Faculty Profile

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BIOGRAPHY

  • Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 1985.
  • M.S., Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 1982.
  • Diploma, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, 1974.

Dr. Spyros G. Pavlostathis is Professor Emeritus of Environmental Engineering at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. A recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship, Dr. Pavlostathis completed his MS and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at Cornell University after obtaining his Diploma in Agricultural Engineering at the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece. He is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer Member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES), and a Fellow of International Water Association (IWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Dr. Pavlostathis is internationally recognized for his expertise in the areas of environmental biotechnology and bioprocess engineering for the bioremediation of contaminated natural systems and the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater, as well as the kinetics, modeling, and simulation of bioprocesses. His research includes bioenergy and biofuels; bioavailability, fate and biotransformation of recalcitrant organic compounds; the biotransformation of emerging environmental contaminants; disinfectant-induced antibiotic resistance; as well as microbial fuel cell and bioelectrochemical technology.

Dr. Pavlostathis has published over 180 peer-reviewed papers and authored over 250 publications including books or book chapters. Dr. Pavlostathis has organized or chaired over 50 conferences and conference sessions and frequently serves as a consultant, invited speaker and panelist on behalf of city, county, state and federal agencies in the US and abroad. An active member of several professional organizations, Dr. Pavlostathis has served on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Environmental Engineering, Water Science & Technology (Guest Editor), Biotechnology Letters, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Water Environment Research, Water Quality Research Journal, and Environment International.

Dr. Pavlostathis is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships including: Greek National Scholarship Foundation; French Government Scholarship; Fulbright Scholarship; Kassimati Foundation Scholarship; Dutch National Science Foundation Fellowship; Water Environment Federation/Georgia Water & Pollution Control Association Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award; Georgia Institute of Technology/School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Best Paper Award; Georgia Institute of Technology/School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Sustained Research Award for Excellence in Environmental Research and Archival Publications; Visiting Scholar Fellowship at the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK; Marie Curie Visiting Senior Research Fellowship at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; the Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, Georgia Institute of Technology, Outstanding Faculty Award; Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal, Water Environment Federation; Honorary Doctorate Degree, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece; Frederick George Pohland Medal, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists & Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors..

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Pavlostathis has been a dedicated educator of future environmental engineers, teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Committed to the mission of teaching, he remains actively engaged in the development of curriculum and is involved in the advisement of both graduate and undergraduate engineering students. In recognition of his experience and high standing in the education of aspiring engineers he has been invited to give over 40 short courses and lectures both nationally and worldwide. He has served abroad as an evaluator of engineering curricula and programs, as well as an external thesis reviewer. Through his research activities, he has mentored 23 post-doctoral fellows and visiting scholars, 17 Ph.D. and 25 MS students, who have gone on to work in consulting, state and federal regulatory agencies, as well as academia, and provided many research opportunities for undergraduate students.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Environmental biotechnology and bioprocess engineering for the bioremediation of contaminated natural systems and the treatment of industrial and municipal wastewater
  • Fate and biotransformation of recalcitrant organic compounds and emerging environmental contaminants
  • Disinfectant-induced antibiotic resistance
  • Bioenergy and biofuels from biomass and waste streams
  • Microbial fuel cell and bioelectrochemical technology
  • Kinetics, modeling and simulation of biotransformation and biotreatment processes

