Professor Rita Henderson is an academic in the School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, and Deputy Dean (Societal Impact & Translation) at UNSW Engineering. Her research interests are on water quality and treatment, and algal biotechnology. She leads the Algal and Organic Matter (AOM) Lab, working closely with the Australian water industry. She is an Editor for the journals Water Research and AWWA Water Science. Rita is also Chair of the UNSW...view more
Professor Rita Henderson is an academic in the School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, and Deputy Dean (Societal Impact & Translation) at UNSW Engineering. Her research interests are on water quality and treatment, and algal biotechnology. She leads the Algal and Organic Matter (AOM) Lab, working closely with the Australian water industry. She is an Editor for the journals Water Research and AWWA Water Science. Rita is also Chair of the UNSW Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Steering Committee (since 2022).
My Grants
Current Research Grants
Prof Rita Henderson; Prof Patrick Cullen; Prof Stuart Prescott; Prof Gregory Leslie. Algal control using multi-functional, cold plasma activated microbubbles. ARC Discovery DP200102195
Prof Rita Henderson; Dr Bojan Tamburic; Prof Richard Stuetz, Dr Arash Zamyadi. Strategies to mitigate the risk of algal growth and accumulation within water treatment plants. Contract: Melbourne Water, Seqwater, Goulburn Valley Water.
My Qualifications
Postgraduate Education
Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teacing, UNSW (2018)
PhD in Water Sciences, Centre for Water Science (now Cranfield Water Science Institute), Cranfield University, UK (Awarded 2008)
MSc in Water Pollution Control Technology, Cranfield University, UK (2004)
Undergraduate
MChem (1H) in Environmental Chemistry with a Year in Industry, University of Edinburgh, UK (2002)
My Awards
2016: AWA NSW Kamal Fernando Mentoring Award 2016
2015: Finalist for the Australia Museum 2015 3M Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science
2012: AIPS NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award
2010: IWA Young Water Professional (YWP) Award 2010-2012
2009: ARC Post-Doctoral Industry Fellowship (APDI)
My Research Activities
My research interests are in the design, optimisation and monitoring of solid-liquid separation processes designed for microalgae and organic matter in the context of both water treatment and quality and biotechnology. I lead the Algae & Organic Matter Laboratory (AOM Lab) which has four main research themes: natural organic matter; nuisance and harmful algae; algae harvesting; and resource recovery. Each of these themes are advanced through the development and optimisation of physico-chemical separation processes, including coagulation-flocculation, oxidation, flotation, depth filtration and membrane systems and the application of advanced characterisation techniques to determine the biological and physicochemical properties of algal cells and organic matter. The latter has led to our development of key monitoring protocols for these processes providing early warning strategies for water quality events.
My research in this area has led to the publication of >90 peer reviewed journal articles. I have been awarded >$7M AUD in research funding which includes six ARC grants. My research is predominantly undertaken in collaboration with the Australian water industry with partners including Melbourne Water, SA Water, Seqwater and Sydney Water among others.
Recently, I have been Chair of the following Organising committees:
- 3rd Asian Deans Forum Rising Stars Women in Engineering workshop, 31st Oct-2nd Nov, 2022, UNSW, Sydney.
- 13th IWA Specialist conference on Wastewater Ponds and Algal Technologies, 3-6th July 2022, Melbourne Australia.
- 6th Australian and New Zealand Cyanobacterial Workshop, 25-26th Sept 2018, UNSW, Sydney
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
Currently supervising
Current student projects:
Amy Charoensook: A study on the high-performance nanobubble generation process and its application in the mitigation of algae blooms (2023 to date)
Angelina: Application of cold plasma activated bubbles (CPAB) for algal treatment (2021 to date)
Previous student projects:
Anthony Agostino: Characterization of aquatic natural organic matter and the link to water treatability (2018-2023)
Rafael Paulino: Assessing granular activated carbon capacity for algal taste and odour removal: Development of a predictive tool (2019-2023)
Daisy Chu: Optimisation and modelling of oxidation processes in drinking water treatment plants for algae treatment (2020-2024)
Siti Suhailah Rosli: Microalgae for simultaneous enhancement of nutrient-rich wastewater bioremediation process and biodiesel production (2020-2024)
Taye Kazeem: Micro-nano bubbles (MNB) in water treatment (2020-2024)
Zainab Mustafa: Investigation of membrane fouling in aged membranes (2018-2022)
Zijun Zhang: Algae membrane bioreactor - performance and harvesting using transverse vibrating membrane (2016-2021)
Sara Imran Khan (APA/WaterRA Scholarship): Characterisation of fluorescence spectra from algae and cyanobacteria. ARC LP130100033 (2015-2019)
Florence Choo (APA / WaterRA Scholarship / Nancy Millis Scholarship): Powdered activated carbon and coagulant dosing control during algal blooms using fluorometers. ARC LP130100033 (2015-2019)
Yunlong Luo (APA): Optimising operation of microalgae membrane photobioreactors (2015-2019)
Andrea Gonzalez Torres (APA / WaterRA Scholarship): Optimising algal floc structure for more efficient separation (2013-2018)
Narasinga Rao Hanumanth Rao (APA): Application of hydrophobically modified polymers in PosiDAF. LP0990189 (2014-2018)
Tong Gui: Application of Iron Sand to the Harvesting and Processing of Microalgae
Xiang Li (APA): Advanced characterisation of dissolved organic nitrogen in drinking water sources impacted by algae and the potential formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products. LP110100548 (2012-2017)
Barun Lal Karna: Advanced characterisation techniques to assess seawater organic matter removal by dissolved air flotation (DAF). (2011-2014)
Yulia Shutova (APA/WaterRA Scholarship): Monitoring of organic matter in drinking water treatment systems using fluorescence spectroscopy. LP100200259 (2011-2014)
Russell Yap (ARC/WaterRA Scholarship): Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification. LP0990189 (2010-2013)
Sachin Singh (ARC): Fluorescence as a method assessing membrane integrity. LP0776347 (2008-2013)
Adam Hambly (ARC): Fluorescence as a portable tool for cross-connection detection within dual reticulation systems. LP0776347 (2008-2013)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6503-3546
