faculty awards

Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony

sugl6437 — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:39:49 +0000

Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony sugl6437 Mon, 02/09/2026 - 04:39

Susan Glairon

Karl Linden, chair of С�� Boulder’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development, has been named a Distinguished Professor, the highest faculty honor awarded on the С�� system’s four campuses. The recognition was presented to Linden and five others by Chancellor Justin Schwartz at the University of Colorado Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 6.

“When I came to С�� Boulder 20 years ago, I was attracted by the collaborative spirit, focus on environmental sustainability and the amazing students this university was able to attract,” Linden said. “The colleagues I have been able to work with, the support from administrators and the creative and aspirational students that I have been able to mentor, have all enabled my successes. Being named a Distinguished Professor is a direct result of the incredible people I have been able to work with in Colorado.”

С�� Distinguished Professors are tenured faculty members who demonstrate exemplary performance in research or creative work; a record of excellence in promoting learning and student attainment of knowledge and skills; and outstanding service to the profession, the university and its affiliates. Including this year’s seven honorees, only 160 Distinguished Professors have been named since the title’s establishment in 1977.

Advancing the field

Linden’s career has focused on innovative ways to improve water quality and water treatment. He’s known as an expert in ultraviolet light disinfection systems, now used by many municipal water systems.

He currently serves on the World Health Organization (WHO) Water Quality Technical Advisory Group. As a faculty member, he has taught hundreds of students in water and wastewater treatment, water and sanitation in developing communities, and graduate courses in water reuse and advanced treatment. He has authored more than 260 technical papers and has been honored with many high profile awards, too numerous to mention them all.

In 2023, Linden was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International UV Association (IUVA) World Congress, hosted in Dubai. During the event, the IUVA president called upon those who have worked with Linden, been his student or read his papers to stand.

"It was one of the sweetest moments of my career," Linden said at the time. “Almost the whole room was standing. It was overwhelming and humbling."

Most recently, he received the American Water Works Association’s 2025 A.P. Black Research Award, which honors outstanding contributions to water science and supply, and appeared on the cover of the organization’s journal.

Linden has also been recognized as an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) “for distinguished contributions to the field of water treatment engineering, particularly for using ultraviolet light for pathogen disinfection and abatement of organic contaminants in water reuse.” During a Fulbright fellowship, he researched solutions to water pollution in rural and First Nations communities in Nova Scotia, focusing on the water quality challenges faced by those living in remote areas, including those without reliable access to safe running water or conventional sanitation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Linden and his researchers identified a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light that is effective at killing the virus and is safe for use in public places like concert halls and airports.

In 2020, he won the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize and was named the Clarke Prize Laureate for outstanding achievement in water science and technology. In 2014, he was named the Water Reuse Foundation Person of the Year.

Early inspiration and education

Linden grew up in New York City. After being exposed to the environmental sciences in middle school, he decided to pursue a degree through Cornell University’s environmental engineering program in the College of Agriculture and Biological Engineering. While there, he learned how to drive a tractor and spread manure, which he said was “quite unique for a New York City kid.”

Linden left Cornell midway, not seeing the connection between his math and physics classes and his desire to protect the environment. Several years later, a serendipitous reading of a New York Times article about a Cornell professor, Bill Jewell, who purified water by growing plants in a constructed wetland, brought him back to Cornell. Inspired by Jewell’s class in biological waste management and a research position in his lab, Linden went on to work for one of the lab’s spinoff companies before pursuing a master’s degree and a PhD on UV disinfection at the University of California Davis. Before coming to Colorado, he was a professor at University of North Carolina Charlotte and Duke University.

“I think a lot about the people and places that have influenced my career and set me up for success and greatly honor my past mentors,” Linden said. “The greatest testament to my successes is not how many publications or projects I have been a part of but the extent to which I have enabled the success of others–my colleagues and students–and to set them up to do great things for protecting public health and the environment. “

Karl Linden was presented with the С�� system’s highest faculty honor, Distinguished Professor, on Feb. 6. A pioneer in ultraviolet water treatment and a dedicated educator and mentor, he has advanced both water quality innovation and student success.

