PhD Candidate
Degrees
- Master’s in Environmental Engineering; University of Michigan, 2022
- Bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering; Duke University, 2021
- Bachelor’s in Mathematics; Duke University, 2021
Areas of Interest
Anaerobic Digestion, Wastewater Treatment Modeling, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Biofilms/Dynamic Membranes
Research Projects
I am part of the IBET and Multiplex (membrane fouling simulator) projects in the Raskin research group. As part of this work, I am focused on developing the multiplex system for in situ analysis of replicate dynamic membranes for a better understanding of dynamic membrane fouling and anti-fouling strategies. I am working on modeling dynamic membranes and helping with the model of the two-phase AnDMBR system. The first set of experiments with the parallel dynamic membrane fouling simulator investigates the effects of backwashing frequency on extracellular polymeric substance production.
Outside of my current research in AnDMBRs and modeling, I co-chaired the WASH workshop at the 17th Anaerobic Digestion conference in Ann Arbor, MI in June 2022 and co-chaired a workshop on modeling decentralized water resource recovery systems at the Water Resource Recovery Modeling conference in South Bend, IN in April 2024. These were followed by a feature paper and a review paper (under review).
In the past (undergrad), I worked on struvite precipitation and ammonia condensation, geochemical modeling, aerodynamics modeling, and building energy modeling, as well as sustainability with a commercial aerospace company — while these may seem like a diverse array of interests, my love of mathematics and modeling has been a constant tie, and multiple projects in undergrad around environmental justice and equality kept pulling me towards wastewater treatment, which I saw as both a challenging intersection of biology, chemistry, and math as well as a huge gap in equality in the world.
Fun Facts/Hobbies
I don’t have a sense of smell! (I was literally born for this line of work)
Hiking, reading, writing, nature photography, cheese, board games
CV:
Journal Articles:
Fonoll Almansa, X.; Starostka, R.; Raskin, L.; Zeeman, G.; De Los Reyes, 3rd, F.; Waechter, J.; Yeh, D.; Radu, T. “Anaerobic Digestion as a Core Technology in Addressing the Global Sanitation Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities.” Environmental Science \& Technology, vol. 57, no. 48, United States: American Chemical Society, 2023, pp. 19078–87. doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c05291.
Starostka, R.; Lybik, J; Belia, E.; Garrido-Baserba, M.; Gilmore, K.; Michael, L.; Newhart, K.; Wells, G.; Zhang, X. “Emerging themes, opportunities, and future directions for modeling decentralized wastewater resource recovery and treatment system.” [Under Review].
Conference Workshops Co-Chaired:
Starostka, R., Lybik, J., Zhang, J., Garrido-Baserba, M., Guest, J., Belia, E., Vanrolleghem, P.A., Love, N.G. (2024) “Modeling Decentralized Systems: A framework for maximizing the benefits of distributed treatment technologies” [Conference Workshop] 9th IWA Water Resource Recovery Modelling Seminar, South Bend, IN, United States.
Ziels, R., Scarborough, M., Zhu, K., Starostka, R., Schraa, O., Zamanzadeh, M., Owerdieck, C., Skerlos, S., Raskin, L. (2022). “Expanding the Horizon for Anaerobic Digestion Modeling” [Conference Workshop] 17th IWA World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
De Los Reyes, 3rd, F.; Raskin, L.; Fonoll Almansa, X.; Starostka, R. (2022). “Anaerobic Digestion, a Technology to Help Solve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Concerns in Resource Constrained Communities” [Conference Workshop] 17th IWA World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Posters, Presentations, and other Publications:
Starostka, R.; Skerlos, S.; Raskin, L. (2025) “Dynamic Membrane Fouling Simulator for Low-Energy Biological Wastewater Treatment” [Poster Presentation] AEESP, Durham, NC, United States.
Zhu, K.; Starostka, R.; Skerlos, S.; Raskin, L. (2024) “Model-derived insights in a two-phase anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor system for high-rate co-digestion” [Poster Presentation] 9th IWA Water Resource Recovery Modelling Seminar, South Bend, IN, United States.
Starostka, R., Zhu, K., Lippert, T., Karki, R., Puente, P., Fairley-Wax, T., Raskin, L., Skerlos, S. (2023) “Integrated Biochemical and Electrochemical Technologies (IBET) to Produce Renewable Natural Gas from Waste Streams” [Symposium Presentation] Waste-to-Energy Student Syposium, Ann Arbor, MI
Starostka, R., Song, H., Giammalvo, K., Fairley-Wax, T., Raskin, L., Skerlos, S. (2023) “Developing the Parallel In-situ Dynamic Membrane Analysis System (PIDMAS)” [Poster]. 26th Triennial Borchardt Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Starostka, R., Zhu, K., Fairley-Wax T., Puente, P., Skerlos, S., Raskin, L.. (2023). “Assessing the Temporal Sensitivity of Anaerobic Digestion Model 1 (ADM1) Parameters during Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) Tests of Co-digestion Systems” [Poster]. 8th IWA Water Resource Recovery Modelling Seminar, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Song, H.; Starostka, R.; Fairley-Wax, T.; Raskin, L.; Skerlos, S. (2022). “A Brief Review of Anaerobic Dynamic Membrane Bioreactors (AnDMBRs)” [Conference Workshop Presentation] 17th IWA World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Rauch-Williams, T.; Starostka, R.; Fairley-Wax, T.; Song, H.; Steiniger, B. (2023). “Towards a Uniform Basis for Substrate Characterization and Modeling of Anaerobic Co-Digestion and Anaerobic High-Strength Waste Treatment Workshop Summary.” [WRF Report DRPT-4915D]. Water Research Foundation, Alexandria, VA.
Starostka, R. (2021). “Mineral Kinetics, Organic Components, and Microbial Models for Geochemical Reactions in Hydraulic Fracturing Shale Systems.” [Undergraduate Thesis] Duke University. Link.
Cavallero, E.; Lowe, P.; Roberts, A.; Starostka, R.; Zheng, J.; Klein, E.; Knight, J. (2021) “A Novel Ammonia-Phosphate Removal System for Hog Farms” [Capstone Thesis], Duke University, Durham, NC. Link.
Pallin, S., Pilet, T., Starostka, R. (2019). “Variables Influenced by Thermal Mass and its Impact on
Energy Performance in Buildings”, ASHRAE 2019 Buildings XIV International Conference, Clearwater
Beach, FL, 9-12 December.
Raskin Research Group 