Bruce E. Rittmann

Dr. Bruce E. Rittmann serves as Regents' Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology at Arizona State University, with additional appointments as Distinguished Global Futures Scientist and affiliations in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and ASU Water Institute.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University (1979), M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Washington University-St. Louis (1974), and B.S. in Civil Engineering from the same institution (1974).

Rittmann's research centers on managing microbial communities to deliver societal services including renewable energy generation, water/soil remediation, and human health improvement. Core focus areas encompass Environmental Biotechnology, Microbial Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Bioremediation, and Microorganisms-Based Energy, with applications spanning bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and sustainable resource recovery.

His extensive recognition includes election to the National Academy of Engineering, the Stockholm Water Prize (2018), and multiple society awards recognizing water science leadership.

Dr. Rittmann has mentored over 60 PhD graduates who now hold leadership positions across academia and industry, while teaching graduate courses including CEE 565 (Advanced Environmental Biotechnology) that connects microbial community engineering to real-world sustainability solutions through student research projects.

As Director of the Biodesign Swette Center, he leads interdisciplinary teams advancing environmental biotechnology for global challenges, with research directions emphasizing scalable microbial solutions for energy-positive water treatment and environmental restoration.