly developing populations, the expansion of water utilities to new communities, the growth of industries that rely on clean water, and the consequences of pollution complicating the treatment of water sources. This event will feature speakers who can provide a global perspective on our water systems. As well, Penn faculty will present research working toward new low-energy methods for water purification and separations.
This is an invitation only event. If you are a part of the Penn community and are interested in attending, please email Emma Denison (emmade@sas.upenn.edu)
Sean McKelvey
Environmental Engineer
Philadelphia Water Department
Sean McKelvey is an environmental engineer in the Planning & Research Unit of the Philadelphia Water Department. Sean has more than 6 years of experience specializing in water and wastewater treatment topics, such as conducting pilot-scale evaluations, PFAS treatment techniques in drinking water, data-driven modeling, nutrient management, and food waste co-digestion. Sean completed a Master of Science in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at Villanova University and is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Engineering at Temple University. Sean is a licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania.
Samantha McBride
William K. Gemmill Term Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Samantha McBride is William K. Gemmill Term Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Professor McBride received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, her MS in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a BS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to joining UPenn as an assistant professor in 2024, she worked at Princeton University as a Presidential Postdoctoral fellow. Her research interests lie at the intersection of water chemistry, transport phenomena, and interfacial engineering.
Chinedum Osuji
Eduardo D. Glandt Presidential Professor of Chemical Engineering
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Chinedum Osuji is Eduardo D. Glandt Presidential Professor of Chemical Engineering. Prof. Osuji received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT in 2003. From 2003-2005 he was a Senior Scientist at Surface Logix Inc, and from 2005-2007 was a Postdoctoral Associate in Applied Physics at Harvard University. From 2007-2018 he was on the faculty at Yale University in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. In 2018 he joined the University of Pennsylvania where he is currently a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and serves as an Associate Editor for Macromolecules. He leads an experimental research group focused on structure and dynamics of soft materials and complex fluids. Topics of interest include structure-property relationships in ordered soft materials, directed self-assembly of block copolymers and other soft mesophases or molecular materials, and rheology and slow dynamics of disordered systems.
Danelle Bishoff
Process Engineer, EIT
Stantec
Danelle Bishoff is a Process Engineer, EIT at Stantec, based out of their New York City office. As a process engineer in training, Danelle supports our process leads in conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design of wastewater facilities, including dewatering facilities and wastewater treatment plants. She has also been involved in technical writing, literature review, data analysis, and sampling in full-scale wastewater treatment plants for improved process performance and operation.
Danelle has an extensive background in wastewater, specifically in biological nutrient removal processes including nitrogen removal (nitrification and denitrification) and enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes (EBPR). As a result, she’s been involved in the commissioning, optimization and validation of Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) expansion—one of the largest cold weather biological nutrient removal facilities in North America.
When she’s not working, you’ll find Danelle exploring the outdoors and visiting new places. She enjoys being in the mountains, snow skiing in the winter and hiking and biking in the summer.