Biosketch

Dr. Pascal E. Saikaly is a Lebanese environmental engineer and microbial ecologist whose research bridges molecular biology, bioprocess engineering, and environmental sustainability. He is a Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where he leads efforts at the intersection of microbial ecology, waste treatment, and resource recovery.

Prof. Saikaly is internationally recognized for pioneering the use of omics technologies to optimize microbial community function in engineered systems. His research focuses on developing sustainable environmental biotechnologies to manage microbial communities for treating waste while recovering valuable resources, such as reclaimed water, renewable energy, and high-value chemicals. By integrating electrochemistry, microbial ecology, materials science, and process engineering, he optimizes bioprocesses to address global challenges such as water scarcity, environmental pollution, and resource depletion.

With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in advancing wastewater reclamation and resource recovery through innovations like microbial electrochemical systems, aerobic granular sludge processes, anammox processes, and microbial chain elongation. He translates novel biotechnologies from bench-scale to real-world applications. His group has developed innovative approaches for the generation of bioelectricity from waste, low-energy desalination, and sustainable water reuse—addressing critical challenges in water-scarce environments.

He previously held faculty positions at the American University of Beirut and completed postdoctoral training at North Carolina State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and B.S. and M.S. degrees from the American University of Beirut.

Professor Saikaly has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed articles with more than 10,000 citations and holds 6 patents, including two for advanced wastewater treatment and reuse technologies and one for converting organic waste into valuable chemicals. His work has appeared in leading journals such as Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, and Nature Communications. He currently serves as Editor of Water Research, Associate Editor of Frontiers in Microbiology, and a member of the Editorial Board of Environmental Science and Ecotechnology. He was elected as the 2024 International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES).