People of PRI

Savannah Feher, sustainability technician

Sep 5, 2019 12:15 pm

Dan Marsch, environmental engineer

Aug 30, 2019 12:30 pm

Laura Barnes, sustainability information curator

Jun 4, 2014 9:00 am

Early Career Investigator: Shantanu Pai

Apr 11, 2019 4:45 pm

PRI Executive Director Mark Ryan presented Elizabeth Meschewski with the Oustanding Support Staff Award.

Distinguished Support Staff: Elizabeth Lynn Meschewski

Apr 11, 2019 4:00 pm

Laurel Dodgen: Postdoctoral Research Associate

Mar 29, 2017 2:15 pm

Beth Meschewski: Research Specialist

Mar 20, 2017 1:00 pm

Joshua Cheng, sustainability technician

May 22, 2019 12:30 pm

Cody Eskew, Coastal Studies Specialist

May 13, 2021 12:15 pm

Nancy Holm: Assistant Director

Mar 31, 2017 12:00 pm

Reilly Durham, visiting scientific specialist

Feb 26, 2024 10:00 am

Introducing Reilly Durham, who recently joined the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) at the Prairie Research Institute. Their role focuses on algal-bacterial bioaugmentation, aiming to revolutionize wastewater treatment and biofuel production.

Srirupa Ganguly: Process Development Engineer

Mar 27, 2017 2:15 pm

Lee Green, chemist

Aug 3, 2022 8:00 am

Lee Green is a chemist in the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center’s Applied Research on Industrial and Environmental Systems (ARIES) group. She studies persistent contaminants, specializing in microplastics and PFAS. Scientists are just beginning to discover the impacts that these contaminants have on the human body and the environment.

Sebastiano Giardinella, project engineer

Mar 2, 2022 8:00 am

Meet Sebastiano Giardinella, a project engineer with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Survey (ISTC). Sebastiano joined ISTC in 2021 and is responsible for coordinating and assisting researchers with ongoing projects and proposals, primarily related to Department of Energy (DOE)-funded research.

Vanessa DeShambo, environmental engineer

Jul 19, 2022 8:00 am

Vanessa joined the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) in December 2021 as an environmental engineer. Prior to joining the ISTC team, she worked at the U of I College of Veterinary Medicine performing case work and research related to veterinary infectious disease with a primary focus on micro and molecular biology. She also spent her early career with the Allen Institute for Brain Science managing research on mouse genetics and neuroscience. Her research is currently focused on improvement of algal systems for wastewater treatment. Projects topics include hydrothermal liquifaction, nanofiltration, algal toxin destruction, bioaugmentation, and endoreduplication.

Angiel DiAscro in face mask performing titration

Angela DiAscro, field chemist

Jul 28, 2020 8:00 am

Zach Samaras, technical assistance engineer, sustainability

Aug 17, 2021 11:30 am

Zach Samaras left a career in the print and promotional industry and now promotes waste reduction and resource conservation as a technical assistance and sustainability engineer with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

Hafiz Salih, head of business development for point source carbon capture

Mar 15, 2023 8:00 am

Hafiz Salih is a chemical and environmental research engineer and serves as the Head of Business Development for Point Source Capture at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC). Hafiz earned his Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Cincinnati and has more than a decade of experience, but as a kid, he always thought he would go into biological science, before getting into engineering.

Friends of PRI honorees Dave Thomas and Bill Shilts stand with their plaque

William W. Shilts and David L. Thomas, 2022 Friends of PRI Award

May 4, 2022 2:00 pm

Each year PRI honors individuals and organizations whose support contributes to the institute's success. This year we're commemorating the contributions of William W. Shilts and David L. Thomas, who played pivotal roles in the formation of the institute.

Lisa Krause, coastal management specialist

Oct 29, 2019 8:00 am

Parikshit Gogoi, visiting research scholar

Jan 23, 2024 4:15 pm

Meet Dr. Parikshit Gogoi, a distinguished visiting research scholar currently immersed in a journey at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) under the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence fellowship. Since September 25, 2023, Dr. Gogoi has been steering his research towards the catalytic conversion of lignin bio-oils components to aromatics and fuel range hydrocarbons.

Prairie Research Institute

blog navigation

blog posts