Professional Experience
2018 - Present: Assistant Professor in Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
2015-2018: Environmental Engineer, Water Treatment Group, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior
Education and Licensure
Professional Engineer License (2017-), State of Colorado
Ph.D. Civil Engineering (2013), University of Colorado Boulder
M.S. Civil Engineering (2013), University of Colorado Boulder
B.S. Chemical Engineering (2009), University of Colorado Boulder
B.S. Environmental Engineering (2009), University of Colorado Boulder
Awards
Teaching Award, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 2023
Faculty Appreciation Award for Environmental Engineering (selected by students), 2020, 2022
Top Reviewer for AWWA Water Science, 2019
Inaugural Early Career Editorial Advisory Board, Environmental Science and Technology, 2020-present
Membrane Technology Best Paper Award for a publication in the Journal of the American Water Works Association for Nanofiltration to improve process efficiency of hexavalent chromium treatment using ion exchange. 2019
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2011-2014)
Outstanding Graduate for the College of Engineering at University of Colorado at Boulder (2009), awarded to one undergraduate student from College of Engineering
Silver Medal Finalist from Colorado Engineering Council (2009), awarded to three undergraduate students from College of Engineering
Dr. Korak’s research interests are broadly focused on water treatment engineering spanning municipal drinking water, water reuse and industrial waste management. Her recent projects include developing holistic water treatment and waste brine management processes for ion exchange systems and evaluating corrosion of drinking water distribution systems. Her research also focuses on using optical sensing techniques to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM) fate and transport in drinking water treatment processes.
In addition to all things water treatment, Dr. Korak spends her free time hiking, camping, rowing, rafting, and fly fishing with her husband in their hand built wooden drift boat. She is also an avid photographer.
