Gianluigi Farru is a fixed-term Assistant Professor (RTD-A) at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (DICAAR), University of Cagliari, Italy, in the disciplinary field CEAR-02/A – Sanitary and Environmental Engineering. He earned his PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Cagliari, with the additional title of Doctor Europaeus, after completing both his MSc and BSc in Environmental and Land Engineering at the same university.

His research focuses on the valorization of organic wastes and by-products through thermochemical processes, with particular emphasis on hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and hydrothermal humification (HTH). His main research lines include the production and characterization of hydrochars for energy, agricultural and environmental applications; the integration of thermochemical processes with anaerobic digestion and chemical processes for resource recovery; the development of adsorbent materials; and the assessment of toxicity and valorization strategies for process waters. These activities have also been carried out within the framework of the PNRR project e.INS – Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia, Spoke 9, Task 3.3.

In recent years, he has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications in international indexed journals and has presented his work at national and international conferences as a speaker. In 2025, he received the Best Oral Presentation Award at IWA AGRO 2025. He is also co-founder of the Hydrochar Network, an international scientific association aimed at promoting research collaboration and knowledge exchange on hydrothermal carbon materials. In 2025, he obtained the Italian National Scientific Qualification for Associate Professor in the competition sector 08/A2.

He is actively involved in teaching within the Environmental Engineering degree programme at the University of Cagliari, where he teaches Environmental Pollution and Remediation Processes, and within the PhD School in Earth and Environmental Sciences, where he teaches the course Waste Characterization and Valorization Technologies for Circular Economy. He has also organized and co-organized international summer schools and training activities within the EDUC and MARE frameworks, supervised undergraduate and master’s theses, co-supervised PhD research, and contributed to student guidance and academic service activities.

During his academic career, he has carried out research and training activities abroad at IMT Atlantique (France), the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy – ATB (Germany), and the University of Extremadura (Spain), strengthening his international research profile in circular bioeconomy, resource recovery, and thermochemical conversion of residual biomass.

Last update: April 2026