Summary

Solving the growing problem of how to treat and remove waste is one of today's most important environmental concerns. Dr. Duran's experience and research as a leading environmental engineering expert qualifies him to explain how to identify and remediate pollutants in waste, and the potential for wastewater reuse. Particularly timely is Duran's research on increasing methane yield at Philadelphia Water Department Water Pollution Control Facilities so that use of methane as a renewable energy source would be economically more feasible. He can also speak about microorganisms that live in extreme environments like thermal vents on Earth and possibly on Mars.

Education

• Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
• M.S.W.R., Vanderbilt University
• B.S.C.E.E., Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

Selected Publications

• Dunaev, T., Alanya, S., Duran, M, "Use of RNA-based genotypic approaches for quantification of viable but noncluturable Salmonella sp. in biosolids," Water Science and Technology, 58(9):1823-1828, 2008
• Tepe, N., Yurtsever, D., Duran, M., Mehta, R.J. Bruno, C., and Punzi, V.L., "Odor control during post-digestion processing of biosolids through bioaugmentation of anaerobic digestion," Water Science and Technology, 57(4):589-594, 2008.
• Zitomer, D.H., Burns, R.T., Duran, M., and Vogel, D.S., "Effects of sanitizers, rumensin, and temperature on anaerobic digestion of biomass," Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 50(5):1807-1813, 2007.
• Stedtfield, R.D., Yurtsever, D., Duran, M., Alm, E.W., and Hashsham, S.A., (peer-reviewed literature review), "Detection and Occurrence of Indicator Organisms and Pathogens," Water Environment Research, 78(10):1054-1077, 2006.

Selected Professional Experience

• Assistant Adjunct Professor of Water Quality Center, Marquette University
• Visiting Scholar, Genomics and Microarray Facility, The Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Miami University
• Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering, University of Istanbul

Selected Research

• Optimizing the Performance of Anaerobic Sludge Digestion Process at NEWPCP of Philadelphia Water Department, 2008-2009, Philadelphia Water Department.
• The Core Genomic Laboratory for teaching and research in biotechnology, 2008-2009, National Science Foundation.
• Feasibility of using microarrays for rapid and accurate on-site identification of pathogens in naval emergencies, 2007-2008, Ablaze Development Corporation.
• Effectiveness of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiling to determine sources of microbial pollution in Chester Creek Watershed, 2007, PA Water Resources Research Center (US GS grant).