Education

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL
Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering
Aug 2019 – Jul 2024

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL
M.S. in Environmental Engineering
Aug 2016 – Dec 2018

Course & License

Coursework

  • EES6107 Bio Princ of Environ Eng
  • ENV6438 Drinking Water Treatment
  • ENV6666 Aquatic Chemistry
  • CGN6311 Intro to Data Science
  • ENV6337 Environ Site Assessment
  • ENV6105 Air Pollution Fundamentals

    • License

  • Fundamentals of Engineering (In progress)

    • Skills

    Programming

    R (RStudio) • Python (PyCharm) • LaTeX • MATLAB • HTML • VS Code • Power BI

    Lab Professional

    XRD • SEM/EDS • GC-FID • HPLC • TCLP • IC • Membrane bioreactor • Microalgae/bacteria cultivation • Advanced adsorbents

    Technology

    Data visualization • Machine learning • Neural networks • SVMs • RNN • CNN • System dynamics modeling

    Computer

    OriginPro • Markdown • ArcGIS • AutoCAD • Visual MINTEQ • MS Office

    Language

    English (fluent) • Mandarin (native)

    Awards

  • NOWRA Emerging Prof. Scholarship, 2023
  • IWA NSS Conference Best Poster Award, 2023
  • Richard Stessel Mem. Fellowship, 2021/2022
  • Richard Stessel Mem. Fellowship, 2019/2020

    • Professional Associations

  • IWA: Student member, 2022–2024
  • WateReuse: Student member, 2022–2024
  • NOWRA: Student member, 2020–2024
  • AWWA: Student member, 2017–2018

    • Research & Teaching Experience

    Postdoctoral Research Scholar

    Tampa, FL
    Membrane Biotechnology Lab (USF)
    Jul 2024 – Present
    • Lead field evaluation and R&D for the NEWgenerator™ non-sewered sanitation system deployed at an informal settlement in South Africa.
    • Develop machine learning soft sensors for real-time water quality monitoring in onsite wastewater treatment systems.
    • Manage collaborative research across academic, government, and international NGO partners.

    Graduate Research Assistant

    Tampa, FL
    Membrane Biotechnology Lab (USF)
    Sep 2019 – Jul 2024
    • Collaboratively advanced R&D for a wastewater treatment system; led process analysis and reporting of field test data.
    • Researched treatment processes to enhance nutrient removal and recovery, reducing nutrients in reused water.
    • Developed the system's dynamic model, focusing on water, energy, and nutrient cycles.

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Tampa, FL
    ENV4001 Environmental Systems Engineering & ENV4004 Environmental Engineering Lab
    Sep 2023 – May 2024
    • Conducted weekly TA sessions and lab experiments.
    • Offered academic assistance during office hours and provided feedback on student assignments.
    • Prepared homework, exams, and laboratory protocols to support students.

    Graduate Research Assistant (NSF: ICARUS)

    Tampa, FL
    Membrane Biotechnology Lab (USF)
    Apr 2017 – Aug 2019
    • Improved prototype microalgae cultivation pods for enhanced efficiency in wastewater treatment applications.
    • Led integration and testing of microalgae cultivation with an aquaponic system.
    • Analyzed microalgae and water samples to quantify nutrient removal, recovery, and biomass production.

    Publication & Conference Proceedings

    1. Shyu, H.-Y., Bair, R. A., Castro, C. J., Xaba, L., Ncube, T., Mutsakatira, E., Cottingham, R., & Yeh, D. H. (2025). Advanced non-sewered sanitation system for onsite water recycling in a South African informal settlement. Water Research X.
    2. Shyu, H.-Y., Bair, R. A., Castro, C. J., Xaba, L., Ncube, T., Ndwandwe, B., Mutsakatira, E., Cottingham, R., & Yeh, D. H. (2025). Water demand analysis of community ablution blocks (CABs) at an informal settlement in South Africa. VeriXiv.
    3. Xu, X., … Shyu, H.-Y., … & Yuan, H. (2025). Direct feature identification from Raman spectra and precise data-driven classification of phytopathogens at single conidium-species level. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal.
    4. Shyu, H.-Y., Castro, C. J., Bair, R. A., Lu, Q., & Yeh, D. H. (2023). Development of a Soft Sensor Using Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting the Water Quality of an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System. ACS Environmental Au.
    5. Castro, C. J., Shyu, H.-Y., Hoque, B., & Yeh, D. H. (2023). Evaluating the use of chemically modified clinoptilolite zeolite for the simultaneous recovery of ammonium and phosphate from blackwater. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 9(3), 818–832.
    6. Castro, C. J., Shyu, H.-Y., Xaba, L., Bair, R., & Yeh, D. H. (2021). Performance and onsite regeneration of natural zeolite for ammonium removal in a field-scale non-sewered sanitation system. Science of The Total Environment, 776, 145938.
    7. Shyu, H.-Y., Bair, R. A., Castro, C. J., Xaba, L., Delgado-Navarro, M., Sindall, R., Cottingham, R., Uman, A. E., Buckley, C. A., & Yeh, D. H. (2021). The NEWgenerator™ non-sewered sanitation system: Long-term field testing at an informal settlement community in eThekwini municipality, South Africa. Journal of Environmental Management, 296, 112921.
    • Shyu, H.-Y., Castro, C. J., Bair, R. A., Lu, Q., & Yeh, D. H. (Conference presentation) "Using Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Difficult to Measure Water Quality Parameters in an Onsite Non-Potable Water Reuse System." 2024 Florida WateReuse Annual Summit, May 22, 2024, Tampa, FL.
    • Shyu, H.-Y., Castro, C. J., Bair, R. A., Lu, Q., & Yeh, D. H. (Conference poster) "Machine Learning Sensor Monitoring of an Onsite Water Recycling System." 2024 WateReuse Symposium, Mar 11–14, 2024, Denver, CO.
    • Shyu, H.-Y., Bair, R. A., Castro, C. J., & Yeh, D. H. (Conference presentation) "Onsite Water Reuse Field Testing at an Informal Settlement Community." 37th Annual WateReuse Symposium, Mar 6–9, 2022, San Antonio, TX.