Prof. Dr. Michael Meister, MSc

Environmental Engineering +43 512 2070 - 3238 michael.meister@mci.edu
Prof. Dr. Michael Meister, MSc

Research Interests

-Modelling and System Control of Wastewater Treatment Plants (Coupling Hydraulics with Process-Based Wastewater Treatment Models)


-Computational Fluid Dynamics, Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Method


-Hydraulics (Channel and Pipe Flows, Hydraulic Control Systems, Hydraulic Mixing of Reactors)


Professional work experience
  • 01/2020 - present
    Professor - MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, Department of Environmental, Process & Energy Engineering
  • 01/2017 - 12/2019
    Junior Professor - MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, Department of Environmental, Process & Energy Engineering
  • 01/2015 - 01/2017
    Post-Doctoral Research Associate - University of Innsbruck, Unit of Environmental Engineering
  • 01/2012 - 12/2015
    Scientific Assistant (University Assistant) - University of Innsbruck, Unit of Environmental Engineering
  • 01/2012 - 12/2012
    Teaching Assistant - Imperial College London
Education
  • 01/2012 - 12/2015
    Doctor of Technical Sciences with Distinction - University of Innsbruck, Unit of Environmental Engineering
    Modelling of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • 01/2011 - 12/2012
    Master of Science with merit - Imperial College London
    Master Studies in Physics
  • 01/2008 - 12/2011
    Bachelor of Science - University of Innsbruck
    Bachelor Studies in Physics
Teaching (faculty internships etc.)
  • 01/2022 - present
    Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, Universität Innsbruck
    Water Supply and Urban Drainage
  • 01/2019 - present
    Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, Universität Innsbruck
    Foundations of Physics
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Advanced Water Resources and Water Treatment
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Groundwater and Water Reuse
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Advanced Air Treatment
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Current Industrial Projects
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Current Research Projects
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Interdisciplinary Projects
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Mathematics 1
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Numerical Analysis
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Numerical Analysis
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Technical Physics 1
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Literature Seminar
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Academic Writing
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Master Seminar
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Electrical Engineering Laboratory
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Control Engineering
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, University of Innsbruck
    Measurement Techniques
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, Universität Innsbruck
    Focus English for Lecturers for Technical Programs
  • Imperial College London, MCI - The Entrepreneurial School, Universität Innsbruck
    Winter School 'Water Pollution'
Practice related research and developmental project
  • 01/2019 - 12/2022
    Principal investigator MCI - Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism, KPC GmbH
    OptiFaul - Improving the energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants by optimizing the digester mixing
  • 01/2018 - 12/2020
    Principal investigator - Tyrolean Science Fund
    OPTFAUL - Optimization of the energy input for the mixing of anaerobic digesters
  • 01/2018 - 12/2020
    Project organization, project staff - Tyrol Innovation Fund
    CFD Coating - Entwicklung und Optimierung des Diamant 4.0 Beschichtungsprozesses für industrielle Anwendungen
  • 01/2015 - 12/2018
    Project organization, project staff - Austrian Research Promotion Agency
    SPHAUL - Integrated modeling of anaerobic digestion with smoothed particle hydrodynamics
  • 01/2014 - 12/2018
    Co-Principal Investigator - FWF Austrian Science Fund
    SPHASE - Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Activated Sludge Engine
Competitive Research Award
  • 01/2025 - 01/2025
    - - MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
    MCI Best Teaching Award
  • 01/2022 - 12/2022
    MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
    MCI Best Teaching Award
  • 01/2020 - 12/2020
    MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
    MCI Best Teaching Award
  • 01/2017 - 12/2017
    City of Innsbruck
    Science award of the city of Innsbruck for research and innovation at MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
  • 01/2014 - 12/2014
    University of Innsbruck, Faculty of Technical Sciences
    Award for extraordinary success in the doctoral programme technical sciences
  • 01/2012 - 12/2012
    University of Innsbruck, Office for International Relations
    Award for academic work at Imperial College London
  • 01/2011 - 12/2011
    University of Innsbruck
    Award for extraordinary success in the undergraduate programmes of Physics and Technical Mathematics
Editorial board service
  • 01/2015 - present
    Reviewer for scientific journals
Further education & Training
  • 2017 - 2017
    MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
  • 2016 - 2016
    University of Innsbruck
Positions in professional/academic societies
  • 01/2025 - 12/2025
    Review - Science prize in honor of the federal president
  • 01/2021 - 12/2021
    Review of applications - Pakistan-Austria-Fachhochschule (PAF)
  • 01/2019 - 12/2019
    Review Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant - Funding of doctoral school
  • 01/2018 - 12/2018
    Jury member for evaluation of research - MCI - The Entrepreneurial School
Peer reviewed journal article
  • Neuner, Thomas; Meister, Michael; Pillei, Martin; Senfter, Thomas; Draxl-Weiskopf, Simon; Ebner, Christian; Winkler, Jacqueline; Rauch, Wolfgang (2024): Impact of design and mixing strategies on biogas production in anaerobic digesters. DOI: 10.3390/w16152205 In: Water 16(15).
