SLU news

Career grant to researcher at the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment

Published: 28 September 2021
Foon Yin Lai, portrait photo.

Docent Foon Yin Lai, at the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, is one of the five researchers who has been awarded 3 million SEK as a career grant from the Vice-Chancellor of SLU.

SLU’s Career Grant is launched every second year to award researchers at the early stage of their careers. Docent Foon Yin Lai from the Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment is one of this years' five rewarded researchers. They receive a grant of 3 million SEK each.

Foon Yin Lai’s research aims to advance our knowledge on emerging chemical and microbial contaminants, so-called contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).

Foon Yin Lai investigates the presence and (re)circulation of CECs in the environment and their risks to the environment and human health. One example is CECs linked to antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance. She has a special focus on CEC studies from source to recipient, with domestic wastewater (as the source) and aquatic systems (as the recipient).  Particularly, recipient environments have the implications as use of water resources, such as for drinking water production.

The grant will support her work and research team to

  • acquire new knowledge on CECs in influent wastewater and treated wastewater for reuse;
  • identify environmental circulation of CECs and new CECs in recipient water resources; 
  • evaluate sustainable solutions to reduce CECs in wastewater reuse and discharges.

The outcomes of her research will facilitate authorities to improve wastewater management and recipient water quality towards a sustainable use of water resources in Sweden.

Facts: