WADDINGTON -- A Waddington resident will receive a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship to continue to research a way to overcome the limitations posed by ammonia inhibition during anaerobic digestion of high nitrogen-containing food waste.

Taylor Lenney of Waddington began research on anaerobic digestion and ammonia removal on Clarkson’s pilot scale digester under Prof. Stefan J. Grimberg.

In 2015, she interned with Alcoa at their research center in New Kensington, Pa.

There, she focused on an innovative, naturally engineered wastewater treatment system.

Last summer, she was awarded an EPA GRO Fellowship, which allowed her the privilege of interning at the EPA’s Gulf Ecology Division in Pensacola, Fl.

Taylor studied the effects of hypoxia on estuarine nitrogen cycling along sites in Pensacola Bay.

Her research experiences have inspired her to pursue a master of science degree in environmental science & engineering at Clarkson in the fall.

She will continue to research a way to overcome the limitations posed by ammonia inhibition during anaerobic digestion of high nitrogen-containing food waste.

Her work could assist the solid waste management industry, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase economic incentives for anaerobic digestion adoption.

Lenney, a graduate of Madrid-Waddington Central High School, is a senior in the Clarkson University honors program, majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in environmental engineering.