Emmanuel Salifu
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650 E Tyler Mall Room 128 Tempe, AZ 85281
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Mail code: 3005Campus: Tempe
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BEng Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (Makurdi, Nigeria)
MSc Environmental Engineering (Strathclyde, UK)
PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering (Strathclyde, UK & Napoli Federico II, Italy)
I work at the interface of geotechnical engineering, agricultural (soil and water) engineering, and environmental engineering/biotechnology. I am interested in the development and deployment of nature-based and engineered living materials/systems, insitu and/or pre-processed, for ground improvement, soil quality enhancement, soil and water conservation, waste management, bioremediation, and in the improvement of the built environment. My focus is on the study and use of microbes (bacteria, fungi, lichens) and insects, and their mechanisms and biochemical derivatives (e.g., enzymes) for bio-mediated and bio-inspired engineering applications. Broad areas of application of these technologies include food security, contaminant remediation, ecological restoration, soil erosion and dust mitigation, anti-desertification, and decarbonization of the built environment.
I am also interested in land sustainability, circular economy, as well as the development and application of methods and tools for environmental assessment including - EIA, LCA/LCSA, Multi-criteria Decision Analysis, indicators/indices/footprints.
[15] Lunn, R.J., Turner, R.J., Minto, J.M., Salifu, E. and El Mountassir, G., 2022. Biomineral sealing of cracks in degraded concrete structures. In Waste Management Conference 2022 (pp. 1-5).
[14] ElMouchi, A., Siddiqua, S., Salifu, E. and Wijewickreme, D., 2022. Muskeg Soil Stabilization Using the Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation Technique by the Urease Active Bioslurry Approach. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 148(11), p.04022092. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002910
[13] ElMouchi, A., Siddiqua, S., Salifu, E. and Wijewickreme, D., 2022. Stabilization of Muskeg soils using two additives: sand and urease active bioslurry. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, (ja). https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2021-0209
[12] Salifu, E., El Mountassir, G., Minto, J.M., Tarantino, A. 2021. Hydraulic behaviour of fungal treated sand. Geomechanics for Energy and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gete.2021.100258.
[11] Salifu, E. and El Mountassir, G., 2021. Fungal-induced water repellency in sand. Géotechnique, 71(7), pp.608-615. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.19.P.341. ICE
[10] Salifu, E., Gutteridge, F., Witte, K. 2021. Recent advances in engineered microbial technologies for the construction industry. Young Researchers’ Forum YRF-V: Innovations in Construction Materials, Glasgow Caledonian University, 22 April 2021. United Kingdom (Presenter). YRF-V Proceedings.pdf (gcu.ac.uk)
[9] El Mountassir, G., Schellenger, A., Salifu, E., Lunn, RJ. 2021. Engineering Fungal Networks for Ground Improvement. RM4L2020 International Conference, September 2021. Paper number: 194 Cambridge, UK. Accepted RM4L2020 - M4L
[8] Knapp, C.W., Turner, R., Salifu, E., Khan, S., Stillings, M. and Tonner, R., 2021. Climate change: any dangers from antimicrobial resistant bacteria? In Microbiomes and the Global Climate Change (pp. 145-171). Springer, Singapore.
[7] Tarantino, A., El Mountassir, G., Wheeler, S., Gallipoli, D., Augarde, C., Urciuoli, G., Romero Morales, E.E., Priegue Mayán, Á.D., Fraccica, A. and Karagianni, P., 2020. TERRE project: interplay between unsaturated soil mechanics and low-carbon geotechnical engineering. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 195, pp. 01002-1). EDP Sciences.
[6] Salifu, E., El Mountassir, G. 2019. Preliminary observations of the shear behaviour of fungal treated soil. 7th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials (IS-Glasgow 2019), E3S Web of Conferences 92, 11017. (Presenter) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20199211017
[5] Ogbeh, G.O., Tsokar, T.O. and Salifu, E., 2019. Optimization of nutrients requirements for bioremediation of spent-engine oil contaminated soils. Env. Engineering Research, 24(3): 484-494 https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2018.237
[4] El Mountassir, G., Minto, J.M., van Paassen, L.A., Salifu, E. and Lunn, R.J., 2018. Applications of microbial processes in geotechnical engineering. Advances in applied microbiology, 104, pp.39-91.
[3] Salifu, E., MacLachlan, E., Iyer, K.R., Knapp, C.W. and Tarantino, A., 2016. Application of microbially induced calcite precipitation in erosion mitigation and stabilisation of sandy soil foreshore slopes: A preliminary investigation. Engineering Geology, 201, pp.96-105.
[2] Salifu, E., Enokela, S. 2016. Groundwater fluctuations and its implications along the Niger-Benue Confluence of Nigeria – A Pilot Study. American Journal of Water Resources 4(6): 130-136. DOI:10.12691/ajwr-4-6-2
[1] Enokela, S.O. and Salifu, E., 2012. Evaluation of Groundwater Quality for Fadama Irrigation Lands in River Niger-Benue Confluence of Lokoja-Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2(9), pp.2250-3153.
Mistletoe Research Fellowship awarded by the Momental Foundation, Redwood California, USA, 2022-2023.
Institute of Concrete Technology (ICT) Award for Best Paper Presented at the Young Researchers’ Forum YRF-V: Innovations in Construction Materials, Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom, 2021
Best Research Pitch Award SILBERSALZ Science and Media Festival, Halle Germany, 2020
1st Place Winner & Audience Prize Falling Walls Lab –MSCA, Research Pitch Contest, Brussels, Belgium. And Finalist at the Falling Walls Lab Finale, Berlin, Germany. 2019
David Livingstone Centre for Sustainability (DLCS) Prize for the best graduating student on the MSc Environmental Engineering programme, University of Strathclyde, UK. 2014
University Prize for Overall Best Graduating Student awarded by the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria at the Convocations, 2010
Chartered Engineer (CEng), UK Engineering Council
Registered Engineer (R.Engr), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria COREN
Member, American Society of Civil Engineers M. ASCE
Member, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers M. ASABE
Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, Arizona State University, Tempe USA 2021 - Present
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow United Kingdom 2019-2021
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Early Stage Researcher, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom & University of Naples Federico II, Italy 2016-2019
Graduate Assistant, Lecturer II, Lecturer I - University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria 2012-2021