Research Focus

My research focuses on Sustainability Science and Engineering, Industrial Ecology, and contaminated sediments management.

Current Research Projects:

I currently have projects related to:

Quantifying the sustainability of communities. This multidisciplinary work focuses on the spatial relationships among buildings and other land uses, the eco-efficiency associated with the physical infrastructure, the influence of land use on social capital and health outcomes particularly related to physical activity.

Growth of algae for biofuel production, assessment of its life cycle and implications for its use as a domestic transportation fuel source. 

Green Highways and related initiatives to improving the eco-efficiency and social aspects of transportation infrastructure. Harmonization of state specifications and reduction of other barriers to greater use of secondary materials.

Use of industrial byproducts in transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance; life cycle impacts, risks, and decision analysis.

Development of reactive sediment caps for organic and inorganic contaminants using combinations of organoclays, activated carbon, and apatite. Research is also being conducted on phosphate-based reactive caps engineered specifically for metals.

Low-impact delivery of sequestration agents for reducing contaminant bioavailability in wetland soils.