Dr. Zhiteneva earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the United States. She completed her Ph.D. at the Technical University of Munich on the risk assessment of a water reuse system for artificial groundwater recharge. She then was part of and led the Water Treatment and Reuse group at the Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin, where she supported and led the acquisition of over €25 million in funding for projects on wastewater treatment, water reuse, and alternative water resources. Since October 2024, she is the co-founder and CEO of Waterloop Solutions GmbH, which advises municipal, commercial and industrial clients on how to reduce their water footprints and implement water reuse.