  • Neuner, Thomas; Meister, Michael; Pillei, Martin; Rauch, Wolfgang (2024): Optimizing mixing efficiency of anaerobic digesters with high total solids concentrations using validated CFD simulations. DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2024.109320 In: Biochemical Engineering Journal 208.
  • Neuner, Thomas; Meister, Michael; Pillei, Martin; Koch, Marc; Rauch, Wolfgang (2022): Numerical and experimental flow investigation using ultrasonic PIV for optimizing mechanically agitated lab-scale anaerobic digesters. DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.118129 In: Chemical Engineering Science 264.
  • Dabiri, Soroush; Sappl, Johannes; Kumar, Prashant; Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2021): On the effect of the inlet configuration for anaerobic digester mixing. In: Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 44, pp. 2455 - 2468.
  • Oates, Andrew; Neuner, Thomas; Meister, Michael; Borman, Duncan; Camargo-Valero, Miller; Sleigh, Andrew; Fischer, Paul (2020): Modelling mechanically induced non-Newtonian flows to improve the energy efficiency of anaerobic digesters. DOI: 10.3390/w12112995 In: Water 12(11).
  • Rezavand, Massoud; Winkler, Daniel;Sappl, Johannes; Seiler, Laurent; Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2019): A fully-Lagrangian computational model for the integration of mixing and biochemical reactions in anaerobic digestion. In: Computers and Fluids 181, pp. 224 - 235.
  • Winkler, Daniel; Rezavand, Massoud; Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2019): gpuSPHASE—A shared memory caching implementation for 2D SPH using CUDA (version update). In: Computer Physics Communications 235, pp. 514 - 516.
  • Meister, Michael; Rezavand, Massoud; Ebner, Christian; Pümpel, Thomas; Rauch, Wolfgang (2018): Mixing non-Newtonian flows in anaerobic digesters by impellers and pumped recirculation. In: Advances in Engineering Software 115C, pp. 194-203.
  • Meister, Michael; Winkler, Daniel; Rezavand, Massoud; Rauch, Wolfgang (2017): Integrating hydrodynamics and biokinetics in wastewater treatment modelling by using smoothed particle hydrodynamics. In: Computers & Chemical Engineering 99C, pp. 1 - 12.
  • Winkler, Daniel; Meister, Michael; Rezavand, Massoud; Rauch, Wolfgang (2017): gpuSPHASE—A shared memory caching implementation for 2D SPH using CUDA. In: Computer Physics Communications 213, pp. 165 - 180.
  • Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2016): Wastewater treatment modelling with smoothed particle hydrodynamics. In: Environmental Modelling & Software 75, pp. 206 - 211.
  • Meister, Michael; Fleischhacker, Nikolaus; Rauch, Wolfgang (2015): Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics – partikelbasierte Strömungsberechnung zur Anwendung in der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft. In: Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft 67/3-4, pp. 148 - 152.
  • Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2015): Modelling aerated flows with smoothed particle hydrodynamics. In: Journal of Hydroinformatics 17/4, pp. 493 - 504.
