Leigh-Anne Krometis

Dr. Leigh-Anne Krometis is a Professor of Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech, holding joint appointments in the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She serves as the Turner Faculty Fellow and leads the Krometis Research Group, which focuses on water quality, public health, and environmental engineering issues, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Dr. Krometis received her educational training at Virginia Tech and the University of North Carolina:

• Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, 2009
• M.S. in Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2004
• B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2002

Dr. Krometis' research program addresses critical water quality and public health challenges, with a particular focus on rural communities in Appalachia. Her work examines the intersections of socioeconomics, demographics, infrastructure, and hydrology on patterns of human environmental exposures. The Krometis Group aims to identify environmental threats and engineer solutions to minimize exposure and risk, guided by Virginia Tech's "Ut Prosim" motto. Her research spans multiple domains including waterborne disease detection, stormwater management, PFAS contamination, antibiotic resistance monitoring, and water equity issues in underserved communities.

Analysis of Dr. Krometis' recent publications reveals a strong focus on water quality challenges in rural Appalachia, with particular attention to private water supplies, PFAS contamination, and the health implications of inadequate water infrastructure. Her work increasingly integrates social determinants of health with environmental engineering solutions, examining how historical practices like redlining have impacted current water infrastructure disparities. Recent publications also highlight her growing expertise in wastewater-based disease surveillance and the effectiveness of point-of-use water treatment systems.

Dr. Krometis has received numerous prestigious awards for her work:

• 2023: Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Association Excellence in Service Ut Prosim Award
• 2022: University Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) Mid-Career Award for Applied Research
• 2021: Turner Faculty Fellow
• 2020: American Water Works Association (AWWA) Small Systems Publications Award
• 2019: American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) Wesley W Honor Paper Award
• 2017: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) A.W. Farrall Young Educator Award

Dr. Krometis has successfully mentored numerous graduate students through their degree programs, with recent graduates including Grant Bokmiller, Natalie Larsson, Kate Albi, Hannah Patton, and Kathleen Hohweiler. Her research has been supported by over $6 million in external funding from agencies including NSF, NIH, USDA, USGS, and various state and private foundations. Current major projects include characterizing PFAS in rural private water supplies, tracking antibiotic resistance in rural wastewater systems, and evaluating commercial point-of-use filter effectiveness.

The Krometis Research Group operates as an interdisciplinary team that collaborates with colleagues across Virginia Tech and with external partners including the Virginia Household Water Quality Program, DigDeep, and the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project. The group maintains multiple laboratory facilities for water quality analysis and regularly engages in field research throughout Central Appalachia, particularly in Southwest Virginia and West Virginia's coalfield regions.