Lawrence C. Murdoch

Lawrence C. Murdoch is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University. His research focuses on hydrogeology, environmental remediation, and the characterization of aquifers and fractured rock systems. He has held academic positions at Clemson since 1997, advancing from Assistant to Full Professor. Murdoch specializes in developing innovative techniques for groundwater management, including hydraulic fracturing for environmental applications and hydromechanical methods for reservoir characterization. His work integrates field studies, numerical modeling, and laboratory experiments to address challenges in subsurface fluid flow, contaminant transport, and CO2 sequestration.

Education includes a Ph.D. in Geology (1991) and M.S. degrees in Environmental Science (1987) and Geology (1983) from the University of Cincinnati, and a B.S. in Geology from Penn State University (1980). His professional experience includes leadership roles at the University of Cincinnati's Center for Geoenvironmental Science and Technology and as President of FRx Inc.

Research interests span hydrogeology, with a focus on aquifer systems, karst landscapes, and the interaction between groundwater and surface water. He has pioneered methods for environmental remediation using hydraulic fractures and has contributed to the development of distributed optical fiber sensing for subsurface deformation monitoring. Murdoch has led significant projects, including a DOE-funded study on radionuclide waste disposal and carbon storage solutions.

His awards include the NSF CAREER Award (1999) and multiple Board of Trustees Awards for Faculty Excellence. Murdoch advises students and collaborates on grants addressing geomechanical monitoring, CO2 storage, and subsurface processes. His work is published in journals like Environmental Science & Technology, Water Resources Research, and Science of the Total Environment, reflecting expertise in interdisciplinary hydrologic science.