Michael Short

Dr Michael Short

Office of Engineering and Information Technology

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

Bio: My core research interests and expertise are in urban water systems (water quality, wastewater treatment and water recycling), environmental microbiology and microbial ecology, sustainability and life cycle assessment (sustainable decision-making, carbon footprinting) and the intersection of environmental science and policy. My research broadly seeks to improve the technical, economic and environmental performance of 'human–environmental' systems, and increase the utility and uptake of quantitative sustainability assessment principles in the regulation and management of these systems. More recently, I've sought to apply my broad interests in applied microbiology to other areas including antimicrobial resistance and environmental pollution control in the context of acid and metalliferous drainage.
Research interests keywords: water quality; wastewater treatment; environmental engineering; water recycling; energy management and optimisation; sustainability and life cycle assessment; carbon accounting and carbon footprinting; sustainable decision-making; industrial ecology; evidence-based sustainable regulation; wastewater microbiology and microbial nitrogen cycling; granular activated sludge; biosolids management; greenhouse gas emissions (CH4 and N2O); anaerobic co-digestion for energy recovery; intersection of environmental science and policy in areas including water resources management, contaminated site remediation, waste (biosolids) management, wastewater treatment and environmental discharges, and water recycling

Year Citation
2026 Indela, R., Whiley, H., Fallowfield, H., Short, M. D., & Ross, K. (2026). Characterising caravan and recreational vehicle wastewater from dumpsite holding tanks: possible implications for rural wastewater management. Urban Water Journal, 23(1), 94-100.
DOI
2023 Zhou, Y., Lan, Y., Short, M. D., Shi, J., Zhang, Q., Xu, J., & Qian, G. (2023). Effective use of sugarcane-bagasse-derived koh-activated biochar for remediating norfloxacin-contaminated water. Toxics, 11(11, article no. 908), 1-15.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC1
2022 Short, M. D., van den Akker, B., Monis, P., & Donner, E. (2022). Managing emerging pathogen risks in recycled water. Microbiology Australia, 43(4), 177-182.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2
2022 Cooper, B., Donner, E., Crase, L., Robertson, H., Carter, D., Short, M., . . . Fielding, K. (2022). Maintaining a social license to operate for wastewater-based monitoring: the case of managing infectious disease and the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Environmental Management, 320(115819), 1-10.
DOI Scopus13 WoS12 Europe PMC8
2022 Fan, R., Qian, G., Li, Y., Short, M. D., Schumann, R. C., Chen, M., . . . Gerson, A. R. (2022). Evolution of pyrite oxidation from a 10-year kinetic leach study: implications for secondary mineralisation in acid mine drainage control. Chemical Geology, 588(120653), 1-11.
DOI Scopus29 WoS25
2021 Fan, R., Qian, G., Short, M. D., Schumann, R. C., Brienne, S., Smart, R. S. C., & Gerson, A. R. (2021). Passivation of pyrite for reduced rates of acid and metalliferous drainage using readily available mineralogic and organic carbon resources: A laboratory mine waste study. Chemosphere, 285(131330), 1-10.
DOI Scopus26 WoS21 Europe PMC5
2021 Donner, E., Zamyadi, A., Jex, A., Short, M., Drigo, B., McCarthy, D., . . . Blackall, L. (2021). Wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2. Microbiology Australia, 42(1), 18-22.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2021 Drigo, B., Brunetti, G., Aleer, S. C., Bell, J. M., Short, M. D., Vasileiadis, S., . . . Donner, E. (2021). Inactivation, removal, and regrowth potential of opportunistic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in recycled water systems. Water Research, 201(117324), 117324-1-117324-11.
DOI Scopus34 WoS33 Europe PMC18
2021 Thwaites, B. J., Stuetz, R., Short, M., Reeve, P., Alvarez-Gaitan, J. P., Dinesh, N., . . . van den Akker, B. (2021). Analysis of nitrous oxide emissions from aerobic granular sludge treating high saline municipal wastewater. Science of the Total Environment, 756(143653), 11 pages.
DOI Scopus18 WoS15 Europe PMC6
2020 Liu, F., Short, M. D., Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Guo, X., Duan, J., Saint, C., . . . Hou, L. (2020). Environmental life cycle assessment of lignocellulosic ethanol-blended fuels: a case study. Journal of cleaner production, 245(118933), 1-11.
DOI Scopus39 WoS31
