Merle de Kreuk

Merle de Kreuk serves as Professor of Environmental Technology and Head of the Department Water Management at TU Delft, where she has made significant contributions to wastewater treatment technology. Her career path includes experience in both academia and industry, moving from consultancy to completing her PhD on aerobic granular sludge technology, followed by work at a Dutch Water Authority before settling at TU Delft. Her groundbreaking research led to the development of the Nereda® process, which was first implemented in the Netherlands in 2012 and has since been adopted worldwide due to its compact design, energy efficiency, and superior effluent quality. As a former water treatment technology innovator at Water Authority Hollandse Delta, she contributed to innovative projects like the Energy Factory, which transformed sewage treatment plants into energy producers. Her current research focuses on hydrolysis processes and pre-treatment in anaerobic digestion, while also leading several sanitation projects in developing regions. She previously served as director of studies during the development of the MSc in Environmental Engineering at TU Delft (2019-2022) before assuming her current role as department head in September 2023. Her work bridges the gap between biotechnology and civil engineering, combining fundamental research with practical industrial applications.