  • Meister, Michael; Burger, Gregor; Rauch, Wolfgang (2014): On the Reynolds number sensitivity of smoothed particle hydrodynamics. In: Journal of Hydraulic Research 52/6, pp. 824 - 835.
Research monographs
  • Meister, Michael (2016): Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in Urban Water Management. Innsbruck: innsbruck university press (IUP) (= Forum Umwelttechnik und Wasserbau, 21). ISBN 978-3-903122-06-2
Chapters in books
  • Sitzenfrei, Robert; Kleidorfer, Manfred; Meister, Michael; Burger, Gregor; Urich, Christian; Mair, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2014): Scientific Computing in Urban Water Management. In: Hofstetter, Günter: Computational Engineering. Dordrecht - Heidelberg - London - New York - Berlin: Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-05932-7, pp. 173 - 193.
Peer reviewed academic/professional meeting proceedings
  • Schenk, Hannes; Meister, Michael (2021): Application of SPH to model the removal of grease from wastewater. In: Proceedings of the 15th SPHERIC International Conference. Newark: New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  • Neuner, Thomas; Meister, Michael; Koch, Marc; Pillei, Martin; Rauch, Wolfgang (2020): Ultrasonic flow field measurement in agitated lab-scale reactors for optimization of anaerobic digesters. In: Konferenzband des 16. Minisymposiums Verfahrenstechnik, Wien, 21. September 2020.
  • Meister, Michael; Winkler, Daniel; Boyle-Gotla, Apra (2019): Development and application of smoothed particle hydrodynamics for wastewater treatment and water management. In: E-proceedings of the 38th IAHR World Congress 'Water – Connecting the World'. 1 - 6 September, 2019, Panama City, Panama. Madrid: International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), ISBN 978-90-824846-0-1, pp. 1 - 8.
  • Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2016): Smoothed particle hydrodynamics - an innovative method for solving fluid dynamics problems in urban water management. In: Proceedings of the IWA World Water Congress, Brisbane: International Water Association.
  • Meister, Michael; Rezavand, Massoud; Winkler, Daniel; Rauch, Wolfgang (2016): A GPU-Compatible Scheme for Coupling SPH to Process-Based Wastewater Treatment Models. In: Proceedings of the 11th SPHERIC International Conference. München: Technische Universität München, ISBN 9-783000-533587, pp. 305 - 312.
  • Rezavand, Massoud; Meister, Michael; Winkler, Daniel; Rauch, Wolfgang; Taeibi-Rahni, Mohammed (2016): A simple ISPH algorithm for two-phase flows with high density ratios. In: Proceedings of the 11th SPHERIC International Conference. München: Technische Universität München, ISBN 9-783000-533587, pp. 61 - 68.
  • Winkler, Daniel; Meister, Michael; Rezavand, Massoud; Rauch, Wolfgang (2016): SPHASE—Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in Wastewater Treatment. In: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2016. Water, Wastewater and Stormwater and Urban Watershed Symposium. Reston: American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE), ISBN 978-0-7844-7988-9, pp. 303 - 311.
  • Meister, Michael; Bergmeister, Christoph; Winkler, Daniel; Rauch, Wolfgang (2015): Activated sludge modelling with smoothed particle hydrodynamics. In: E-proceedings of the 36th IAHR World Congress 'Deltas of the Future and what happens upstream'. 28 June – 3 July, 2015, The Hague, the Netherlands. Madrid: International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), ISBN 978-90-824846-0-1, pp. 1 - 5.
  • Bergmeister, Christoph; Meister, Michael; Winkler, Daniel; Rauch, Wolfgang (2015): Reducing the Particle Refinement Error of the Density Summation and the Kernel Gradient. In: Proceeding of the 10th SPHERIC International conference. Parma: Universitá degli Studi di Parma.
  • Meister, Michael; Fleischhacker, Nikolaus; Rauch, Wolfgang (2014): Anwendung von Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft. In: Aqua Urbanica 2014. Misch- und Niederschlagswasserbehandlung im urbanen raum. Wien: Österreichischer Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaftsverband (ÖWAV), ISBN 978-3-902978-28-8.
  • Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2014): Simulating Rising Bubble Problems with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. In: Proceedings of the IMA Conference on Mathematical Modelling of Fluid Systems, 10-12 Sept 2014, Bristol. Essex: Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, pp. 1 - 9.
