Zenebu Derbew
Graduate Student CIVE-PhD Lincoln Environmental Engineering-Advisor: Nirupam Aich University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Contact
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zderbew2@huskers.unl.edu
Zenebu Abera Derbew is a Ph.D. student in Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where her research focuses on synthesizing and characterizing nanomaterials for PFAS (“forever chemicals”) remediation. She develops graphene-based nanohybrid catalysts and machine-learning models to predict nanomaterial performance for PFAS removal and degradation. Her prior expertise in life cycle assessment (LCA) and ion-exchange processes for removing nutrients and contaminants from wastewater informs her approach to designing and evaluating sustainable treatment technologies. Her current work integrates experimental nanocatalyst development with data-driven modeling to improve PFAS treatment across varying water chemistries and operating conditions. She has presented her research at national and international conferences (including ACS and SNO). She remains active in mentoring, outreach, and professional service, reflecting her broader commitment to water sustainability and science communication.
Education
Academic Degrees
- Ph.D., Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA (in progress, since Fall 2024)
- M.Sc., Civil Engineering – Hydrodynamic and Water Resources, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, 2023
- B.Sc. Eng., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, 2021
Employment History
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), August 2024- present
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), August 2025-December 2025
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Research Assistant, October 2021 – December 2023
Area of Research and Professional Interest
- Nanomaterials synthesis and characterization
- PFAS remediation using nanohybrid catalysts
- Machine learning for PFAS remediation
- Resource recovery from wastewater
- Life cycle assessment
Research Experience
- Graphene-Bimetallic Nanohybrid Nanocatalysts for Enhanced PFAS Degradation, USEPA STAR, Fall 2024- present
- Graphene-iron sand coating technology for Sustainable PFAS Remediation, SERDP, Fall 2025- present
- Machine Learning Models for Predicting Engineered Nanomaterials Performance for PFAS Removal, University of Nebraska Office of Research and Innovation, Fall 2026- present
- Removal of NH4+ from anaerobic digester supernatants using electrochemically regenerated zinc-hexacyanoferrate, MOST-BMBF, Fall 2021- Fall 2023.
Teaching Experience
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) for CIVE310L (Hydraulics Laboratory), Fall 2025
Publications and Presentations
- Derbew, Z. A., Roy, T., & Aich, N. Supervised Machine Learning for Predicting PFAS Removal by Engineered Nano Adsorbents and Nanocatalysts: Effects of Water Chemistry and Operating Conditions. Oral presentation at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 National Meeting & Exposition, Chicago, IL (August 26, 2026).
- Derbew, Z. A., Ali, M. A., & Aich, N. Redox-Active rGO-nZVI-AgNP Nanocatalyst for Enhanced Degradation of PFAS. Poster presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 National Meeting & Exposition, Chicago, IL (August 25, 2026).
- Paschke, L., Derbew, Z. A., & Aich, N. Surface Modification of Graphene-Iron Nanohybrids for Enhanced Anionic Dye and PFAS Removal from Water. Poster presented at the UNL 2026 Engineering Summer Research Symposium, Lincoln, NE (August 5, 2026).
- Derbew, Z. A., Ali, M. A., & Aich, N. Redox-Active rGO-nZVI-AgNP Nanocatalyst for Enhanced PFAS Degradation. Poster presented at Student Research Days, University of Nebraska–Lincoln (April 7th, 2026).
- Derbew, Z. A., Ali, M. A., & Aich, N. Redox-Active rGO-nZVI-AgNP Nanocatalyst for Enhanced PFAS Degradation. Poster presented at the Great Plains Waste Management Conference, La Vista, NE (April 1st, 2026).
- Derbew, Z. A., Ali, M. A., & Aich, N. Redox-Active rGO-nZVI-AgNP Nanocatalyst for Enhanced Degradation of PFAS. Poster session presented at the Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) Conference 2025, San Diego, CA (November 7th, 2025).
- Nativ*, Z.A. Derbew*, C. Dagan-Jaldety, Y. Aviezer, R. Ben-Asher, O. Lahav, Sustainable Removal of Ammonia from the Anaerobic Digester Supernatant Line Using a Prussian Blue Analogue (PBA) Composite Adsorbent, ChemEngineering 2022, Vol. 6, Page 97. 6 (2022) 97. https://doi.org/10.3390/CHEMENGINEERING6060097
Service
- Mentor, Summer NSF-REU Fellow at UNL, Summer 2026
- Volunteer, Chemistry Outreach Volunteer for Middle & High School Teachers, UNL College of Engineering, June 2026
- Poster Judge, UNL 2026 Engineering Summer Research Symposium, Lincoln, NE, August 2026
- Member, Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), 2025–present
- Member, National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), UNL Chapter, August 2025–present
- Member, Engineers Without Borders, Israel, 2017–2019
Honors and Awards
- Finalist, Student Research Days Slam, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2026
- Dean’s List Award of Excellence, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, 2021
- Full Scholarship, B.Sc. Program, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, 2016–2021