Here, we showcase the DeVaan Fellows, individuals at the forefront of developing innovative water technologies. Their work exemplifies the initiative's commitment to ensuring clean, sustainable water for future generations.
Meet the Fellows
My research explores methods to optimize residual carbon trapping in underground geological formations as a strategy to combat the adverse effects of excessive atmospheric carbon emissions. This work focuses on improving the efficiency and reliability of trapping mechanisms, ensuring that carbon dioxide remains securely stored while preventing potential contamination of natural water systems. By addressing the interaction between geological storage and groundwater resources, my research supports the development of sustainable clean water technologies, aligning with global efforts to tackle climate change while safeguarding water quality in the process.
Research Topic: Optimization of Residual Trapping Mechanisms for Geologic Carbon Sequestration.
I am currently rotating in the Jin, Newhart, and Radniecki laboratories at Oregon State University. Dr. Jin’s research investigates chitosan as a potential organic coagulant in drinking water treatment. Dr. Newhart’s lab is at the water-data nexus, applying machine learning to better understand and optimize the control of water treatment. Dr. Radniecki’s lab is interested in predicting community disease spread through the monitoring of pathogens in wastewater.
My research focuses on implementing a drywell-managed aquifer recharge (MAR) system to promote groundwater sustainability. This system enhances the natural aquifer recharge process by improving the efficiency of water infiltration into the subsurface.
Additionally, my work explores innovative water reuse by investigating non-contact wastewater as a potential source for recharge. My research combines geophysical assessments and numerical modelling to characterize the subsurface properties and identify potential locations for implementing the MAR system.
My research covers the application of membrane technology in treating both drinking and wastewater and examining the fouling rate within these membranes after a stated treatment time. I am also looking into how nutrients and salts could be recovered from wastewater using integrated electrodialysis-forward osmosis method, and how these recovered nutrients (mostly nitrogen and phosphorus) could potentially be used to advance agriculture production.
I work in Tala Navab-Daneshmand’s lab studying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater. I have been working on a project along with Dr. Xue Jin using coagulation-flocculation on anaerobic effluent to reduce ARGs in the liquid stream. We are comparing organic (polyacrylamide polymers and naturally derived chitosan) coagulants and inorganic (aluminum sulfate) coagulants for ARG reduction. The goal of this is to find easy adaptations for wastewater treatment plants to use in reducing ARGs in their final effluent.
My research combines modeling, remote sensing and observations to improve our understanding of mountain snowpacks and downstream water resources in the context of climate change. My three major research projects include; 1) quantifying how our snowpacks function as natural reservoirs and evaluating how this function has changed in recent decades, 2) assimilation of citizen science snow depth measurements into a physically-based snow model to improve snow distribution estimates in remote mountainous regions, and 3) modeling historic and future coastal runoff in the arctic basins of Alaska.
Centered on optimizing system performance and stability, this research explores the dynamics of ecological memory, resilience, and plasticity during controlled stress events of lab-scale anaerobic digesters. The hypothesis proposes that encouraging microbial memory enhances resilience, enabling more effective adaptation to disturbances, thus creating a more robust system. The experimental framework involves comprehensive analyses of physical/chemical and microbial responses, quantifying resilience and memory, and examining disturbance quantity and frequency. By refining anaerobic digesters, this study yields nuanced insights applicable to various biological treatment systems, contributing to the overarching goal of advancing sustainability practices in water treatment.
Human Response to Different Methods of Uncertainty Visualization used for Development of Climate-resilient Watershed Conservation Plans.
This research investigates how graphical methods of visualizing uncertainty influence decision-making. It focuses on the comprehension of visuals in the context of conservation practices, specifically the installation of riparian buffers to mitigate stream temperature fluctuations. The study uses the Graphical Annotation category of uncertainty visualization techniques and examines the behavioral response of humans to these visuals over a 50-year conservation plan. The case study is the Umatilla River Basin. The goal is to identify effective visualization aids that improve decision-making for sustainable management of stream temperatures in a changing climate.
My research topic focuses on the growth of biofilms in porous media. Specifically, the project investigates the effect of capillary forces on the formation and evolution of biofilms. These biofilms will be characterized by utilizing 3D X-ray microtomography to understand biofilm growth and architecture. This is particularly interesting for clean water technology as biofilms are prevalent in natural and engineered structures, including biofouling systems such as water filtration and the bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater.
Topic: Investigation of Copper-Organic Interactions in Wastewater and Stormwater via Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry
Almost all the copper in aqueous environments is bound by organic molecules. These copper-organic interactions impact the solubility, reactivity, and toxicity of copper. However, the chemical identity and origin of these organic molecules remain unknown. New analytical tools to characterize different forms of organic copper are needed to improve predictions of copper toxicity in the environment and to inform remediation strategies.
I work on bioremediation of biosolids-amended soils, aiming to harness its benefits while mitigating associated risks. Biosolids are a nutrient-rich resource that can enhance crop yields, and carbon sequestration but potentially contain a variety of contaminants. By employing bioremediation, we can naturally and effectively remove or transform these contaminants, making biosolids a more sustainable resource. This approach minimizes environmental and human health impacts while promoting a more eco-friendly and resource-efficient solution.
I work with water and wastewater treatment processes involving membrane technologies. My research includes improvements to ultrafiltration in drinking water treatment with the use of natural organic coagulant during harmful algal blooms and development of a novel hybrid electrodialysis-forward osmosis for concurrent nutrient and water recovery from anaerobic digestate effluent.
A Study on Water Management and Efficient Distribution in the Basin Computer Modeling, Coding, Data Analysis