Heather Buckley

Dr. Heather Buckley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Victoria. Her work focuses on developing greener technologies to improve environmental and public health through advancements in water quality monitoring, biofouling prevention, and resource recovery from industrial waste. She holds an MSc from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from UC Berkeley.

Research interests include green chemistry applications in molecular sensors for water contaminants, safer alternatives to hazardous antimicrobials, and optimizing water treatment membranes. Her lab, the Green Safe Water Lab, addresses global water challenges by designing low-cost detection tools and sustainable waste management strategies.

Her publications frequently explore biofouling prevention in reverse osmosis systems, fluoride sensor development, and the environmental impact of materials. Collaborations with communities and industries aim to create practical solutions for safer drinking water supply chains.

Dr. Buckley advises a dynamic team of graduate and undergraduate researchers, including PhD candidates in civil engineering and chemistry. Her group has expanded significantly in recent years, with ongoing projects on antimicrobial copolymer nanoparticles and geochemical modeling of desalination processes.

Labs/Teams: Green Safe Water Lab at UVic Engineering and Computer Science.