Colleen Naughton

Colleen Naughton is an Assistant Professor in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department at the University of California, Merced. Her work bridges engineering, public health, and policy, focusing on Food-Energy-Water Systems (FEWS), Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA), and water infrastructure in underserved communities.

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering with Water, Health, and Sustainability Certificate (2016) – University of South Florida
• M.S., Civil Engineering (2013) – University of South Florida
• B.S., Civil Engineering with Environmental Concentration (2008) – Purdue University

Her research integrates GIS with environmental justice frameworks to address water contamination, wastewater surveillance, and climate adaptation. She develops machine learning models for groundwater pollution prediction and designs community-centric sanitation solutions in developing regions.

Recent publications emphasize wastewater-based epidemiology for equitable disease monitoring (SARS-CoV-2, dengue), climate-suitable agricultural planning, and life cycle assessment of irrigation systems. Her work combines technical innovation with social equity considerations.

• Outstanding Reviewers for Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology (2022)

Dr. Naughton’s projects often involve multidisciplinary collaboration, including partnerships with public health agencies and rural communities. She advocates for standardized data reporting in wastewater surveillance and addresses legacy pollutants like 1,2,3-trichloropropane in California’s Central Valley.