John S. Gierke

John S. Gierke is a Professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Technological University, with an affiliation in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He holds a PhD, MS, and BS from Michigan Tech. His research focuses on hydrogeology, contaminant transport, subsurface remediation, and remote sensing applications for environmental hazard mitigation. He has advised numerous graduate students and contributed to over $6.5M in externally funded research projects. Notable achievements include the 2007 Distinguished Professor of the Year award and editorial roles in prominent journals. His work emphasizes field-scale performance of remediation technologies like air sparging and soil vapor extraction, alongside innovative groundwater exploration methods using remote sensing.

Education: All degrees from Michigan Tech—PhD (Environmental Engineering, 1990), MS (Civil Engineering, 1996), BS (Civil Engineering, 1984).

Research Interests: Field performance of air sparging, volatile organic vapor transport, sulfur dioxide interactions with volcanic ash, and carbon sequestration. He leads projects in Latin America using remote sensing for volcanic hazard mitigation and water resource protection.

Grants and Awards: Over 20 funded projects, including NSF and EPA grants. Awards include the Presidents Council Distinguished Professor and Graduate Mentoring Award.

Labs/Teams: Aqua Terra Tech Enterprise, focusing on water resources development and protection. Active in interdisciplinary education and Peace Corps Master’s International programs.