You are here:
» Sasha D. Hafner
About Aarhus University
Sasha D. Hafner
Senior Researcher, Honorary associate professor, Associate Professor
Education
| 2007 | Ph.D, Cornell University, Ithaca NY, USA Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering Fields of concentration: Agricultural and Biological Engineering (major), Environmental Engineering (minor), Biogeochemistry (minor) GPA: 3.9/4.0 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | M.Sc, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), Syracuse NY, USA Department of Environmental and Forest Biology Field of concentration: Environmental and Forest Biology GPA: 3.8/4.0 |
| 2001 | B.Sc (summa cum laude), SUNY ESF, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, 2001 Major: Environmental and Forest Biology GPA: 3.9/4.0 |
Professional experience
Senior Researcher, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark, 2022-present
| • Focus on models for air pollution from agriculture |
Hafner Consulting LLC, Reston VA, 2019-2022
Data analysis and model development, environmental science/engineering
Data analysis and model development, environmental science/engineering
| • Work on projects related to waste treatment, resource recovery, and air pollution | |
| • Clients include Danish Ministry of Environment, Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Technical University of Munich (Germany), Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (Germany) |
Associate Professor, Biological and Chemical Engineering Section, Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark, 2017-2019
| • Head of Environmental Process Modeling group, research on air pollution from agriculture, biological treatment of organic wastes, data analysis and modeling | |
| • Responsible for following courses: Transport Phenomenon (MSc), Cell Biology and Biochemistry (BSc), Data Analysis and Graphics with R (MSc and PhD) | |
| • Resigned due to relocation to US; currently honorary associate professor |
Associate Research Professor, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, 2014-2017
Primarily a research position
Primarily a research position
| • As coordinator of the ALFAM2 project, compiled large database on ammonia emission, developed a new hybrid analytical/numerical model for predicting emissions | |
| • Supervised PhD and MSc students on projects related to biogas and ammonia emission | |
| • Developed two courses and contributed to teaching in other courses, on topics related to environmental biotechnology, biogas production, and data analysis |
Hafner Consulting LLC, Washington DC, 2009-2014
Consulting and instruction
Consulting and instruction
| • Consulting work focused on data analysis and model development. Projects included development of agricultural air pollution models and automated detection and identification of amphibian and bird calls | |
| • Contracts with United States Department of Agriculture, University of California at Davis, others | |
| • Developed workshops on data analysis and graphics using the free software R. Delivered workshops 15 times, teaching more than 400 students, faculty members, and scientists |
Lecturer, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2013-2014
Part-time position
Part-time position
| • Instructor for graduate-level course “Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering” | |
| • Responsible for development of all course material, lecturing, and assessment of student performance |
Agricultural Engineer/Research Associate (GS-12), United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2008-September 2012
Work focused on development of models for predicting air pollutant emissions from farms
Work focused on development of models for predicting air pollutant emissions from farms
| • Developed new measurement techniques for volatile organic compounds and ammonia. | |
| • Produced new emission models of VOCs from cattle feed and ammonia from manure | |
| • Responsible for development of a model of anaerobic digestion/biomethanation for inclusion in a whole farm simulation model. | |
| • Developed reaction-transport model of ammonia and carbon dioxide from manure |
Environmental Scientist, HydroQual, Inc., 2007-2008
Work focused on modeling metal speciation and toxicity in soils, freshwater, and marine environments.
Work focused on modeling metal speciation and toxicity in soils, freshwater, and marine environments.
| • Developed new procedures for model calibration with greatly improved efficiency. | |
| • Was responsible for application of a metal toxicity model to terrestrial zinc toxicity. | |
| • Contributed to the development of marine copper toxicity and transport model. | |
| • Developed simulation model for biological response to pulsed metal exposure. | |
| • Helped develop a new approach for regulating metal pollution in Colorado River. |
Adjunct Professor, Le Moyne College, 2008
Part-time position as the instructor for an introductory environmental science course. Responsible for all aspects of course development, delivery, and assessment of student performance.
Part-time position as the instructor for an introductory environmental science course. Responsible for all aspects of course development, delivery, and assessment of student performance.
Teaching Assistant, Cornell University, 2003-2005; SUNY ESF, 2001-2002
For the following courses: Environmental Quality, Ecological Engineering, Environmental Transport Processes, Environmental Microbiology, Plant Ecology. Developed and delivered lessons, developed and graded homework assignments, responsible for teaching laboratory sections, media preparation, and lab setup.
For the following courses: Environmental Quality, Ecological Engineering, Environmental Transport Processes, Environmental Microbiology, Plant Ecology. Developed and delivered lessons, developed and graded homework assignments, responsible for teaching laboratory sections, media preparation, and lab setup.
