Ashley Berninghaus is a postdoctoral researcher at NREL working in the Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center on biological organic waste valorization. Berninghaus has experience in anaerobic co-digestion and microbial community analysis from her master's and doctoral degrees at Oregon State University. Previously, Berninghaus worked on catalytic upgrading of pyrolysis vapors as an intern at NREL and on algal biofuels research during her time as an undergraduate researcher at Montana State University. A central theme across her various research experience has been the production of sustainable fuels from wastewater or other organic waste streams. During her graduated work, Berninghaus was awarded the Environmental Research and Education Foundation Scholarship, the Susan E. Stutz McDonald Foundation Scholarship, the Wanda Munn Scholarship, and was a Provost Distinguished Fellowship Recipient.

Research Interests

Biochemical processes

Waste-to-energy
 
Anaerobic co-digestion 
 
Bioinformatics 

Education

Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University 
 
M.S., Environmental Engineering, Oregon State University 
 
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Montana State University 
 
B.S., Biological Engineering, Montana State University 

Professional Experience

Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon State University (2017–2022) 
 
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Research Intern, NREL (2016) 
 
Undergraduate Researcher, Montana State University (2013–2015)

Associations and Memberships

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – Science Communication Fellow 
 
American Water Works Association
 
Water Environment Federation
 
Society of Women Engineers

Featured Work

Anaerobic Digester Microbiome Dynamics in Response to Moderate and Failure-Inducing Shock Loads of Fats, Oils, and Greases, Bioresource Technology (2022) 
 
Shock Loads Change the Resistance, Resiliency, and Productivity of Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Municipal Sludge and Fats, Oils, and Greases, Journal of Cleaner Production (2022) 
 
Fats, Oils, and Greases Increase the Sensitivity of Anaerobic Mono- and Co-Digester Inoculum to Ammonia Toxicity, Environmental Engineering Science (2022)

Awards and Honors

Schulien Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Oregon State University (2022)

Inclusive Excellence Award, Oregon State University (2019)