2020 Clos, I., Krampe, J., Alvarez-Gaitan, J. P., Saint, C. P., & Short, M. D. (2020). Correction to: Energy Benchmarking as a Tool for Energy-Efficient Wastewater Treatment: Reviewing International Applications (Water Conservation Science and Engineering, (2020), 5, 1-2, (115-136), 10.1007/s41101-020-00086-6). Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 5(3-4), 235-236.
DOI Scopus1
2020 Clos, I., Krampe, J., Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Saint, C. P., & Short, M. D. (2020). Energy benchmarking as a tool for energy-efficient wastewater treatment: reviewing international applications. Water Conservation Science and Engineering, 5(1-2), 115-136.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14
2020 Corominas, L., Byrne, D. M., Guest, J. S., Hospido, A., Roux, P., Shaw, A., & Short, M. D. (2020). The application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to wastewater treatment: a best practice guide and critical review. Water Research, 184(116058), 1-18.
DOI Scopus353 WoS294 Europe PMC84
2020 Nghiem, L. D., Morgan, B., Donner, E., & Short, M. D. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic: considerations for the waste and wastewater services sector. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 1, 1-5.
DOI Scopus221 Europe PMC123
2020 Ogbughalu, O. T., Vasileiadis, S., Schumann, R. C., Gerson, A. R., Li, J., Smart, R. S. C., & Short, M. D. (2020). Role of microbial diversity for sustainable pyrite oxidation control in acid and metalliferous drainage prevention. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 393(article no. 122338), 1-13.
DOI Scopus32 WoS30 Europe PMC9
2020 Jacob, R., Short, M., Belusko, M., & Bruno, F. (2020). Maximising renewable gas export opportunities at wastewater treatment plants through the integration of alternate energy generation and storage options. Science of the Total Environment, 742(140580), 1-12.
DOI Scopus15 WoS13 Europe PMC3
2019 Yadav, M. K., Aryal, R., Short, M. D., & Saint, C. P. (2019). Fluorescence excitation-emission spectroscopy: an analytical technique to monitor drugs of addiction in wastewater. Water (Switzerland), 11(2), 1-11.
DOI Scopus13 WoS12
2019 Yadav, M. K., Kumar, A., Short, M. D., Nidumolu, B., & Saint, C. P. (2019). Aquatic phytotoxicity to Lemna minor of three commonly used drugs of addiction in Australia. Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology, 103(5), 710-716.
DOI Scopus4 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2019 Qian, G., Fan, R., Short, M. D., Schumann, R. C., Li, J., Li, Y., . . . Gerson, A. R. (2019). Evaluation of the rate of dissolution of secondary sulfate minerals for effective acid and metalliferous drainage mitigation. Chemical geology, 504, 14-27.
DOI Scopus19 WoS19
2019 Yadav, M. K., Short, M. D., Gerber, C., van den Akker, B., Aryal, R., & Saint, C. P. (2019). Occurrence, removal and environmental risk of markers of five drugs of abuse in urban wastewater systems in South Australia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(33), 33816-33826.
DOI Scopus22 WoS17 Europe PMC12
2019 Yadav, M. K., Gerber, C., Saint, C. P., Van den Akker, B., & Short, M. D. (2019). Understanding the Removal and Fate of Selected Drugs of Abuse in Sludge and Biosolids from Australian Wastewater Treatment Operations. Engineering, 5(5), 872-879.
DOI Scopus18 WoS17
2019 Yadav, M. K., Short, M. D., Gerber, C., Awad, J., van den Akker, B., & Saint, C. P. (2019). Removal of emerging drugs of addiction by wastewater treatment and water recycling processes and impacts on effluent-associated environmental risk. Science of the Total Environment, 680, 13-22.
DOI Scopus41 WoS32 Europe PMC21
2019 Qian, G., Fan, R., Short, M. D., Schumann, R. C., Pring, A., & Gerson, A. R. (2019). The combined effects of galvanic interaction and silicate addition on the oxidative dissolution of pyrite: implications for acid and metalliferous drainage control. Environmental science and technology, 53(20), 11922-11931.
DOI Scopus19 WoS19 Europe PMC4
2019 Zhou, Y., Short, M. D., Li, J., Fan, R., & Qian, G. (2019). Non-carbonate geochemical options for long-term sustainable acid and metalliferous drainage control at-source. Environmental earth sciences, 78(5, article no. 157), 1-16.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9
2018 Thwaites, B. J., Van Den Akker, B., Reeve, P. J., Short, M. D., Dinesh, N., Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., & Stuetz, R. (2018). Ecology and performance of aerobic granular sludge treating high-saline municipal wastewater. Water Science and Technology, 77(4), 1107-1114.
DOI Scopus13 WoS11 Europe PMC5
