Syed Hashsham

Syed Hashsham is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University (MSU), with an adjunct appointment in the Center for Microbial Ecology and Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences. His research focuses on microbial community dynamics, field-deployable genetic testing tools, and environmental biotechnology processes. He leads the NIEHS Superfund Research Center’s Project 4 on dioxin remediation and has pioneered innovations like the Gene-Z handheld genetic analyzer and antimicrobial resistance gene screening chips.

Education: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering (University of Illinois, 1996), M.S. in Environmental Science (IIT Bombay, 1986), B.S. in Civil Engineering (Aligarh Muslim University, 1984).

Research interests include microbial community stability, bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, and development of low-cost diagnostic tools. His work bridges environmental engineering and microbiology, with applications in water safety, soil remediation, and public health. Over 150 peer-reviewed publications and numerous grants from NIH, EPA, and other agencies highlight his impact.

Notable awards include the MSU Distinguished Faculty Award (2011) and the Withrow Distinguished Scholar Award (2007). He teaches courses like Biological Processes in Environmental Engineering (ENE804) and advises on capstone projects. His lab has produced pioneering technologies for real-time microbial detection and environmental monitoring.

Grants and collaborations span multi-million-dollar projects with the NIEHS, USDA, and U.S. Army. His team includes postdocs, PhD students, and visiting scholars working on topics like gut microbiome-host interactions and ARG dissemination via biofilms.