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Evan Thomas wins International Water Association Career Award for Global Water Impact

Susan Glairon — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:59:40 +0000

Evan Thomas wins International Water Association Career Award for Global Water Impact Susan Glairon Mon, 12/15/2025 - 15:59

Professor Evan Thomas, director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience, received a major career honor from the International Water Association for his work that has reshaped how safe drinking water is delivered in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

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Boulder Rotary presents peace award to Bernard Amadei

Susan Glairon — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:03:51 +0000

Boulder Rotary presents peace award to Bernard Amadei Susan Glairon Fri, 10/03/2025 - 15:03

Bernard Amadei, founder of Engineers Without Borders USA and former CEAE professor, has been honored with the 2025 Jim Swaeby Peace Award for his global humanitarian work. The award, presented by the Boulder Rotary Club, recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to peace.

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Faster, cleaner, better: revolutionary water treatment

Susan Glairon — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:23:05 +0000

Faster, cleaner, better: revolutionary water treatment Susan Glairon Thu, 07/17/2025 - 14:23

Jeff Zehnder

Anthony Straub is developing ultra-thin nanoscale membranes to transform water purification on Earth and in space. His work has earned a prestigious NSF CAREER Award, a five-year, $550,000 grant to advance the research.

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Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow

Susan Glairon — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:55:34 +0000

Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow Susan Glairon Thu, 07/03/2025 - 14:55

Susan Glairon

Professor Wil Srubar has been named a fellow of The American Ceramic Society (ACerS), one of the highest honors for researchers in cement chemistry. Fellows of the American Ceramics Society are recognized for their contributions to the ceramics, cements and materials science community.

“Being named a Fellow of the American Ceramics Society is incredibly humbling,” Srubar said. “I’m honored to be included among such an accomplished group of peers who have advanced the field through research, innovation and service.”

Srubar is the principal director of the Living Materials Laboratory, where an interdisciplinary team develops nature-inspired concrete alternatives that can be produced without fossil fuels or significant carbon emissions.

He recently served as the conference chair for the 15th Advances in Cement-Based Materials, held June 11-13 at the University of Colorado Boulder. Srubar also previously held several ACerS leadership roles, including cements division chair, chair-elect and secretary.

He will be recognized on Sept. 29 at the ACerS Honors and Awards Banquet during the society’s 127th annual meeting to be held in Columbus, Ohio.

“I’m grateful to the mentors, collaborators and students who’ve shaped my journey and made this recognition possible,” Srubar said.

Professor Wil Srubar is the principal director of the Living Materials Laboratory, where an interdisciplinary team develops nature-inspired concrete alternatives that can be produced without fossil fuels or significant carbon emissions.

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Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory

Susan Glairon — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:18:11 +0000

Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory Susan Glairon Mon, 04/21/2025 - 11:18

Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory, an ongoing alliance between Deloitte Consulting LLP and С�� Boulder, will develop tools to reduce carbon: one for optimizing data center energy storage, led by Associate Professor Kyri Baker, and one for evaluating local materials in cement, led by Associate Professor Mija Hubler.

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Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer

Susan Glairon — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:02:26 +0000

Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer Susan Glairon Tue, 02/04/2025 - 11:02

Associate Professor Shideh Dashti received the 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecture Award for her groundbreaking work in geotechnical earthquake engineering.

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Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology

Susan Glairon — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:51:05 +0000

Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology Susan Glairon Mon, 02/03/2025 - 11:51

Susan Glairon

Professor Rajagopalan Balaji, a С�� Boulder professor of civil engineering and an expert in hydrology, climatology and water resources, was elected as an honorary fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society in December. The honor was received on his behalf at the inaugural ceremony of TROPMET 2024, India’s annual tropical meteorology conference.

Rajagopalan has dedicated more than 25 years researching Indian monsoon variability as a way to give back to his home country. His research aims to improve flood preparedness and explore the complex relationship between monsoonal climate and public health.