2018 Thwaites, B. J., Short, M. D., Stuetz, R. M., Reeve, P. J., Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Dinesh, N., & van den Akker, B. (2018). Comparing the performance of aerobic granular sludge versus conventional activated sludge for microbial log removal and effluent quality: Implications for water reuse. Water Research, 145, 442-452.
DOI Scopus51 WoS42 Europe PMC22
2018 Zhou, Y., Fan, R., Short, M. D., Li, J., Schumann, R. C., Xu, H., . . . Qian, G. (2018). Formation of Aluminum Hydroxide-Doped Surface Passivating Layers on Pyrite for Acid Rock Drainage Control. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 52(20), 11786-11795.
DOI Scopus33 WoS30 Europe PMC10
2018 Zhang, W., Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Dastyar, W., Saint, C. P., Zhao, M., & Short, M. D. (2018). Value-added products derived from waste activated sludge: A biorefinery perspective. Water, 10(5), 1-20.
DOI Scopus60 WoS38
2018 Qian, G., Fan, R., Short, M. D., Schumann, R. C., Li, J., Smart, R. S., & Gerson, A. R. (2018). The effects of galvanic interactions with pyrite on the generation of acid and metalliferous drainage. Environmental science & technology, 52(9), 5349-5357.
DOI Scopus34 WoS31 Europe PMC11
2017 Short, M. D., Daikeler, A., Wallis, K., Peirson, W. L., & Peters, G. M. (2017). Dissolved methane in the influent of three Australian wastewater treatment plants fed by gravity sewers. Science of the total environment, 599-600, 85-93.
DOI Scopus37 WoS31 Europe PMC12
2017 Ogbughalu, O. T., Gerson, A. R., Qian, G., Smart, R. S. C., Schumann, R. C., Kawashima, N., . . . Short, M. D. (2017). Heterotrophic microbial stimulation through biosolids addition for enhanced acid mine drainage control. Minerals, 7(6, article no. 105), 1-12.
DOI Scopus20 WoS17
2017 Fan, R., Short, M. D., Zeng, S. J., Qian, G., Li, J., Schumann, R. C., . . . Gerson, A. R. (2017). The formation of silicate-stabilized passivating layers on pyrite for reduced acid rock drainage. Environmental science & technology, 51(19), 11317-11325.
DOI Scopus71 WoS62 Europe PMC22
2017 King, B., & Short, M. (2017). Science: how the status quo harms its cultural authority. Bioessays, 39(12, article no. 1700154), 1-3.
DOI Scopus3 WoS1
2017 Zhou, Y., Short, M. D., Li, J., Schumann, R. C., Smart, R. S. C., Gerson, A. R., & Qian, G. (2017). Control of acid generation from pyrite oxidation in a highly reactive natural waste: a laboratory case study. Minerals, 7(6), 1-10.
DOI Scopus9 WoS12
2017 Qian, G., Schumann, R. C., Li, J., Short, M. D., Fan, R., Li, Y., . . . Gerson, A. R. (2017). Strategies for reduced acid and metalliferous drainage by pyrite surface passivation. Minerals, 7(3, article no. 42), 1-15.
DOI Scopus28 WoS20
2017 Thwaites, B. J., Reeve, P., Dinesh, N., Short, M. D., & Van Den Akker, B. (2017). Comparison of an anaerobic feed and split anaerobic-aerobic feed on granular sludge development, performance and ecology. Chemosphere, 172, 408-417.
DOI Scopus24 WoS21 Europe PMC8
2017 Yadav, M. K., Short, M. D., Aryal, R., Gerber, C., van den Akker, B., & Saint, C. P. (2017). Occurrence of illicit drugs in water and wastewater and their removal during wastewater treatment. Water research, 124, 713-727.
DOI Scopus108 WoS88 Europe PMC52
2016 Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Short, M. D., Lundie, S., & Stuetz, R. (2016). Towards a comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions inventory for biosolids. Water Research, 96, 299-307.
DOI Scopus25 WoS23 Europe PMC9
2015 Short, M. D., Van Den Akker, B., & Regel, R. (2015). Benchmarking the energy-health nexus for more efficient water recycling operations. Water, 42(3), 68-74.
2015 Bellon Maurel, V., Peters, G. M., Clermidy, S., Frizarin, G., Sinfort, C., Ojeda, H., . . . Short, M. D. (2015). Streamlining life cycle inventory data generation in agriculture using traceability data and information and communication technologies - part II : application to viticulture. Journal of cleaner production, 87(1), 119-129.
DOI Scopus38 WoS31
2014 Short, M. D., Daikeler, A., Peters, G. M., Mann, K., Ashbolt, N. J., Stuetz, R. M., & Peirson, W. L. (2014). Municipal gravity sewers: an unrecognised source of nitrous oxide. Science of the Total Environment, 468-469, 211-218.
DOI Scopus60 WoS48 Europe PMC18
2014 Bellon Maurel, V., Short, M. D., Roux, P., Schulz, M., & Peters, G. M. (2014). Streamlining life cycle inventory data generation in agriculture using traceability data and information and communication technologies - part I: concepts and technical basis. Journal of cleaner production, 69, 60-66.
DOI Scopus30 WoS26
