Areas of Focus:

1.) Combining biological process engineering with micro/biotechnological tools to improve analysis, design and operation of natural and engineered waste transformation (to value products and energy) systems. To accomplish this, we use molecular techniques, mathematical modeling, and lab and field scale experimental approaches.

2.) Addressing sanitation issues in underserved communities. We strike for convergent research, aiming to contribute with our engineering and science skills, as well as our experience in several countries, to attempt to increase access to sustainable sanitation, and protect public health and the environment.

3.) Integrating results from experiments with microbial ecological theory and mathematical modeling. Our focus is fundamentally understanding microbial community structure and function and linking this knowledge to engineering solutions.

Dr. Francis de los Reyes III

Dr. de los Reyes is a Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Associate Faculty of Microbiology, and Training Faculty of Biotechnology at North Carolina State University. He has been teaching and doing research on wastewater engineering for 25 years. For the past 20 years, he has been teaching undergraduate and graduate classes on drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment plant design, environmental microbiology, environmental biotechnology, and water and sanitation in developing countries. His research focuses on biological processes and combines modeling, bioreactor experiments, and molecular microbial ecology tools in addressing fundamental and practical issues in environmental biotechnology and environmental engineering. He has also worked in water and sanitation issues in developing countries, and has current or past collaborations in the Philippines, India, China, South Africa, Malawi, Belgium, Pakistan, Rwanda, Madagascar, Kenya, and Ghana. Read more.

• Intensification of Anaerobic Digestion: Co-Digestion of Grease Interceptor Waste (GIW) with Thermally Hydrolyzed (TH) and non-TH Biosolids, F. L. de los Reyes III (PI), Urban Water Consortium, (03/01/2020 – 12/31/2021). Read more.
• ERC Planning Grant: Sanitation and Water Infrastructure of the Future for Marginalized Communities, F. L. de los Reyes III (PI), NSF, (09/01/2019 – 08/31/2020. Read more.
• Developing high-yield and resilient anaerobic co-digestion of alternative wastes, F. L. de los Reyes III (PI), Environmental Research and Education Foundation, October 2018- December 2020. Read more.
• Commercial Partner Engagement for Trash Excluder, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, July 2019 – August 2020.
• Using Microbial Ecological Theory to Understand Microbial Community Dynamics and Improve Function of Anaerobic Bioreactors, F. L. de los Reyes III (PI), Joel J. Ducoste (co-PI), National Science Foundation. August 2018 – July. Read more.
• Reliable and Hygienic Pit Emptying Using Modified Screw Augers, F. L. de los Reyes III (PI), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Oct. 2013 – Mar. 2019. Read more.
• Recently Completed Research