Christopher Higgins

Dr. Christopher Higgins serves as the AMAX Distinguished Chair and Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, where he has been a faculty member since 2009. His research leadership focuses on environmental chemistry with specialization in contaminant fate and transport, particularly poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).

His educational foundation includes:

• PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University (2007)
• MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University (2002)
• AB in Chemistry from Harvard University (1998)

Higgins' research program investigates the environmental behavior of emerging contaminants through integrated field studies, laboratory experiments, and mathematical modeling. Current emphases include PFAS release mechanisms in vadose zone soils, human exposure pathways via drinking water and food systems, and development of treatment technologies for PFAS-impacted media. His work bridges fundamental environmental chemistry with practical remediation applications, addressing critical gaps in understanding ultrashort-chain PFAS behavior and advancing analytical methodologies for complex environmental matrices.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals dominant research themes in PFAS transport modeling, exposure assessment across global communities, and innovative treatment approaches using adsorption and destruction technologies. Key trends include method standardization for AFFF-impacted sites, non-Fickian transport phenomena in unsaturated media, and emerging concerns about ultrashort-chain compounds.

His distinguished contributions have been recognized through:

• 2019 Huber Prize in Civil Engineering Research (ASCE's highest research award)
• 2020 SERDP Environmental Restoration Project of the Year
• Honorary Professorship at The University of Queensland, Australia

Higgins maintains robust research funding from major federal agencies including NSF, NIH, EPA, USDA, and DoD's SERDP program. While specific student names aren't documented in source materials, his leadership of the PFAS@Mines Initiative indicates active mentorship of graduate researchers. His grant portfolio demonstrates exceptional success in securing competitive funding for high-impact environmental research addressing national security and public health priorities.

He directs the PFAS@Mines Initiative and contributes to the Center for Environmental Risk Assessment, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, engineers, hydrologists, and toxicologists to tackle complex PFAS contamination challenges through integrated field-laboratory-modeling approaches.