Julie Korak

Dr. Julie Korak is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. She holds a BS in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, and MS/PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, all from CU Boulder. Her research focuses on water treatment engineering, inorganic contaminant removal (e.g., chromium, arsenic), corrosion control in drinking water systems, and optical monitoring of dissolved organic matter (DOM). She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Colorado and has received awards including the 2023 Teaching Award and the 2019 Membrane Technology Best Paper Award.

Education:

• BS in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder (2009)
• MS in Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder (2013)
• PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder (2014)

Research Interests:

• Water treatment engineering, including ion exchange and membrane technologies
• Inorganic contaminant removal (e.g., hexavalent chromium)
• Corrosion control in drinking water distribution systems
• Optical characterization of DOM using fluorescence and absorbance
• Environmental monitoring of wildfires and natural disasters

Awards:

• Teaching Award (2023)
• Faculty Appreciation Award (2020, 2022)
• Membrane Technology Best Paper Award (2019)
• Inaugural Early Career Editorial Board, Environmental Science & Technology (2020–present)

Labs/Teams: Active in the Environmental Engineering Program at CU Boulder, focusing on interdisciplinary research in water quality and sustainability. Collaborates with agencies like the Bureau of Reclamation and publishes in high-impact journals such as Environmental Science & Technology and ACS ES&T Water.