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Dr. Wang's research seeks to advance environmental engineering and industrial sustainability through the development of innovative biotechnologies for treating liquid and solid waste. His team integrates cutting-edge microbial and biochemical processes to transform waste into valuable resources while mitigating environmental impacts.
Hokie Vision
Dr. Wang's research focuses on developing innovative biotechnologies for converting waste materials into valuable bioproducts. His research encompasses bioplastic production from food waste, bioprocess intensification, low-carbon nutrient removal, emerging contaminant removal, and solid waste anaerobic digestion. By collaborating with industrial partners, his research team aims to address critical environmental challenges, enhance wastewater treatment processes, and promote sustainable resource recovery, thereby contributing to a cleaner environment and advancing the field of environmental engineering.
Dr. Wang's laboratory at Virginia Tech encompasses a 3,227-square-foot high-bay pilot lab in the Human and Agricultural Biosciences Building 1 (HABB1) and a 344-square-foot analytical lab in Seitz Hall. The pilot lab features flexible processing space with quick-connect utilities, walk-in refrigerators & freezers, and pilot space, supporting diverse processing activities. The analytical lab is equipped with a fume hood, biosafety cabinet, and bench spaces for analytical tasks. Both lab house advanced instruments, facilitating comprehensive research in sustainable biotechnologies for waste treatment and resource recovery.
Dr. Wang leads a dynamic research team, focusing on developing sustainable biotechnologies for waste treatment and resource recovery. The team comprises graduate students and research specialists with diverse backgrounds in environmental engineering, food science, and related fields. Together, they collaborate on projects aimed at advancing environmental engineering solutions to address industry needs.
News and Highlights
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Wang’s lab students earn top honors at WaterJAM 2026
Cyrus Li, Yitao Li, and Zhangtong Liao earned poster and scholarship honors at WaterJAM 2026, with Cyrus and Zhangtong also helping Virginia Tech win the Student Water Challenge.
Dr. Zhiwu (Drew) Wang awarded Elizabeth and James E. Turner ’56 Faculty FellowshipDr. Zhiwu (Drew) Wang, associate professor of Biological Systems Engineering in Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has been honored with an Elizabeth and James E. Turner '56 Faculty Fellowship by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
Dr. Zhiwu Wang and Dr. Xueyao Zhang receive 2026 CAPEES awardsDr. Zhiwu (Drew) Wang received the 2026 CAPEES-Starlight Innovation Award, and Dr. Xueyao (Kira) Zhang received the 2026 CAPEES-Elsevier Thesis/Dissertation Award for outstanding doctoral dissertation work in environmental engineering and science.
Virginia Tech’s Effluential Hokies win VWEA wastewater student design competition, advance to WEFTEC 2026For the second year in a row, Virginia Tech's Effluential Hokies won the wastewater division of the VWEA Student Design Competition and will represent Virginia at the national WEF Student Design Competition at WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans.
Dr. Xueyao Zhang receives Virginia Tech’s university-wide 2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award in STEMDr. Xueyao (Kira) Zhang, a recent Ph.D. graduate from Dr. Zhiwu Wang's research group, has received Virginia Tech's 2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award in STEM, a university-wide honor given to only one dissertation each year across all Virginia Tech STEM disciplines.
