Biography

Dr. Michael Dodd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington. He received a B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Environmental Engineering Program of Yale University, prior to beginning his appointment at the UW. Mike’s research emphasizes the characterization of (in)organic and microbiological contaminant fate during (photo)chemical oxidation and disinfection processes in water and wastewater treatment and within natural systems, development of assays to quantify the impacts of such processes on contaminants’ chemical and biological properties and effects, and engineering novel approaches to centralized and decentralized treatment – especially with regard to optimization for organic pollutant and pathogen elimination. Particular focus areas of his group’s research activities include characterization and control of antibiotic resistance dissemination in the environment, development of novel advanced oxidation and disinfection processes, and characterizing (photo)chemical transformations of environmental organic contaminants at gas-solid and gas-liquid interfaces.

Education

• Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-Zurich (ETH-Zurich); Zurich, Switzerland, 2008
• M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; Atlanta, GA, 2003
• B.S. in Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; Atlanta, GA, 2001

Previous appointments

• Assistant Professor, University of Washington, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seattle, WA (USA) (9/09 – 9/15)

Research Statement

My research emphasizes the applications and behavior of chemical oxidants and photochemically-generated reactive species (including oxidants and reductants) within engineered and natural systems, with special focus on (i) elucidating the kinetics, mechanisms, and pathways by which they transform and degrade organic contaminants and inactivate microorganisms in the aqueous phase and at environmental interfaces, and (ii) leveraging improved understanding of such reactions to optimize their use in engineered treatment systems. My approach leverages a wide range of chemical, microbiological, and physical experimental and analytical methods to undertake carefully controlled laboratory investigations, coupled with testing and validation of laboratory observations in real systems through measurements and modeling of pollutant fate in field samples.

Honors & awards

• Chair’s Award for Department Service; 2019; University of Washington Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Allan and Inger Osberg Endowed Professorship (2018-2023)
• Visiting Professorship; 2017; École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL); School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC)
• Outstanding Reviewer Award; 2013; Journal of Environmental Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers
• Advisor to recipient of 2013 MWH/AEESP Master’s Thesis Award (1st Place) – MS graduate Jenna Forsyth
• NSF CAREER Award (2013-2019); Awarded 2012; US NSF
• Outstanding Teacher Award; 2012; University of Washington Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• ETH Medal; 2010; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology-Zurich (ETH-Zurich) (awarded to the top 8% of PhD dissertations completed at ETH-Zurich each year)
• Young Scientist Award; 2009; German Chemical Society, Division for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
• CH2M Hill/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award; 2009; Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
• Gaylord Donnelley Environmental Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2009); Awarded 2008; Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies
• Excellence in Review Award; 2006; Environmental Science & Technology, American Chemical Society
• Gaylord Donnelley Environmental Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2009); Awarded 2008; Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies
• Graduate Research Fellowship (2003-2006); Awarded 2002; US NSF
• Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship (2001-2003); Awarded 2001; US EPA
• Georgia Tech Institute Fellowship (2001-2003); Awarded 2001; Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc.

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