Presentation of a paper at a conference, workshop or seminar
  • Neuner, Thomas; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael; Peer, Samuel; Senfter, Thomas; Pillei, Martin; Rauch, Wolfgang: Numerische und experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Geometrie von Rührwerken als Beitrag zur Co-Vergärungstechnologie. ÖWAV - Österreichische Abfallwirtschaftstagung, Graz, 09. April 2025.
  • Neuner, Thomas; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael; Pillei, Martin; Koch, Marc; Rauch, Wolfgang (2023): Optimization study of mixing high viscous sludge in anaerobic digesters. 40th IAHR World Congress (International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research) - 'Rivers - Connecting Mountains and Coasts', Wien, 23. August 2023.
  • Neuner, Thomas; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael (2022): Flow visualization in bioreactors using ultrasound and Computational Fluid Dynamics. XVI. Biotechnet Summer School on Advanced Biotechnology, Innsbruck, 13. September 2022.
  • Meister, Michael: Research-oriented teaching for process optimization in wastewater treatment. Antrittsvorlesung FH-Professur am MCI - Die Unternehmerische Hochschule, Innsbruck, 30. September 2020.
  • Neuner, Thomas; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael: Ultrasonic flow field measurement in agitated lab-scale reactors for optimization of anaerobic digesters. 16. Minisymposiums Verfahrenstechnik, Wien, 21. September 2020.
  • Meister, Michael: CFD based analysis of mechanically induced mixing in real scale anaerobic digestion. School of Civil Engineering, Leeds, 21. Jänner 2020.
  • Meister, Michael: Experimental study of hydraulic mixing in a pilot scale anaerobic digester. School of Civil Engineering, Leeds, 20. Jänner 2020.
  • Meister, Michael: Development and application of smoothed particle hydrodynamics for wastewater treatment and water management. 38th IAHR World Congress (International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research) - "Water - Connecting the World", Panama, 04. September 2019.
  • Oates, Andrew; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael: Improving Wastewater Treatment using Computational Fluid Dynamics. School of Civil Engineering, Leeds, 08. Juli 2019.
  • Meister, Michael: Impeller induced mixing of anaerobic digesters. Innsbruck, 19. November 2018.
  • Meister, Michael: Studieren am MCI - Die Unternehmerische Hochschule. Vortrag im Rahmen von Startschuss Abi München, München, 24. Februar 2018.
  • Meister, Michael: Numerical simulation of the impeller induced mixing of non-Newtonian flows in anaerobic digesters. School of Civil Engineering, Leeds, 26. Juni 2017.
  • Meister, Michael: Numerische Simulationen zur Beschreibung der Durchmischung von Faultürmen. Forschungskooperationstreffen Abwasserverband Achental-Inntal-Zillertal, Strass, 09. Jänner 2017.
  • Meister, Michael: Process control in wastewater treatment plants. MCI - Die Unternehmerische Hochschule, Innsbruck, 21.11.2016.
  • Meister, Michael: Assets and Drawbacks of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in Urban Water Management. Workshop der Süddeutschen Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), Stuttgart, 15. November 2016.
  • Rauch, Wolfgang: Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael: Smoothed particle hydrodynamics - an innovative method for solving fluid dynamics problems in urban water management. IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Brisbane, 09. Oktober 2016.
  • Meister, Michael: A GPU-Compatible Scheme for Coupling SPH to Process-Based Wastewater Treatment Models. 11th SPHERIC International Conference, Garching, 16. Juni 2016.
  • Rezavand, Massoud; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael; Winkler, Daniel; Rauch, Wolfgang: A simple ISPH algorithm for two-phase flows with high density ratios. 11th SPHERIC International Conference, Garching, 14. Juni 2016.
  • Winkler, Daniel; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael; Rezavand, Massoud; Rauch, Wolfgang: SPHASE - Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in Wastewater Treatment. World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2016, West Palm Beach, FL, 23. Mai 2016.
