Xiaowen Zhu is an Environmental Engineer specialising in waste-to-energy systems, anaerobic digestion, and resource recovery technologies. Xiaowen joined ASU London in January 2026 and contributes to teaching in the Ecological Design and Empowering Engineering to support students in developing sustainable engineering approaches.
Xiaowen completed an MEng in Civil Engineering at University College London and is completing a PhD in Environmental Engineering at UCL, where the research focuses on improving the stability and performance of anaerobic digestion using nanomaterials. The work explores how engineered materials can enhance methane production, microbial activity, and system resilience in waste-to-energy processes.
During doctoral research, Xiaowen has worked on a range of environmental engineering topics including wastewater treatment, antibiotic degradation, microplastic removal, and circular resource systems, collaborating with international research partners and multidisciplinary teams.
Alongside research, Xiaowen has extensive teaching experience at UCL, delivering tutorials, laboratory instruction, and field-based learning across environmental engineering and design modules. Xiaowen is particularly interested in linking environmental systems thinking with engineering design, helping students develop practical solutions to sustainability challenges.
Outside of teaching and research, Xiaowen enjoys spending time with two very demanding feline supervisors at home
