Sherri Cook

Sherri Cook is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder's Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering Department, affiliated with the Environmental Engineering Program and Civil Systems Program. She leads the Cook Research Group, focusing on sustainable water systems, resource recovery, and environmental biotechnology. Her work integrates experimentation, modeling, and life cycle analysis to enhance water infrastructure resilience in both developed and developing contexts. Dr. Cook holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan (2014) and has been recognized with prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER Award (2021–2026) and CU Boulder’s Provost’s Faculty Achievement Award (2022).

Education:

• PhD, Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan (2014)
• MSE, Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan (2009)
• BS, Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech (2008)

Research Interests:

• Sustainable water system design and implementation
• Resource recovery from waste (e.g., biochar applications, anaerobic treatment)
• Optimization under uncertainty in environmental systems
• Environmental biotechnology and microbial processes
• Decision frameworks for sustainability and resilience

Awards & Grants:

• NSF CAREER Award (2021–2026) for research on sustainable water reuse systems
• DOE BETO grant for biochar-based leachate treatment
• DARPA-funded work on self-healing living building materials
• Multiple industry and foundation partnerships for water reuse and sanitation projects

Labs & Teams:

The Cook Research Group collaborates with the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering on sanitation systems in resource-limited communities. Current projects include biochar applications, PFAS remediation, and living materials for construction. Dr. Cook actively engages in education initiatives, including developing decision tools for small drinking water systems and training students in sustainability assessments.