Dr. Bianca F. Costa is an environmental biotechnologist with a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering whose work bridges microbiology, chemistry, and reactor design to address pressing environmental challenges. She develops and prototypes novel systems that translate deep scientific research into actionable innovations in biomanufacturing, with the goal of advancing sustainability and circular resource use. Her research centers on the fate and biotransformation of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in anaerobic systems, the development of molecular tools to study resilient microbial communities, and the design of processes that enable recovery of water, energy, and valuable compounds.
As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Southern California, Dr. Costa conducted award-winning research on PFAS distribution in Southern California water systems and microbial community dynamics in wastewater treatment. Her work contributed to the development of projects at the USC ReWater Center and the ShARP Center – Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Remediation and Prevention. She combines advanced analytical approaches with microbial ecology and process design to uncover new strategies for contaminant mitigation and environmental resilience.
Extending this foundation, Dr. Costa now leads initiatives in sustainable biomanufacturing and circular biotechnology, developing bioprocessing platforms, enzyme systems, and smart reactor technologies that bring environmental biotechnology closer to real-world application. She is also active in science communication and community-building, fostering the next generation of scientists and innovators in the bioeconomy.