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Grad student honored at international conference
1:42 p.m., Sept. 5, 2006--Derya Dursun, a graduate student in UD's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, won the Best Paper Award at the third International Young Researchers Conference, sponsored by the International Water Association (IWA). The conference was held in May, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. IWA, whose membership is drawn from 130 countries, received more than 200 abstract submissions from young researchers in 45 countries, with 60 chosen for the conference. Dursun's research involves using new enzyme methods in characterizing and treating waste residuals from domestic wastewater treatment. Her winning paper was entitled “Enhancement of Dewaterability with Specific Enzyme Pretreatment: Role of Proteins and Carbohydrates.” The conference was a rewarding experience, Dursun said, interacting with people from all over the world and learning from workshops and meetings with CEOs and professionals in the field. A native of Turkey, Dursun received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Dokuz Eylûl University in environmental engineering. She knew of the work being done by Steven Dentel, professor of civil and environmental engineering, and contacted him about coming to the University of Delaware as a graduate student, arriving four years ago. The environment is an important concern for her, Dursun said, and water treatment is a major environmental issue. Most of her research on biosolids is carried out in the lab although she has been involved in a pilot project with the Wilmington's wastewater treatment facility. This semester, Dursan's research is taking her to France where she will study wastewater methods at the Polytechnic Institute of Lorraine. She will then return to UD to complete her dissertation on “Gel-Like Behavior of Biosolids in Conditioning and Dewatering Processes.” “Derya is a talented researcher and professional who deserves this global recognition,” Dentel said. “This also further UD's international reputation in the field of environmental engineering.” Article by Sue Moncure |
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