Noel Urban

Noel Urban is a Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Michigan Technological University. He specializes in biogeochemistry of aquatic systems, focusing on lakes and wetlands. His research addresses nutrient cycling, trace metals, and carbon dynamics in freshwater systems, with a particular emphasis on environmental contaminants like mercury and PCBs.

• Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota; B.S. in Environmental Engineering and B.A. in Russian Language & Culture from Syracuse University.
• Research Interests: Mercury and PCB contamination in tribal landscapes, sediment dynamics in Lake Superior, legacy mining impacts, and carbon cycling in freshwater ecosystems.

Dr. Urban’s work bridges environmental science and policy, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. His publications span over three decades, addressing topics like PCB trends in fish tissue, copper dispersion from mining, and the socio-environmental implications of contamination in tribal regions. He leads projects such as the Torch Lake Integrated Assessment and the Keweenaw Interdisciplinary Transport Experiment in Superior (KITES). His research often involves field studies and modeling to understand contaminant transport and biogeochemical processes.

Current projects include assessing mercury and PCB risks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, modeling carbon cycles in the Great Lakes, and evaluating the legacy of copper mining on water quality. His team has produced over 150 peer-reviewed articles and technical reports, contributing to environmental management strategies and policy decisions.