Sara Beck (PhDCivEngr'15) has been awarded the 2016 Paul V. Roberts/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
This award is given annually to recognize a rigorous and innovative doctoral thesis that advances the science and practice of water quality engineering for either engineered or natural systems. Special consideration is given to physical-chemical process research and/or research that especially supports underserved communities, environmental awareness, or sustainable solutions.
Beck's dissertation was on Wavelength-Specific Effects of UV Light on Microorganisms and Viruses for Improving Water Disinfection, advised by Professor Karl Linden. She is currently working at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and preparing to start a prestigious postdoctoral position with the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology in January.
"This research provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with all the major players in the field of ultraviolet water disinfection: from academic and private researchers, utility companies and leading UV manufacturers to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," Beck said. "I'm inspired to continue this work, specifically by investigating ways to make the technology more practical and affordable for low- to middle-income countries."
This is the third AEESP outstanding dissertation award for environmental engineering students at CU Boulder. The first award in 1974 was given to Douglas Merrill, mentored by Roger Jordan, for his dissertation "High Rate Treatment of Raw Domestic Sewage by Lime Precipitation and Dissolved Air Floatation.” In 2001, Jordan Peccia, mentored by Prof. Mark Hernandez, received the award for "The Response of Airborne Bacteria to Ultraviolet Germicidal Radiation.”