Lisa Alvarez-Cohen

Lisa Alvarez-Cohen is the Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Fred and Claire Sauer Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. She previously served as Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Faculty Senate. Her research bridges environmental microbiology, ecology, and engineering to address contaminant remediation and wastewater treatment.

• Education: PhD and MS in Environmental Engineering and Science from Stanford University; BA in Engineering and Applied Science from Harvard University.

Her research focuses on biotransformation of environmental contaminants, including chlorinated solvents (e.g., TCE), PFASs, and arsenic, using molecular and isotopic tools to study microbial communities. She investigates innovative approaches for bioremediation and nitrogen removal via anammox processes, emphasizing systems microbiology and omics technologies.

Alvarez-Cohen has received prestigious awards such as the China 1,000 Talents National Award, ASCE Simon W. Freese Environmental Engineering Award, and NSF Young Investigator Award. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Microbiology.

• Scientific Awards:
  • China 1,000 Talents National Award
  • ASCE Simon W. Freese Environmental Engineering Award
  • W.M. Keck Foundation Award for Engineering Teaching Excellence
  • National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award
• Professional Memberships:
  • National Academy of Engineering
  • American Academy of Microbiology
  • Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors

She leads the Alvarez-Cohen Group, a multidisciplinary lab exploring microbial solutions for environmental challenges, including dual bioremediation of chlorinated solvents and arsenic, PFASs in AFFF, and optimizing anammox systems for wastewater nitrogen removal.