Olya Keen

Olya Keen is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). She is affiliated with the William States Lee College of Engineering and serves as Chair of the Organic Contaminants Research Committee for the American Water Works Association. Her primary research focuses on emerging contaminants, wastewater treatment technologies, and UV-based processes, with a particular emphasis on antibiotic resistance in water systems and microplastic pollution mitigation.

• Educations:
• Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder (2012)
• M.S., Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida (2008)
• B.S., Civil Engineering, University of South Florida (2008)

Her research interests include detection and analytical chemistry of contaminants, fate and transport in natural/engineered systems, advanced wastewater treatment, and UV/ozonation processes. Recent studies highlight the formation of antibiotic-resistant compounds during chlorine disinfection and the environmental impacts of microplastics in biosolids. Dr. Keen’s work has been recognized with awards such as the 2012 IUVA Best UV Research Paper Award.

• Grants and Awards:
• NSF Travel Award No. 1521562 (2015)
• NC Water Resources Research Institute Grant (2024)

She oversees the Keen Lab, which collaborates on projects such as microplastic pollution assessment and antibiotic resistance mitigation. Her lab has presented at major conferences like the International Water Association NOM 6 and the American Chemical Society Annual Meeting.