Bridger Ruyle

Bridger Ruyle serves as an Assistant Professor of environmental engineering in the Civil and Urban Engineering Department at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, where he joined in summer 2025. His research program focuses on understanding how human activity, the biosphere, and climate change interact to affect water quality globally.

Dr. Ruyle received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2017, followed by both a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from Harvard University in 2022.

His research interests center on aquatic contaminant biogeochemistry, particularly focusing on the impacts of fluorinated chemicals including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals. His lab develops analytical tools to quantify chemical contamination in environmental media, studies the biogeochemistry of contaminants, and integrates in-situ and remote sensing data to assess climate impacts on water quality. His work combines analytical chemistry, mechanistic modeling, and statistical approaches to address pressing water quality challenges.

Dr. Ruyle's research on Arctic river nitrogen composition was selected as an Editor's Choice in Global Biogeochemical Cycles, highlighting its significance to the field. His groundbreaking work on fluorinated pharmaceuticals in wastewater systems has received widespread media attention including coverage by The New York Times and The Washington Post.

His research has been supported by prestigious funding sources including the National Science Foundation through grants for the Arctic Great Rivers Observatory, the National Institute for Environmental Health Science Superfund Research Program, and the Water Research Foundation. Dr. Ruyle has also provided expert testimony to New York State lawmakers regarding the threats of forever chemicals passing through water treatment plants.

The Ruyle Lab at NYU Tandon operates at the intersection of environmental engineering, climate science, and public health, with research facilities located at 6 MetroTech Center, 4th Floor, RH433, Brooklyn, NY 11201. The lab uses controlled experiments and environmental measurements to build models describing the severity and impacts of chemical contamination, with the ultimate goal of protecting safe water and ensuring healthy ecosystems and communities.