“Making significant advances in understanding Indian monsoon variability is a labor of love,” Rajagopalan says. “This honor is particularly meaningful and gratifying, especially being recognized as part of such a select group.”

Rajagopalan Is one of 21 honorary fellows, joining a distinguished group that includes the late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, PhD, a former president of India. The honor recognizes those who have made significant contributions to meteorological research, education or practice, both in India and globally.

In 2023 Rajagopalan received a Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship. His Fulbright work in India centered around developing monsoon forecasting models to aid residents in flood preparedness; exploring the intricate interplay between monsoonal climate and public health; and unraveling the monsoon variability over a timeframe of 5,000 to 10,000 years, along with its role in the peopling of the Indian subcontinent.

India, in particular, remains highly vulnerable to the monsoon’s variability, and the impact extends beyond floods or droughts. The monsoons also affect water quality, public health, agricultural output and even the Indian stock market, he says.

Weaker rainfall directly impacts the country’s GDP, given that at least 50 percent of the population resides in villages heavily reliant on agriculture. Crop failures often drive rural residents to migrate to urban areas in search of employment, placing sudden strain on urban resources. This has an impact on nutrition, poverty and public health, he says.

Founded in 1956, the Indian Meteorological Society was established to promote the advancement of meteorology in India and to provide a platform for scientists, researchers and professionals in the field to collaborate and share knowledge.

Professor Rajagopalan Balaji was named an honorary fellow of the Indian Meteorological Society for his pioneering research on Indian monsoon variability and its impacts on public health and flood preparedness.

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С�� Boulder faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering

Susan Glairon — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 23:20:01 +0000

С�� Boulder faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering Susan Glairon Mon, 01/13/2025 - 16:20

Two professors from С�� Boulder’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering have been honored by The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists through its 40 Under 40 Recognition Program.

Associate Professor Sherri Cook and Assistant Professor Cresten Mansfeldt were recognized as “talented individuals who have, either personally or as part of a team, been responsible for helping to advance the fields of environmental science or environmental engineering in a demonstrable way within the last 12 months,” according to the academy’s website.

Cook received her BS from Virginia Tech and her MSE and PhD from the University of Michigan. At С�� Boulder, she pioneered three courses that teach sustainability principles to students across disciplines. Her research focuses on sustainable solutions to global drinking water and sanitation challenges, aiming to improve treatment systems while minimizing risks to human health, the environment, and financial stability. Her research has included innovative technologies such as biochar-based micropollutant removal from wastewater and advancing zero-carbon bio-cement through her co-founded company, Prometheus.

Mansfeldt earned his PhD at Cornell University, after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota. He refined his expertise during a postdoctoral fellowship at Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. Mansfeldt teaches courses on material flows, from microbial carbon cycling to urban waste management. His research focuses on the interplay between natural and built environments, emphasizing water reuse, the microbiome of built environments and the impacts of disasters, such as wildfires, on urban systems. Past projects include monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in campus wastewater, evaluating the risk of synthetic biology products and exploring the bioethics of biological innovations in environmental engineering. His current research examines contaminants from wildland-urban interfaces, tracking synthetic biology products in the environment and advancing water reuse.

Associate Professor Sherri Cook and Assistant Professor Cresten Mansfeldt have been honored by The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists through its 40 Under 40 Recognition Program.

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faculty awards

Karl Linden recognized as Distinguished Professor at campus ceremony

Advancing the field

Early inspiration and education

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Evan Thomas wins International Water Association Career Award for Global Water Impact

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Boulder Rotary presents peace award to Bernard Amadei

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Faster, cleaner, better: revolutionary water treatment

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Wil Srubar named American Ceramic Society fellow

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Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory

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Shideh Dashti named 2025 EERI Distinguished Lecturer

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Rajagopalan Balaji joins elite group of honorary fellows in meteorology

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С���� Boulder faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering

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С�� Boulder faculty recognized for advancing environmental engineering