
Professor Rita Henderson
Postgraduate Education
Graduate Certificate in University Learning and Teacing, 麻豆社madou听(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)
Professor Rita Henderson is an academic in the School of Chemical Engineering, 麻豆社madou, and Deputy Dean (Societal Impact & Translation) at 麻豆社madou 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 麻豆社madou Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Steering Committee (since 2022).听
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Current Research Grants
Prof Rita Henderson; Prof Patrick Cullen; Prof Stuart Prescott; Prof Gregory Leslie.听Algal control using multi-functional, cold plasma activated microbubbles. ARC Discovery DP200102195
Prof Rita Henderson; Dr Bojan Tamburic; Prof Richard Stuetz, Dr Arash Zamyadi.听听Strategies to mitigate the risk of algal growth and accumulation within water treatment plants. Contract: Melbourne Water, Seqwater, Goulburn Valley Water.听
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2016: AWA NSW Kamal Fernando Mentoring Award 2016
2015:听Finalist for the Australia Museum 2015 3M Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science
2012: 听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 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听and biotechnology. I lead the Algae & Organic Matter Laboratory (AOM Lab)听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:听
- 3rd Asian Deans Forum Rising Stars Women in Engineering workshop, 31st Oct-2nd Nov, 2022, 麻豆社madou, 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, 麻豆社madou, Sydney
My Research Supervision
Current student projects:
Amy Charoensook:听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)
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Previous student projects:
:听Characterization of aquatic natural organic matter and the link to water treatability (2018-2023)
:听Assessing granular activated carbon capacity for algal taste and odour removal: Development of a predictive tool (2019-2023)
:听Optimisation and modelling of oxidation processes in drinking water treatment plants for algae treatment (2020-2024)
: Microalgae for simultaneous enhancement of nutrient-rich wastewater bioremediation process and biodiesel production (2020-2024)
: Micro-nano bubbles (MNB) in water treatment (2020-2024)
: Investigation of membrane fouling in aged membranes (2018-2022)
:听Algae membrane bioreactor - performance and harvesting using transverse vibrating membrane (2016-2021)
(APA/WaterRA Scholarship): Characterisation of fluorescence spectra from algae and cyanobacteria. ARC LP130100033 (2015-2019)
(APA / WaterRA Scholarship / Nancy Millis Scholarship): Powdered activated carbon and coagulant dosing control during algal blooms using fluorometers. ARC LP130100033 (2015-2019)
(APA):听Optimising operation of microalgae membrane photobioreactors (2015-2019)
(APA / WaterRA Scholarship): Optimising algal floc structure for more efficient separation (2013-2018)
听(APA): Application of hydrophobically modified polymers in PosiDAF. LP0990189 (2014-2018)
Tong Gui:听Application of Iron Sand to the Harvesting and Processing of Microalgae
Xiang Li (APA):听Advanced characterisation of dissolved organic nitrogen in drinking water sources impacted by algae and the potential formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products. LP110100548听(2012-2017)
Barun Lal Karna:听Advanced characterisation techniques to assess seawater organic matter removal by dissolved air flotation (DAF). (2011-2014)
(APA/WaterRA Scholarship):听Monitoring of organic matter in drinking water treatment systems using fluorescence spectroscopy. LP100200259 (2011-2014)
(ARC/WaterRA Scholarship):听Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification. LP0990189 (2010-2013)
(ARC):听Fluorescence as a method assessing membrane integrity. LP0776347听(2008-2013)
(ARC): Fluorescence as a portable tool for cross-connection detection within dual reticulation systems. LP0776347听(2008-2013)