2014 Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Peters, G. M., Short, M. D., Schulz, M., & Moore, S. (2014). Understanding the impacts of allocation approaches during process-based life cycle assessment of water treatment chemicals. Integrated environmental assessment and management, 10(1), 87-94.
DOI Scopus14 WoS12 Europe PMC1
2014 Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Short, M. D., Peters, G. M., MacGill, I., & Moore, S. (2014). Consequential cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of water treatment chemicals using simple and complex marginal technologies for electricity supply. International journal of life cycle assessment, 19(12), 1974-1984.
DOI Scopus10 WoS10
2013 Alvarez Gaitan, J. P., Peter, G. M., Rowley, H. V., Moore, S., & Short, M. D. (2013). A hybrid life cycle assessment of water treatment chemicals : an Australian experience. International journal of life cycle assessment, 18(7), 1291-1301.
DOI Scopus38 WoS31
2013 Short, M. D., Peters, G. M., Peirson, W. L., & Ashbolt, N. J. (2013). Marine nitrous oxide emissions: an unknown liability for the international water sector. Environmental science and policy, 33, 209-221.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2013 Short, M., Abell, G., Bodrossy, L., & van den Akker, B. (2013). Application of a novel functional gene microarray to probe the functional ecology of ammonia oxidation in nitrifying activated sludge. PLoS One, 8(10), e77139-1-e77139-11.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC6
2012 Schulz, M., Short, M. D., & Peters, G. M. (2012). A streamlined sustainability assessment tool for improved decision making in the urban water industry. Integrated environmental assessment and management, 8(1), 183-193.
DOI Scopus51 WoS43 Europe PMC13
2012 Short, M. D., Peirson, W. L., Peters, G. M., & Cox, R. J. (2012). Managing adaptation of urban water systems in a changing climate. Water Resources Management, 26(7), 1953-1981.
DOI Scopus44 WoS42
2010 Short, M. D., Rocheta, E., Peters, G. M., Schulz, M., Peirson, W. L., Stuetz, R. M., & Cox, R. J. (2010). Challenges in adapting Australian water resources and infrastructure to climate change. Water: journal of the Australian water association, 37(7), 42-48.
2010 Coleman, H. M., Le Minh, N., Khan, S. J., Short, M. D., Chernicharo, C., & Stuetz, R. M. (2010). Fate and levels of steroid oestrogens and androgens in waste stabilisation ponds: quantification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Water science and technology, 61(3), 677-684.
DOI Scopus17 WoS13
2010 Peters, G. M., Rowley, H. V., Wiedemann, S., Tucker, R., Short, M. D., & Schulz, M. (2010). Red meat production in Australia : life cycle assessment and comparison with overseas studies. Environmental science & technology, 44(4), 1327-1332.
DOI Scopus188 WoS167 Europe PMC42
2010 Van Den Akker, B., Holmes, M., Short, M. D., Cromar, N. J., & Fallowfield, H. J. (2010). Application of high rate nitrifying trickling filters to remove low concentrations of ammonia from reclaimed municipal wastewater. Water Science and Technology, 61(10), 2425-2432.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC2
2010 Van Den Akker, B., Beard, H., Kaeding, U., Giglio, S., & Short, M. D. (2010). Exploring the relationship between viscous bulking and ammonia-oxidiser abundance in activated sludge: A comparison of conventional and IFAS systems. Water Research, 44(9), 2919-2929.
DOI Scopus54 WoS44 Europe PMC26
2010 Yamamoto, A., Short, M. D., Van Den Akker, B., Cromar, N. J., & Fallowfield, H. J. (2010). Nitrification potential in waste stabilisation ponds: Comparison of a secondary and tertiary pond system. Water Science and Technology, 61(3), 781-788.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2010 Short, M. D., Cromar, N. J., & Fallowfield, H. J. (2010). Hydrodynamic performance of pilot-scale duckweed, algal-based, rock filter and attached-growth media reactors used for waste stabilisation pond research. Ecological engineering, 36(12), 1700-1708.
DOI Scopus11 WoS12
2009 Fadda, H. M., McConnell, E. L., Short, M. D., & Basit, A. W. (2009). Meal-Induced Acceleration of Tablet Transit Through the Human Small Intestine. PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH, 26(2), 356-360.
DOI WoS76
2009 Basit, A. W., Short, M. D., & McConnell, E. L. (2009). Microbiota-triggered colonic delivery: Robustness of the polysaccharide approach in the fed state in man. JOURNAL OF DRUG TARGETING, 17(1), 64-71.
DOI WoS30
2008 McConnell, E. L., Short, M. D., & Basit, A. W. (2008). An <i>in vivo</i> comparison of intestinal pH and bacteria as physiological trigger mechanisms for colonic targeting in man. JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE, 130(2), 154-160.
DOI WoS123

