缅北禁地

I am originally from Spain, where I studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Santiago de Compostela, and I moved to the U.S. in 2008 for my graduate studies in Environmental Engineering (M.S. 2010 and Ph.D. 2014 from the University of Arizona). After that, I continued to work as a postdoctoral researcher in two universities (University of Arizona and University of New Mexico) and then moved to the New Jersey Institute of Technology where I was an Assistant Professor from 2017-2022. In 2022, I decided to join 缅北禁地 as Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Environmental Engineering.

I enjoy investigating the mechanisms of interaction between microorganisms, plants, soil particles, and contaminants in the environment, and how to mimic natural processes to solve current and future environmental problems.

My overarching long-term research motivation is to harness the interaction between biological and inorganic systems to:

(1) investigate the effect of contaminants to natural biogeochemical cycles in order to predict, avoid and/or remediate current and future detrimental effects to the environment;

(2) engineer high-efficient and sustainable resource-recovery technologies from agricultural, industrial and mining waste;

(3) design state-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems to remove persistent contaminants in the environment using ubiquitous and low-value materials. 

In order to achieve this goal, we apply a multidisciplinary approach using state-of-the-art methods and technologies in the intersection between engineering, basic sciences (i.e. geology, biology, chemistry), and public health sciences (i.e. toxicology, epidemiology). 

Example of current projects include:

1. Understanding the biogeochemical processes and their effect on fate and transport of contaminants.

2. The role of plant-microorganisms interactions controlling the fate and transport of contaminants.

3. Biogeochemical transformations in scales from excavated lead and galvanized service lines.

4. Optimization of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production from wastewater activated sludge.

5. Sonochemical degradation of PFAS from contaminated media.

I strongly believe that science and engineering education is fundamental for improving the quality of life of our global society. My teaching goal is to contribute to the academic and professional development of scientists and engineers by providing solid technical and social skills that enable them to “make a difference” in the variety of current and future challenges of our planet. 

In 缅北禁地, I am the module leader for CEG8103 Water Supply and Treatment and I am a lecturer in CEG8105 Solid Waste and Resource Managements, the Environmental Engineering lecturer in CEG3099 Individual Project and supervisor in the CEG8198 MSc Project and Dissertation in Environmental Engineering.

• Articles

  • Soleimanifar M, Jayasuriya A, Adams MP, Rodriguez-Freire L. . Journal of Hazardous Materials 2023, 442, -.
  • DeVore CL, Rodriguez-Freire L, Villa N, Soleimanifar M, Gonzalez-Estrella J, Ali AMS, Lezama-Pacheco J, Ducheneaux C, Cerrato JM. . ACS Earth and Space Chemistry 2022, 6(7), 1644-1654.
  • Kewalramani JA, Wang B, Marsh RW, Meegoda JN, Rodriguez Freire L. . Ultrasonics Sonochemistry 2022, 88, 106063.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, DeVore CL, El Hayek E, Berti D, Ali AMS, Lezama Pacheco JS, Blake JM, Spilde MN, Brearley AJ, Artyushkova K, Cerrato JM. . Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 2021, 23(1), 73-85.
  • Wartell BA, Boufadel MC, Rodriguez-Freire L, Axe L, Abrams S, Ciblak A. . Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste 2020, 25(2), 04020071.
  • Wartell B, Boufadel M, Rodriguez-Freire L. . International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation 2020, 157, 105156.
  • Ruiz O, Thomson B, Cerrato JM, Rodriguez-Freire L. . Applied Geochemistry 2019, 109, 104418.
  • DeVore CL, Rodriguez-Freire L, Ali AM, Ducheneaux C, Artyushkova K, Zhou Z, Latta DE, Lueth VW, Gonzales M, Lewis J, Cerrato JM. . Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 2019, 21(3), 456-468.
  • El Hayek E, Torres C, Rodriguez-Freire L, Blake JM, De Vore CL, Brearley AJ, Spilde MN, Cabaniss S, Ali AM, Cerrato JM. . Environmental Science & Technology 2018, 52(22), 13089-13098.
  • Blake JM, De Vore CL, Avasarala S, Ali AM, Roldan C, Bowers F, Spilde MN, Artyushkova K, Kirk MF, Peterson E, Rodriguez-Freire L, Cerrato JM. . Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 2017, 19(4), 605-621.
  • Saup CM, Williams KH, Rodriguez-Freire L, Cerrato JM, Johnston MD, Wilkins MJ. . Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 2017, 19(4), 578-585.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Abad-Fernandez N, Sierra-Alvarez R, Hoppe-Jones C, Peng H, Giesy JP, Snyder S, Keswani M. . Journal of Hazardous Materials 2016, 317, 275-283.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Avasarala S, Ali AM, Agnew D, Hoover JH, Artyushkova K, Latta DE, Peterson EJ, Lewis J, Crossey LJ, Brearley AJ, Cerrato JM. . Environmental Science & Technology 2016, 50(21), 11539-11548.
  • Abad-Fernandez A, Rodriguez-Freire L, Keswani M, Sierra-Alvarez R. . Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology 2016, 2(6), 975-983.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Moore SE, Sierra-Alvarez R, Root RA, Chorover J, Field JA. . Biotechnology and Bioengineering 2016, 113(3), 522-530.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Balachandran R, Sierra-Alvarez R, Keswani M. . Journal of Hazardous Materials 2015, 300, 662-669.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Moore SE, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. . Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 2015, 226, 414.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Sierra-Alvarez R, Root R, Chorover J, Field JA. . Water Research 2014, 66, 242-253.
  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Sun W, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. . Biodegradation 2012, 23, 133-143.

• Book Chapter

  • Rodriguez-Freire L, Gonzalez-Estrella J, Li G. . In: Olivares, JA; Puyol, D; Melero, JA; Dufour, J, ed. Wastewater Treatment Residues as Resources for Biorefinery Products and Biofuels. Elsevier, 2020, pp.329-354.