Teaching and supervision experience
1. University courses
Course title/ Role/ Institution/ Year/ Level
Course title/ Role/ Institution/ Year/ Level
| Cell Biology and Biochemistry Developer, instructor Aarhus University (AU) 2017, 2018 BSc | |
| Transport Phenomena Developer, instructor AU 2017, 2018, 2019 MSc | |
| Data Analysis and Visualization with R Developer, instructor AU and University of Southern Denmark (SDU) 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 MSc and PhD | |
| Biorefinery Technology Co-developer, co-instructor SDU 2015, 2016 MSc | |
| Environmental Technology for Treatment and Management of Manure Guest instructor SDU 2014 MSc | |
| An Introduction to R for Beginners Developer, instructor SDU 2014 MSc, PhD | |
| Bioreactor Modeling Developer and instructor SDU 2014 PhD | |
| Biological Principles of Environmental Engineering Developer and instructor University of Maryland 2013 MSc, PhD | |
| An Introduction to Environmental Science Developer and instructor Le Moyne College 2008 BA | |
| Heat and Mass Transfer Teaching assistant Cornell University 2005 BSc | |
| Environmental Quality Teaching assistant Cornell University 2003, 2004 BSc, MSc, PhD | |
| Ecological Engineering Teaching assistant Cornell University 2003, 2004 BSc, MSc, PhD | |
| Plant Ecology Teaching assistant State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) 2002, 2003 BSc, MSc, PhD | |
| Environmental Microbiology Teaching assistant SUNY ESF 2002, 2003 BSc, MSc |
2. Workshops (1-3 days)
Workshop title/ Role/ Location/ Year/ Level
Workshop title/ Role/ Location/ Year/ Level
| Start! AD16 BMP Workshop Instructor KU Leuven, Ghent, Belgium 2019 PhD, postdoc, professional | |
| Measurement of biogas production Developer, instructor SDU 2016 High school students | |
| Introduction to the biogas package: software for biogas research Developer, instructor European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam NL 2016 Professional | |
| Data analysis and graphics with R Developer and instructor Several * 2008-2019 MSc, PhD, faculty, professional | |
| Chemical Speciation Modeling with PHREEQC Developer and instructor HydroQual, Mahwah, NJ 2008 Professional |
* Clemson University (2008), State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Technology (2009), University of Delaware (2009, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019), University of Maryland (2012, 2013 (2)), Georgetown University (2012), University of California at Davis (2012 (2), 2013), National Zoo (Washington DC) (2012), The Pennsylvania State University (2013), University of Southern Denmark (2014).
3. Supervision of student projects
Thesis title or topic/ Role/ University/ Year completed/ Level
Thesis title or topic/ Role/ University/ Year completed/ Level
| Trickle-bed biomethanation for H2 conversion to CH4, modeling study Co-supervisor AU 2020 MSc (30 ECTS) | |
| Optimization of full-scale protein production by black soldier fly larvae Co-supervisor AU 2020 MSc (30 ECTS) | |
| Industrial protein purification – an approach for process optimization Co-supervisor AU 2020 MSc (45 ECTS) | |
| N and S mineralization during anaerobic digestion Co-supervisor AU 2020 MSc (30 ECTS) | |
| Standardization of Biochemical Methane Potential Calculations in R Supervisor AU 2019 MSc (10 ECTS R&D project) | |
| Ammonia emission from slurry Co-supervisor AU 2019 PhD (Erasmus visit) | |
| Real-time virtual sensors for estimating key parameters in bioproduction processes implemented on distributed computing platforms Supervisor AU 2019 MSc (15 ECTS R&D project) | |
| A gas density based method for measuring BMP Supervisor AU 2019 MSc (10 ECTS R&D project) | |
| New approaches for monitoring biological production systems: Application to insect larvae Supervisor AU 2019 MSc (30 ECTS) | |
| Uses and limitations of kinetic data extracted from batch biochemical methane potential trials Supervisor AU 2019 MSc (30 ECTS) | |
| Comparison of algorithms for calculation of biochemical methane potential Supervisor AU 2018 MSc (15 ECTS R&D project) | |
| Challenges in Biogas Production: Increasing Methane Yield from Residual Biomass and Moving towards Standardisation of Research Methods Supervisor SDU 2017 PhD | |
| Development of a Heat Transfer Model for Improving Design and Management of Anaerobic Digesters Supervisor SDU 2017 MSc (part of 4+4 PhD) | |
| Optimisation of inter-stage treatment of wastewater sludge for increased biogas production and sludge stabilisation Supervisor SDU 2017 MSc (45 ECTS) | |
| Assessment of Inter-stage Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion for Increasing Biogas Production Supervisor SDU 2017 MSc (45 ECTS) | |
| Treatment of Municipal Wastewater Sludge by Combined Aerobic-Anaerobic Digestion: Effects on Dewaterability and other Sludge Properties Supervisor SDU 2017 MSc (45 ECTS) | |
| Characterization of the Haarslev Industries Thermal Pretreatment System for Improving Biogas Yield from Wastewater Sludge Supervisor SDU 2017 MSc (45 ECTS) | |
| Controlling Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Full-Scale Deammonification Process Supervisor SDU 2017 MSc (45 ECTS) | |
| On-site monitoring of slurry utilization Co-supervisor SDU 2016 MSc (45 ECTS) | |
| Biological Hydrogen Production from Biomass Supervisor Cornell University 2005 BSc |
Awards and Honors
| • Honorary Associate Professor, Aarhus University Department of Engineering, 2019-present | |
| • Certificate of Merit for Superior Performance, USDA-ARS, 2009 | |
| • EPA STAR fellow, 2005-2007 | |
| • Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Cornell University, 2005 | |
| • SUNY ESF Distinguished Biology Scholar Award, 2001 | |
| • Valedictorian, SUNY ESF, 2001 | |
| • New York State Scholarship for Academic Achievement, 2001 | |
| • Empire State Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society Student Scholarship Award, 1999 |