Year Citation
2015 Goh, N., Short, M. D., Bolan, N., & Saint, C. P. (2015). Biosolids: policies, perception and potential for beneficial use. In T. Thornton, & K. Katharine (Eds.), Unmaking waste : transforming production and consumption in time and place (pp. 325-335). Adelaide, South Australia: Zero Waste SA Research Centre for Sustainable Design and Behaviour.
2007 Short, M. D., Cromar, N. J., Nixon, J. B., & Fallowfield, H. J. (2007). Relative performance of duckweed ponds and rock filtration as advanced in-pond wastewater treatment processes for upgrading waste stabilisation pond effluent: A pilot study. In Water Science and Technology Vol. 55 (pp. 111-119). THAILAND, Bangkok: IWA PUBLISHING.
DOI Scopus8 WoS4 Europe PMC1

Year Citation
- Saint, C., & Short, M. (n.d.). Water Recycling Energy Benchmarking Performance Dataset.
DOI
- Fan, R., Qian, G., Zeng, S., Gerson, A., Smart, R., & Short, M. (n.d.). Long-Term Acid Rock and Tailings Drainage Mitigation through Source Control dataset.
DOI

  • Turning antimicrobial resistance in residential aged care inside-out from the patient to facility level, MRFF - Targeted Call for Research - Antimicrobial Resistance, 26/06/2018 - 30/06/2024

  • RP2017 Energy Benchmarking for Efficient, Low Carbon Water Recycling Operations, CRC for Low Carbon Living Ltd, 21/10/2014 - 31/12/2018

  • Short- and long-term mitigation strategies for acid and metalliferous drainage control from iron ore mine wastes, AMIRA International Ltd, 01/09/2014 - 28/01/2018

  • RP2008 Beneficial Reuse of Solids from Wastewater Treatment Operations, CRC for Low Carbon Living Ltd, 28/01/2014 - 30/12/2017

  • Long-term acid rock and tailings drainage mitigation through source control, Teck Metals Ltd, 10/10/2013 - 31/10/2017

  • Long-Term Acid Rock and Tailings Drainage Mitigation through Source Control, ARC - Linkage Project, 24/01/2014 - 30/06/2017

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