W. Wesley Eckenfelder Graduate Research Award
2026 Recipient: Jianan Feng
Faculty Advisor: Professor Jeremy Guest, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jianan Feng is a Ph.D. graduate in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research advances wastewater management by developing system-level modeling frameworks that transform wastewater residual solids (WWRS) into valuable resources while reducing environmental impacts. He integrates process modeling, techno-economic analysis, and life cycle assessment to rigorously evaluate emerging treatment technologies, with a focus on greenhouse gas mitigation, resource recovery, and control of contaminants of emerging concern.
His work has made several original and impactful contributions to the field. He developed the first nationwide greenhouse gas emissions inventory for more than 15,000 water resource recovery facilities across the contiguous United States, providing a consistent and quantitative basis for identifying high-impact mitigation opportunities. In parallel, he identified over 500 facilities with strong potential to deploy thermochemical WWRS valorization pathways, demonstrating how these systems can reduce costs, lower emissions, and enable circular resource recovery through biofuels and nutrient products. His research explicitly links process-level performance with infrastructure-scale outcomes, producing decision-relevant insights for utilities, regulators, and technology developers.
His publications in leading journals, including Nature Water and Environmental Science & Technology, reflect a consistent focus on innovative, scalable, and societally relevant solutions. Collectively, his work contributes to advancing the knowledge base of wastewater management and supports the transition toward more sustainable and resource-efficient water infrastructure.
Past Recipients
Year |
Recipient |
Advisor |
2025 |
Smith, Savanna K., North Carolina State University |
Francis L. de los Reyes, III, Ph.D., BCEEM, North Carolina State University |
2024 |
Wang, Zichuan (Zach) |
|
2023 |
Kogler, Anna, Stanford University |
Dr. William A. Tarpeh, Stanford University |
2022 |
Nguyen, Duong |
Anthony Straub, Ph.D. |
2021 |
Gao, Jiong |
Dionysios D. Dionysiou, Ph.D., BCEEM |
2020 |
Joseph E. Weaver |
Dr. Francis L. de los Reyes, III and Dr. Joel J. Ducoste, BCEEM |
2019 |
Christopher Lawson |
Katherine McMahon |
2018 |
Andrew Pfluger |
Junko Munakata-Marr and Linda Figueroa |
2017 |
No recipient |
|
2016 |
Dr. Matthew Verbyla |
|
2015 |
Bryan D. Coday |
Tzahi Cath, Colorado School of Mines |
2014 |
Maureen Kinyua |
Sarina Ergas, University of South Florida |
2013 |
Roland Cusick |
Bruce Logan, Pennsylvania State University |
2012 |
Xie He |
Francois de los Reyes, North Carolina State University |
This award is given annually to recognize an environmental engineering or environmental science graduate student whose research contributes to the knowledge pool of wastewater management. The award selection will be based on original, innovative research of publishable quality and other factors as provided below.
Both Master’s and Ph.D. students are eligible. The award will consist of a plaque and a cash honorarium of $1,500.00 for the student and a plaque for the faculty advisor. A $500.00 travel allotment to student recipients who attend the AAEES Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science awards ceremony will also be provided. This award selection committee is administered jointly by AEESP and AAEES, and is co-sponsored by HDR. Eligible applicants will be judged based on academic program performance (45%), professional or community service (15%), project significance (25%), purpose and goals (10%), and any other evidence provided (5%). An applicant remains eligible up to one calendar year following graduation and receipt of the degree earned.
Electronic nomination packages should include: (1) A letter from the faculty advisor of the applicant, indicating that the applicant has completed all substantive requirements for the graduate degree sought, and has earned a minimum GPA of 3.3/4 in the current program, (2) Two academic letters of recommendation, detailing the contributions of the research to the profession, (3) Copy of a publication (or manuscript submitted for publication) derived from the subject research for which the applicant is the first author – 25 page limit, (4) A professional resume of the student applicant, listing all professional affiliations, publications, honors, service, and relevant experience, and (5) An applicant-prepared statement of professional purpose in pursuing the graduate degree and goals for the first five years of professional practice – (limit 500 words).
Information on where to submit a nomination package can be found here: https://aeespfoundation.org/awards/eckenfelder-graduate-research.
Professor Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr. is considered the “godfather” of industrial wastewater management. He was a great colleague and mentor to numerous practitioners, professors, and students. His prolific contributions to the environmental engineering discipline included writing over thirty books, serving as a principal in several environmental engineering firms, and receiving twenty-eight awards from a wide range of professional societies. In addition, Dr. Eckenfelder was an accomplished professor with a teaching career that included positions at Manhattan College, the University of Texas at Austin, and Vanderbilt University. He was known internationally as an early developer and innovator of biological treatment technology that is now considered a standard skill employed by practicing professionals, worldwide.