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Frederick George Pohland Medal – American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists & Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors (2019)
  • Honorary Doctorate Degree, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece (2019)
  • Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (2017)
  • Water Environment Federation – Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal (2017)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/AEES Symposium – Best Undergraduate Poster Award (A. Pan; 2017)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/AEES Symposium – Best Graduate Poster Award (C. M. Dykstra; 2017)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/AEES Symposium – Best Poster Award (C. M. Dykstra; 2015)
  • Co-advisor, Sigma Xi Georgia Institute of Technology Chapter – Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (P. Sun; 2015)
  • Co-advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/School of Civil & Environmental Engineering – Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (P. Sun; 2014)
  • Honorary Professorship in Innovative Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Chinese Ministry of Education (111 Program); Tongji University, College of Environmental Science & Engineering, Shanghai, China (2014 – 2017).
  • Co-advisor, ACS/Division of Environmental Chemistry – Graduate Student Paper Award (P. Sun; 2014)
  • Co-advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/AEES Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (P. Sun; 2014)
  • Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, Georgia Institute of Technology – Outstanding Faculty Award (2014)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology/School of Civil & Environmental Engineering – Sustained Research Award (2013)
  • Fellow, Water Environment Federation (2011 Inaugural Recipient)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/AEES Symposium – Best Poster Award (T. Misiti; 2011)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/AEES Symposium – 3rd Place Poster Award (H. Giles; 2011)
  • Fellow, International Water Association (2010 Inaugural Recipient)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology/AEES Symposium – Best Poster Award (T. Misiti; 2010)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology, AEES Symposium – Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (U. Tezel; 2009)
  • Georgia Association of Water Professionals - Nominated for the Water Environment Federation Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator (2009)
  • Marie Curie Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Microbiology and Environmental Change Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland (May 2009 - September 2009)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Civil & Environmental Engeneering Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (D. Okutman-Tas; 2007)
  • American Academy of Environmental Engineers - Elected by Eminence as Board Certified Environmental Engineer (2006)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Best Ph.D. Thesis Award (Y.H. Lee; 2004)
  • Advisor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AEES) Best MS Thesis Award (W. Epolito; 2004)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology – President's Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentor Award (2004)
  • Visiting Scholar, School of Environmental and Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK (Summers 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology/School of Civil & Environmental Engineering - Sustained Research Award for Excellence in Environmental Research and Archival Publications (2001)
  • Dutch National Science Foundation, Wageningen University Sabbatical Fellowship (2000)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Best Paper Award (1997)
  • Water Environment Federation,Georgia Water & Pollution Control Association, Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award (1996)
  • Water Environment Federation - Charter Member, Recruiters Recognition Club (1994)
  • Chi Epsilon (National Civil Engineering Honor Society)
  • Kassimati Foundation Scholarship - Cornell University (1980 - 1982)
  • Fulbright Fellowship - Cornell University (1979 - 1981)
  • French Government Scholarship (1977)
  • Greek National Scholarship Foundation (1969 - 1973)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

