Otto Stein

Dr. Otto Stein is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Montana State University (MSU), affiliated with the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE). His research focuses on engineered waste remediation, particularly the design and optimization of treatment wetlands for wastewater treatment in cold climates. He leads a continuously funded research group investigating seasonal performance of constructed wetlands, plant species selection, and microbial processes influencing treatment efficacy.

Key research interests include understanding how temperature, plant species (e.g., root-zone oxygenation), and operational modes (continuous vs. batch) affect contaminant removal. Notably, his team discovered that certain plant species maintain high organic contaminant removal rates in winter by enhancing root-zone oxygenation, counteracting temperature-related slowdowns. Current USDA-funded projects aim to screen plant species for optimal oxygenation traits, analyze seasonal microbial population dynamics, and evaluate flow application methods.

Stein has collaborated with multiple disciplines, including microbiology and environmental science, and has employed numerous students (7 graduate and over a dozen undergraduates) in his research. His work bridges environmental engineering and applied ecology, emphasizing practical solutions for sustainable wastewater management. His lab’s outputs include models for treatment wetland performance and guidelines for cold-climate system design.