Fernando Rosario-Ortiz

Fernando Rosario-Ortiz is a Professor and Vice Chancellor for Academic Resource Management at the University of Colorado Boulder, affiliated with the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering. He leads the Environmental Engineering Program within the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering. Rosario-Ortiz holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico (1999), an M.S. in Chemistry from Caltech (2002), and a D.Env. in Environmental Science and Engineering from UCLA (2006).

His research focuses on environmental photochemistry, oxidation chemistry, and water quality treatment, particularly addressing wildfire impacts on water resources. He investigates dissolved organic matter (DOM) transformations, advanced oxidation processes, and the photochemical fate of contaminants. His work combines experimental and computational methods to advance water treatment strategies and environmental sustainability.

Rosario-Ortiz has been recognized with numerous awards, including the NSF CAREER Award (2015), Shaye Faculty Fellowship (2016–2019), and multiple excellence in review awards for journals like Environmental Science & Technology. He serves as a Trustee for the American Water Works Association’s Water Quality Division and collaborates with organizations like the International Humic Substances Society.

His recent publications highlight contributions to understanding DOM photochemical behavior, wildfire-driven water quality degradation, and post-disaster water resilience. Ongoing projects explore climate change impacts on water systems and decision-support frameworks for water treatment under extreme conditions.

Rosario-Ortiz directs interdisciplinary research groups and advises initiatives at the Mortenson Center, emphasizing global engineering solutions. His lab engages in field studies, laboratory simulations, and computational modeling to address real-world environmental challenges.