ARTICLES
  • Long, S., X. Liu, J. Chen, L. Zhao, and S. G. Pavlostathis. 2022. Effect of tetracycline on bio-electrochemically assisted anaerobic methanogenic systems: Process performance, microbial community structure, and functional genes. Science of the Total Environment 837, 155756.
  • Chen, J., T. Song, S. Long, K. J. Zhu, and S. G. Pavlostathis. 2022. Effect of peracetic acid solution on a nitrifying culture: Kinetics, inhibition, cellular and transcriptional responses. Water Research 219, 118543.
  • Cheng, C., Q. He, J. Zhang, B. Chen, and S. G. Pavlostathis. 2022b. Is the role of aerobic methanotrophs underestimated in methane oxidation under hypoxic conditions? Science of the Total Environment 833, 155244.
  • Cheng, C., Q. He, J. Zhang, H. Chai, Y. Yang, S. G. Pavlostathis, and H. Wu. 2022a. New insight into ammonium oxidation processes and mechanisms mediated by manganese oxide in constructed wetlands. Water Research 215, 118251.
  • Yang, L., Y. Geng, D. Cui, Z. Liu, Z. Xiong, S. G. Pavlostathis, P. Shao, and X. Luo. 2022. Corrected Response Surface Methodology for Microalgae Towards Optimized Ammonia Nitrogen Removal: A Case of Rare Earth Mining Tailings Wastewater in Southern Jiangxi, China. Journal of Cleaner Production 343, 130998.
BOOKS
  • Dykstra, C. M. and S. G. Pavlostathis. 2019. Bioelectrochemical Enhancement and Intensification of Methane Production from Anaerobic Digestion. In Microbial Electrochemical Technologies, S. M. Tiquia-Arashiro and D. Pant (Eds.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
  • Tezel U., and S. G. Pavlostathis. 2012. The Role of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds on Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment. In Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment, P. L. Keen and M. H. M. M. Montforts (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA.
  • Pavlostathis, S. G. 2011. Kinetics and Modeling of Anaerobic Treatment and Biotransformation Processes. In Comprehensive Biotechnology, 2nd Edition, M. Moo-Young (Editor-in-Chief); Volume 6: Environmental Biotechnology and Safety, S. Agathos (Ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Tezel, U., M. Tandukar, and S. G. Pavlostathis. 2011. Anaerobic Biotreatment of Municipal Sewage Sludge. In Comprehensive Biotechnology, 2nd Edition, M. Moo-Young (Editor-in-Chief); Volume 6: Environmental Biotechnology and Safety, S. Agathos (Ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Tandukar, M., S. G. Pavlostathis, and F. J. Cervantes. 2009. Autotrophic Denitrification for the Removal of Nitrogenous and Sulphurous Contaminants from Wastewaters. In Environmental Technologies to Treat Nitrogen Pollution: Principles and Engineering, F. J. Cervantes (Ed.). Ch. 12, IWA Publishing, London, UK.
PROCEEDINGS
  • Liu, X., Y. Tang and S. G. Pavlostathis.* Performance of Anaerobic Digestion with Hydrothermally Treated Municipal Sludge. THESSALONIKI 2021-8th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Thessaloniki, Greece, June 2021.
  • Pavlostathis, S. G.* Advances in Anaerobic Biotechnology: A Core Technology for the Production of Carbon-Neutral, Sustainable and Renewable Biofuels and Bioenergy from Waste. THESSALONIKI 2021-8th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Thessaloniki, Greece, June 2021 (Keynote).
  • Pavlostathis, S. G.* Fate and Effect of Sanitation Chemicals in Poultry Processing Wastewater Biological Treatment Systems. AGRO’2019-10th IWA International Symposium on Waste Management Problems in Agro-Industries, Rhodes, Greece, June 2019 (Keynote).
  • Shimada, T., W. Collins, S. G. Pavlostathis and R. Kilian. Higher Biogas Production and Enhanced Nutrient Removal Performance through Industrial Waste Receiving. 91st Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC 2018), New Orleans, LA, October 2018.
  • Dykstra, C. M., C. Cheng and S. G. Pavlostathis. Bioelectrochemical Systems for Anaerobic Digester Biogas Upgrading. NAXOS 2018-6th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, Naxos, Greece, June 2018.
PRESENTATIONS
  • Chen, J., and S. G. Pavlostathis.* Fate and Effect of Commercial Peracetic Acid Solutions in Poultry Processing Wastewater Biological Treatment Systems. International Production & Processing Expo Conference – IPPE Marketplace TECHTalks: Environmental and Water Treatment, January 2021.
  • Chen, J., and S. G. Pavlostathis.* Fate and Effect of Peracetic Acid Solutions in Poultry Processing Wastewater Treatment Systems. International Production & Processing Expo Conference – Session: Joint Poultry Industry Meeting on PAA, Atlanta, GA, January 2020.
  • Chen, J.*, and S. G. Pavlostathis. Peracetic Acid Decomposition in Poultry Processing Waste Streams. The 71st Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS), Savannah, GA, October 2019.
  • Chen, J., and S. G. Pavlostathis.* Fate and Effect of Commercial Peracetic Acid Solutions in Poultry Processing Wastewater Biological Treatment Systems. International Production & Processing Expo Conference – IPPE Marketplace TECHTalks: Environmental and Water Treatment, January 2021.
  • Chen, J.*, and S. G. Pavlostathis. Peracetic Acid Decomposition in Poultry Processing Waste Streams. Workshop: Peroxy Acids as Emerging Oxidants for Water Treatment, Georgia Institute of Technology, May 2019.