Annalisa Onnis-Hayden
Teaching Professor and Vice Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Office
- 431 Snell Engineering Center
- 617.373.2005
Research Focus
Biological treatment processes; ecotoxicology and toxicity assessment; microbial population dynamics and ecology in engineered biological systems
Education
- Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Cagliari, Italy, 2004
- M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, 2007
- B.S. and MS, Environmental Engineering, University of Cagliari, Italy, 2000
Licensure
- Professional Engineer: Italy
Honors & Awards
- Ralph Fuhrman Medal for Outstanding Water Quality Academic-Practice Collaboration, Water Environment Federation
- Clair N. Sawyer Award, New England Water Environment Association
- Martin W. Essigman Outstanding Teaching Award, Northeastern University College of Engineering
- 2014 Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
- 2011 Visiting Professor Appointment, University of Cagliari for the year 2011/2012
- 2010 Certificate of Merit for Presentation at ACS 240th National Meeting-ENVR
- 2005 Sardinian Minister of Education Fellow
- 1999 Erasmus Exchange Program Fellow
- 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 excellence in study fellow from the Italian Commission for the Rights to University Studies (E.R.S.U).
Professional Affiliations
- New England Water Environment Association
- Water Environment Federation
Research Overview
Biological treatment processes; ecotoxicology and toxicity assessment; microbial population dynamics and ecology in engineered biological systems
Selected Research Projects
- Practices to Enhance Internal Fermentation of Side-Stream Secondary Sludge and Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids for Biological Phosphorus Removal
- – Co-Principal Investigator, Water Research Foundation
Department Research Areas
Selected Publications
- M. Laboy, A. Onnis-Hayden, Bridging the Gap between Architecture and Engineering: a Transdisciplinary Model for a Resilient Built Environment, Building Technology Educator’s Society, 1, 2019, 38
- Onnis‐Hayden, N. Majed, Y. Li, S.M. Rahman, D. Drury, L. Risso, A.Z. Gu, Impact of Solid Residence Time (SRT) on Functionally Relevant Microbial Populations and Performance in Full‐ Scale Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) Systems, Water Environment Research, 2019
- D. Wang, N.B. Tooker, V. Srinivasan, G. Li, L.A. Fernandez, P. Schauer, A. Onnis-Hayden, A.Z. Gu, et al., Side-Stream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (S2EBPR) Process Improves System Performance-A Full- Scale Comparative Study, Water Research, 2019, 167, 115109
- Onnis-Hayden, V. Srinivasan, N.B. Tooker, G. Li, D. Wang, J.L. Barnard, A.Z. Gu, et al., Survey of Full Scale Side-Stream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (S2EBPR) Systems and Comparison with Conventional EBPRs in North America: Process Stability, Kinetics and Microbial Populations, Water Environment Research, 2019
- S.M. Rahman, M.J. Eckelman, A. Onnis-Hayden, A.Z. Gu Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Advanced Wastewater Treatment Processes for Removal of Chemicals of Emerging Concern, Environmental Science and Technology, 52(19), 2018, 11346-11358

Oct 31, 2023
Northeastern Nominates Four COE Students for Prestigious Knight-Hennessy Scholarship
Benjamin Lanava, E’24, Leah Ragosta, E’24, Kritika Singh, E’20, and Alex Storrer, E’24, were nominated by Northeastern for the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, which recognizes and supports young leaders, tuned to the challenges of the 21st-century, supporting their graduate educations and providing a community of support and engagement.

Oct 25, 2023
Students Nominated for Prestigious Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships
Benjamin Lanava, E’24, environmental engineering, and Siddharth Simon, E’24, computer engineering/computer science, were nominated by Northeastern for the Marshall Scholarship and Lanava also for the Rhodes Scholarship. Both prestigious awards support study in the UK for those distinguished by their academic accomplishments, records of leadership, and drive to serve.
Sep 15, 2023
Announcing Fall 2023 PEAK Experiences Awardees
Several engineering students and science students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of Northeastern’s Fall 2023 PEAK Experiences Awards. Projects this fall are tackling a range of topics and modes with students developing an autobiographical zine, studying the development of amphibian limbs, building better rocket parts, and more. BASE CAMP AWARDS Farhad Ibrahimzade COE’26 & […]

May 10, 2023
Lanava Receives Udall Honorable Mention
Benjamin Lanava, E’24, environmental engineering, received a Udall Undergraduate Scholarship Honorable Mention.
Oct 07, 2022
Announcing Fall 2022 PEAK Experiences Awardees
Several engineering students and science students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of Northeastern’s Fall 2022 PEAK Experiences Awards. This extraordinary group of students is taking on a range of exciting projects, from exploring axolotl limb regeneration to building a snake-inspired robot to understanding accessibility on Broadway. ASCENT AWARDS Justin Almendral COE’24, “Wearable Art” Mentor: […]
Feb 04, 2022
Announcing Spring 2022 PEAK Experiences Awardees
Several engineering students and science students mentored by COE faculty are recipients of Northeastern’s Spring 2022 PEAK Experiences Awards.

Nov 02, 2021
Northeastern University Team Places Second in International Wastewater Design Competition
A team of civil and environmental engineering seniors placed second in the Wastewater Category of the 2021 WEFTEC Connect Student Design Competition, which saw the participation of 23 schools and four countries.

Apr 05, 2021
Wise Receives 2021 Compass Award
Environmental engineering student Louiza Wise, E’21, won a 2021 Compass Award which recognizes exemplary students from the senior class who, during their time on campus, have demonstrated a true dedication to a core set of values: leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern.

Oct 22, 2020
CEE Capstone Team Wins 2nd at International Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition
A Northeastern Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) 2020 Capstone team placed second in the International Water Environment Federation Student Design Competition. The team, named Evergreen and comprised of CEE 2020 graduates Sam Kinnaly, Kate Engler, Annie Lamonte and Emma Totsubo, previously won the NEWEA Regional Competition in May. The competition was conducted virtually […]

Aug 25, 2020
CEE Capstone Students Named 2020 Biomimicry Global Design Challenge Finalists
Five students from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Class of 2020 won a finalist spot in the 2020 Biomimicry Global Design Challenge.