معرفی
Margaret Kupferle serves as Associate Professor and Chair of Environmental Engineering at the University of Cincinnati's School of Energy, Environmental, Biological and Medical Engineering. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati (2002), she has held continuous academic appointments since 2002, progressing from Research Assistant Professor to her current leadership role. Her career spans over 35 years of research in water and wastewater treatment technologies.
Her educational background includes a Ph.D. (2002) and M.S.E. (1981) in Environmental Engineering from Purdue University, and a B.S.Ch.E. (1979) in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. Professional honors include an NSF CAREER Award (2008), Ohio Environmental Education Fund Grant (2007), and Sigma Xi Full Membership (1997).
Kupferle's research focuses on electrochemical treatment systems for wastewater, particularly examining chlorine cycling, byproduct formation, and toxicity implications. Her work bridges fundamental electrochemistry with practical environmental applications, including bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils, biofilm dynamics in water distribution systems, and sustainable urban engineering solutions. She has pioneered methods for treating nitrate brines, azo dyes, and phenolic compounds, with significant attention to reaction intermediates and process safety.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on electrochemical oxidation processes (60%), particularly for pesticide and phenolic compound degradation. Key trends include investigation of halogen chemistry in advanced oxidation (35%), toxicity assessment of treatment effluents (25%), and development of novel analytical methods (20%). Her work increasingly integrates environmental toxicology with engineering design.
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2008)
- Ohio Environmental Education Fund Grant (2007)
- Sustainable Urban Engineering Seed Grant (2007)
- Sigma Xi Full Membership (1997)
- National Merit Finalist (1974)
Kupferle has successfully advised 11 graduate students (7 Master's, 4 Doctoral) while securing over $8 million in research funding from NSF, EPA, and NIH. Her major grants include the NSF RET Site on Sustainable Urban Environments ($600k), NIOSH Education and Research Center ($6M), and multiple EPA-funded projects on hazardous waste treatment. She directs the Center for Sustaining the Urban Environment and serves on the CEAS Dean's Advisory Committee. Her laboratory focuses on electrochemical reactor systems and biofilm characterization, with ongoing projects examining chlorine cycling in treatment systems and pathogen retention in water distribution networks.
