Adaline Buerck

Dr. Adaline Buerck serves as Assistant Professor of Environmental and Civil Engineering at Mercer University's School of Engineering and Director of The Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation, positions she assumed in Fall 2022 after completing her doctoral studies at the University of South Florida. Her interdisciplinary work bridges engineering and social sciences to address global water security challenges through culturally grounded solutions.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of South Florida (2022)
• Graduate Certificate in Social Marketing and Social Change from the University of South Florida
• ENVISION SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONAL certification (2016-2025)

Dr. Buerck's research centers on developing culturally appropriate WASH technologies, with specialized focus on lead contamination mitigation in drinking water systems across Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. She pioneers the integration of social marketing frameworks into engineering design to ensure sustainable adoption of water safety interventions, while maintaining active scholarship in engineering education pedagogy and program evaluation methodologies. Her work consistently emphasizes community engagement and behavior change as critical components of technical solutions.

Recent publications reveal three dominant research trajectories: (1) environmental health interventions targeting lead exposure reduction through engineered solutions in resource-limited settings, (2) innovative applications of social marketing theory to engineering practice, and (3) rigorous evaluation frameworks for international service-learning programs that prepare future engineers for global challenges. These areas demonstrate her commitment to transdisciplinary approaches that merge technical expertise with social science insights.

Her scholarly recognition includes:

• American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists 40 Under 40 Recognition Program (2025)

Dr. Buerck actively mentors undergraduate researchers through service-learning projects and engineering outreach initiatives, facilitating student participation in the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Student Design Competition and Mercer University's BEAR Day. She guides student teams in developing solutions for communities including Roberts Academy and Penfield Cemetery, with research supported through her leadership of the Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation and collaborations with international agencies.

As Director of The Cecil Day Family Center for International Groundwater Innovation, she leads multidisciplinary teams conducting field research in Belize, Guyana, and Madagascar. Current projects involve portable rock coring drills for bedrock wells, lead contamination assessments in consumer products, and mercury pollution monitoring in artisanal mining communities, often in partnership with UNICEF, Ministry of Health agencies, and Engineers Without Borders.