Academic Credentials
  • M.S., Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, 2023
  • B.A., Political Science, Arizona State University, 2020
  • B.S., Biological Sciences, Arizona State University, 2020
  • B.S.E., Civil Engineering, Arizona State University, 2020
Professional Honors
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2020
  • American Membrane Technology Association/Reclamation Fellowship, 2023
Professional Affiliations
  • American Water Works Association

Brielle Januszewski holds degrees in environmental engineering and specializes in drinking water treatment, membrane technology, and ion separations. She has extensive laboratory experience, with expertise ranging from water chemistry to analytical chemistry techniques to laboratory experimentation. 

Ms. Januszewski's graduate research focused on high water recovery reverse osmosis (RO) desalination of brackish water via valent selective electrodialysis (ED) pre-treatment. The goal of her work was to treat brackish water reserves for use as inland community drinking water sources with lower energy and chemical demand and cost than traditional treatment trains. Specifically, she designed, characterized, and investigated valent selective cation exchange membranes (vsCEMs) for use in an ED pre-treatment step to an RO module that separates monovalent ions from scale-forming divalent cations (like magnesium and calcium) to minimize inorganic scaling on the RO membrane surface for improved water recovery and reduced need for process downtime and cleaning. 

Ms. Januszewski's expertise in other water treatment-focused projects includes conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine whether waterless textile dyeing via supercritical carbon dioxide is less water intensive than traditional dyeing, and investigating a novel titanium oxide catalyst for ammonia reduction to nitrogen gas in blackwater in a self-contained toilet system through the Bill and Melinda Gates Reinvent the Toilet Challenge. Further, she investigated the toxicity of nanoparticles, such as graphene oxide, silver, and cadmium, on aquatic microorganisms, like algae and bacteria, as part of a greater effort to impregnate water treatment membranes with nanoparticles to reduce biofilm formation. Finally, she has experience in ozone-treating heavy hydrocarbon contaminated soil and conducting subsequent soil bioremediation and plant toxicology studies.