Catherine Hoar

Catherine Hoar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering at Boston College. Her research focuses on wastewater systems, environmental microbiology, and emerging contaminants. She holds a B.S. from Tufts University and M.S./Ph.D. from Columbia University, followed by postdoctoral work at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

• Education:
• B.S., Environmental Engineering, Tufts University
• M.S., Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University
• Ph.D., Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University

Her work integrates microbiology, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry to optimize contaminant removal and monitor community health via wastewater surveillance. Recent research emphasizes wastewater-based epidemiology, SARS-CoV-2 monitoring, and sustainable surveillance programs.

Publications highlight her contributions to interlaboratory PCR metrics, NYC wastewater dynamics, and microbial community analysis. She advises undergraduate researchers and teaches courses on water quality and bioprocess engineering.

Led by the Hoar Lab, her team explores wastewater as both a contaminant barrier and a source of public health insights.