  • Borman, Duncan; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael: Coupling biokinetic and hydrodynamic models for wastewater process modelling. Modelling techniques for optimising wastewater treatment plant performance, Leeds, 21. April 2016.
  • Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in Wastewater Treatment – Coupling CFD to Process-Based Biokinetic Wastewater Treatment Models. School of Civil Engineering, Leeds, 12. Jänner 2016.
  • Activated sludge modelling with smoothed particle hydrodynamics. 36th IAHR World Congress (International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research) - "Deltas of the Future and what happens upstream", Den Haag, 29.06.2015.
  • Reducing the Particle Refinement Error of the Density Summation and the Kernel Gradient. 10th SPHERIC International Conference, Parma, 17. Juni 2015.
  • Anwendung von Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft. Aqua Urbanica 2014 "Misch- und Niederschlagswasserbehandlung im urbanen Raum", Innsbruck, 24. Oktober 2014.
  • Meister, Michael: Simulating Rising Bubble Problems with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. IMA Conference on Mathematical Modelling of Fluid Systems, Bristol, 10. September 2014.
  • Multiphase Simulations of Activated Sludge Basins with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. Computational Fluid Dynamics for Dispersed Multiphase Flows IV, München, 03. April 2014.
  • Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics in Urban Water Management. SPH Symposium Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 18.12.2013.
Case studies
  • Draxl-Weiskopf, Simon; Ebner, Christian; Neuner, Thomas; Meister, Michael; Rauch, Wolfgang (2022): Fallstudie und Leitfaden zur Steigerung der Energieeffizienz von Kläranlagen durch eine optimierte Faulraumdurchmischung. BML, Wien, 09. Dezember 2022.
  • Oates, Andrew; Co-AutorInnen: Meister, Michael; Borman, Duncan (2019): CFD simulation of the anaerobic digester of Innsbruck's wastewater treatment plant. In: John Fox Memorial Report. University of Leeds, Leeds, pp. 1 - 20.
Other intellectual contributions
  • Meister, Michael: Fragezeichen Yachtrevue: Warum kann ein Segelboot schneller als der Wind werden?
Supervised bachelor theses
  • Banke Leon (2023): Entwicklung und Aufbau der Savonius-Windturbine "Luvside Doppelhelix Marina"
  • Kerbleder Katharina (2023): Betriebsoptimierung einer Abwasserreinigungsanlage im Hinblick auf Klärschlammentwässerung am Beispiel der Kläranlage Meiningen
  • Al Jbali Rim (2021): Aeration technologies in wastewater treatment: performance requirements and implementation
  • Rommel Jan David (2021): Estimation of the biogas potential from the shrimp manure of the Alpenaquafarm Tirol GmbH and design of a model biogas plant
  • Robin Florian (2019): Laborversuch zur Optimierung der Durchmischung von Faultürmen mittels Umwälzung
  • Robin Florian (2018): Durchmischung von Faultürmen durch Umwälzung: Anspruch und Wirklichkeit
  • Piber Christoph (2018): Anforderungen an eine effiziente Durchmischung in Faultürmen
Supervised master theses
  • García Iglesias Pablo (2024): Optimising the performance of an anaerobic digester of the wastewater treatment plant of the city of "Telfs": Application of CFD to improve mixing and reduce energy costs
  • Di Vittorio Ilaria (2022): CFD - based Energy Optimization of the Wastewater Treatment Plant's Anaerobic Digester of Telfs
  • Gruber Michael (2020): Energetic optimization of the AIZ wastewater treatment plant's digestion tower by using computational fluid dynamics
  • Halbig Lukas (2020): Simulation des Trennverfahrens Stromklassieren mit der Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Methode
  • Facheris Alessandro (2020): Computational fluid dynamic simulation of recycled plastic pellets in a thermal-physical treatment process for the removal of volatile organic compounds
  • Fellner Werner (2019): Abwärmenutzung kommunaler Abwässer mittels einer CO2 Wärmepumpe und Ermittlung des CO2 Reduktionspotentials
  • Fischer Paul (2019): CFD based analysis of mechanically induced mixing in real scale anaerobic digestion
  • Moser Manuel (2019): Investigation on the applicability of the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method for particle separation via sedimentation
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