Dr. Rachel A. Brennan
Assistant Professor
Professor in Charge of Environmental Engineering Minor

		Penn State University 212 Sackett Building University Park, PA 16802 (814) 865-9428 (phone) (814) 863-7304 (fax) rbrennan@engr.psu.edu Brennan Research Group Home Page Environmental Engineering Minor
		Research | Courses | Vitae

Primary Research Interests

• In-situ bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, perchlorate, nitrate, hydrocarbons, & metals
• Chitin as a multifunctional substrate for hazardous waste treatment
• Physical, chemical, and biological treatment of acid mine drainage
• Sustainable treatment of emerging contaminants in wastewater
• Molecular microbial ecology within remediation systems
• Anaerobic reductive processes

Courses Taught at Penn State University

• C E 370, Introduction to Environmental Engineering
• C E 476, Solid & Hazardous Wastes
• C E 497, Applied Field Methods for Environmental Engineering
• C E 578, Groundwater Remediation

Vitae

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)
• 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 (1997-1999)
• Summer Intern, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM (1995)
• Research Assistant, New Mexico State University (1994 - 1997)

Professional Registrations

• Certified Engineer-in-Training, E.I. Certificate No. 5247 (1997)

Professional Memberships

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• American Society for Mining & Reclamation (ASMR)
• American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)
• Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)

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. Ackerman 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)

University and Professional Service

• Member, Mining Waste Team, Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (2008 - present)
• Professor in Charge, Environmental Engineering Minor, Penn State (2007 - present)
• Member, Student Services Committee, AEESP (2007 - present)
• Chair, Website Committee, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Penn State (2006 - present)
• Co-advisor, Environmental Engineering Society, Penn State (2004 - 2006)
• Member, Climate Committee, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Penn State (2004 - 2006)

Publications, Presentations, & Seminars