Ian C. Bourg

Ian C. Bourg is an Associate Professor at Princeton University with dual appointments in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and High Meadows Environmental Institute. He directs undergraduate studies in CEE and leads the Interfacial Water Group, focusing on atomistic-level simulations and macroscopic modeling of environmental systems. His concurrent affiliations include the Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials and Chemical and Biological Engineering department.

• Education
  • Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California-Berkeley (2004)
  • MSc in Chemical Engineering, INSA Toulouse (1999)
  • B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering, INSA Toulouse (1999)

Research Interests span clay mineral surface geochemistry, geologic CO₂ sequestration, kinetic isotope effects, water behavior at interfaces, and coupling geochemistry with geomechanics in porous media. His work integrates molecular simulations with experimental validation to study environmental phenomena like contaminant transport, soil carbon storage, and water dynamics in clays.

Publications from 2023-2025 reveal expertise in molecular dynamics of clay-water systems, organic contaminant partitioning, cement hydration, and isotope fractionation. Key themes include Environmental Nanoscience, Geochemical Modeling, and Soft Matter Physics applications to environmental systems.

Scientific Recognition

• NSF CAREER Awardee (2018)

Advising includes mentoring 12 current and former PhD/postdoc researchers, with notable alumni at institutions like Cornell, University of Poitiers, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His group has produced 20+ undergraduate advisees now in academia and industry.

Laboratory develops multiscale simulation tools like HybridBiotInterFoam and HybridPorousInterFoam, with active collaborations in nuclear waste management, soil remediation, and sustainable construction materials.