Caitlyn Butler

Caitlyn Butler serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds the leadership position of Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs within the College of Engineering. Her work pioneers energy-efficient biofilm-based solutions for global water treatment challenges.

Her academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Civil Engineering from University of Notre Dame (2010)
• BS in Engineering Science from Smith College (2004)

Dr. Butler's research program fundamentally transforms wastewater treatment through biofilm engineering. Her lab deciphers how microbial communities harness chemical gradients to simultaneously remove contaminants and generate energy, creating scalable infrastructure-compatible systems. This work bridges environmental microbiology and civil engineering to develop:

• Advanced bioelectrochemical contaminant removal platforms
• Microbial fuel cell latrines for resource-limited settings
• Phosphorus recovery systems from wastewater streams
• Energy-positive treatment paradigms through biofilm optimization

Her exceptional contributions are recognized by extensive honors including:

• 2020 UMass ADVANCE Faculty Mentor Award
• 2019 Outstanding Teaching Award from Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
• 2019 Goldstein Outstanding Junior Faculty Award
• 2018 Lilly Fellowship for Teaching Excellence
• 2015 NSF CAREER Award for cross-kingdom biofilm research
• 2015 Africasan Innovation Award for Microbial Fuel Cell Latrine
• Multiple teaching fellowships from UMass Center for Teaching

Dr. Butler directs significant research funding including the NSF CAREER Award and leads the ADVANCE Team for Practice focused on institutional faculty development. Her lab operates within UMass Amherst's Green Labs Initiative framework, emphasizing sustainability in research operations while advancing biofilm phosphorus recovery and electrode-associated microbial ecology projects. The research group maintains active collaborations with international partners in Africa and Europe, particularly through Ghent University's environmental biotechnology programs.

The Butler lab cultivates radical inclusivity as a scientific imperative, structuring team dynamics around open communication, collaborative trust, and celebration of diverse perspectives. This philosophy drives innovation in biofilm engineering while supporting community engagement through events like annual ice skating socials and Washington D.C. science advocacy trips.