Dr. Rachel A. Brennan
Assistant Professor
Professor in Charge of Environmental Engineering Minor
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Penn State University (814) 865-9428 (phone) Brennan
Research Group Home Page |
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| Research | Courses | Vitae |
Primary Research Interests
In situ bioremediation of soil and groundwater contaminants
Physical, chemical, and biological treatment of acid mine drainage
Sustainable, multifunctional substrates for the treatment of hazardous waste
Removal of endocrine disruptors from wastewater using enzymatic biocatalysis
Molecular microbial ecology within remediation systems
Courses Taught at Penn State
University
CE 370, Introduction to Environmental Engineering
CE 476, Solid & Hazardous Wastes
CE 497, Applied Field Methods for Remediation Design
CE 578, Groundwater Remediation
Education
2003, Ph.D. Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1999, M.S. Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1997, B.S. Geological Engineering with Honors, New Mexico State University
Experience
Assistant Professor, The Pennsylvania State University (2004 – present)
Consultant, U.S. EPA, Engineering Technical Support Center (2007 – 2008)
Research Fellow, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1999 – 2003)
International Research Fellow, University of Stuttgart, Germany (2000)
Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1999, 2000)
Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University (1997-1999)
Summer Intern, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM (1995)
Research Assistant, New Mexico State University (1994-1997)
Professional Registration
Certified Engineer-in-Training, E.I. Certificate No. 5247 (1997)
Honors and Awards
Outstanding Professor Award, Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Chemistry Fraternity (2007)
National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2007–2012)
Environmental Protection Agency STAR Fellowship (2001-2003)
Air & Waste Management Association Scholarship (2001-2002)
Mavis Memorial Fund Scholarship (2001-2002)
W. C. Ackermann Scholarship (2001)
Best Technical Presentation, Civil and Environmental Engineering Symposium, UIUC (2001)
NSF Engineering Education Scholars Workshop, Carnegie Mellon University, (2000)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (1998-2001)
National Science Foundation Summer Research Program Award, UNM (1997)
Top Graduate of Civil, Agricultural, & Geological Engineering Department, NMSU (1997)
ASCE Daniel Mead Writing Award for paper on sustainable development (1996-1997)
Southwestern Bell Scholarship (1996-1997)
Greer Memorial Scholarship (1996-1997)
Stuart Roberson Memorial Scholarship (1995-1996)
National American Consulting Engineers Council Scholarship (1995-1996)
New Mexico Scholar’s Scholarship (1992-1996)
Current University Service & Professional Affiliations
Professor in Charge of the Environmental Engineering Minor, Penn State (2007 – present)
Chair, Website Committee, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Penn State (2006 – present)
Mining Waste Team, Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (2008 – present)
Research Committee, Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (2008 – present)
American Society for Mining & Reclamation (2008 – present)
American Society for Microbiology (2005 – present)
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (2005 – present)
American Society of Engineering Education (2002 – present)
American Chemical Society (1999 – present)