Orianna Bretschger received a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Northern Arizona; and after a career in aerospace and government consulting, she completed a Ph.D. in Materials Science at the University of Southern California. In 2008, Dr. Bretschger joined the J. Craig Venter Institute in San Diego where she continued researching electricity-producing microbes during wastewater treatment. In 2016, Dr. Bretschger founded Aquacycl Inc. with her partners to commercially harness microbial electricity production for wastewater treatment. Aquacycl now offers energy-neutral, decentralized wastewater treatment as a service, saving industrial clients 20%-60% on their wastewater management costs; and helping companies support healthy watersheds and communities world-wide. Dr. Bretschger is a 2022 Uplink Top Innovator, 2021 Cartier Women’s Initiative Science and Technology Pioneer Laureate, and a 2019 Fellow in the National Academy of Sciences New Voices in Science, Engineering and Medicine Program.
