Dr. Belinda Sturm is an Associate Professor in the Dept of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas. Dr. Sturm worked at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and the University of California, Davis before joining the faculty at KU in 2006. She specializes in biological processes of wastewater treatment and the application of molecular methods in water quality analysis. With KU's Feedstock to Tailpipe Initiative, Dr. Sturm has developed a process to remove nutrients from wastewater while growing algal biomass, which is processed into biocrude oil. In 2012, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers awarded KU an “Excellence in Environmental Engineering” honor award for this work. Dr. Sturm performs both lab work at KU and pilot scale studies at the City of Lawrence Wastewater Treatment Plant. She is also the Principal Investigator of the Center for Microbial Metagenomic Community Analysis (CMMCA), which uses advanced high-throughput DNA sequencing and high performance computing to study microbial community dynamics. In 2016 Dr. Sturm was named as the Edward & Thelma Wohlgemuth Faculty Scholar.
Dr. Sturm with Rachel Swezy at
KU school of Engineering
commencement 2016
Dr. Sturm with Dr. Yasarer at KU
school of Engineering
commencement 2015
Dr. Sturm with Roopa Matole at
KU school of Engineering
commencement 2015
Dr. Sturm receiving the Gould
Award for undergraduate
advising and the Miller Service
Award from Dean Bell at the KU
School of Engineering commencement
ceremony in May 2012
Dr. Sturm and Stacey Lamer with
the 2012 Honor Award for
University Research presented
by the American Academy of
Environmental Engineers.
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Education
• PhD - Civil Engineering & Geological Science, University of Notre Dame 2005
• BSPH - Environmental Science & Engineering, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, 2000
Notable Awards & Recognition
•The Edward & Thelma Wohlgemuth Faculty Scholar, 2016
• Miller Research Award School of Engineering, University of Kansas, 2016
• Keeler Family Intra-University Professorship, University of Kansas, 2016
• Water Environment Federation’s 5S Society Award (Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovelers), KWEA, 2015
• Miller Research Award School of Engineering, University of Kansas, 2015
• Graduate Teaching Achievement Recognition, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Kansas, 2013
• Excellence in Environmental Engineering, 2012 Honor Award for University Research, American Academy of Environmental Engineers
• Miller Award for Distinguished Professional Service, School of Engineering, University of Kansas, 2012
• Gould Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Advisor, School of Engineering, University of Kansas, 2012
• Bellows Scholar, School of Engineering, University of Kansas, 2010
• Fellow, University of Kansas, Center for Teaching Excellence Best Practices Institute, 2007
• Nominated for Best Oral Presentation, SBR3 Conference, 2004
• US Department of Education GAANN Fellowship, 2000-2004
• GE Graduate Fellowship, University of Notre Dame, 2000-2001
• James M. Johnston Undergraduate Fellowship, 1996-2000
Current Affiliations
University of Kansas
• Affiliated Faculty, Bioengineering Graduate Program, 2009 – present
• Affiliated Faculty, Environmental Studies Program, 2011 – present
• Affiliated Faculty, Center for Environmental Policy, Institute for
Policy & Social Research, University of Kansas, 2007 – present
• Faculty Advisor, Center for Research on Global Change, Institute for
Policy & Social Research, University of Kansas, 2007 – present
Current Service
American Water Works Association
• Member, 2013 – present
Water Environment Federation
• Member, 2003 – present
• Municipal Design Committee Member, 2013 – present
• WEFTEC Program Committee Member
(Municipal Design Symposium), 2013 – present
• Algae Technologies Task Force Member, 2009 – present
• Member State Chapter Kansas Water Environment
Federation, 2007 – present
• Advisor for University of Kansas student chapter, 2011 – present
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science
Professors
• Member, 2006 – present
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Member, 2010 – present
International Water Association
• Member, 2004 – present
• USA National Committee Board Member, 2015 – present
• Microbial Ecology in Water Engineering Management
Committee, 2013 – present
• Microbial Ecology in Water Engineering, 2004 – present
Publications (Google Scholar Link)
• Fortier M-OP, Roberts GW, Stagg-Williams SM, and Sturm BSM*. 2017. “Determination of the life cycle climate change impacts of land use and albedo change in algal biofuel production.” Algal Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2017.06.009
• Huang Y, Yasarer LMW, Li Z, Sturm BSM, Zhang Z, Guo J, and Shen Y. 2017 “Air-water CO2 and CH4 fluxes along a river-reservoir continuum: case study in the Pengxi River, a tributary of the Yangtze River in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China.” Environmental Monitoring Assessment, 189, 223, DOI 10.1007/s10661-017-5926-2.
• Yasarer L*, Sinnathamby S, and Sturm B. 2016. “Impacts of biofuel-based land-use change on water quality and sustainability in a Kansas watershed.” Agricultural Water Management, 175, 4-14.
• Yasarer LMW*, Sturm BSM, and White SS. 2016. “Climate change and Kansas water management: Perspectives and opportunities.” Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, 119(2), 113-128.
• Gentry J, Sturm B, and Peterson AT*. 2016. “Predictive mapping of transmission risk of a soil-transmitted helminth across East Africa: Findings from community prevalence surveys.” Journal of Public Health in Developing Countries, 2(2), 150-161.
• Yasarer LMW and Sturm BSM*. 2016. "Potential impacts of climate change on reservoir services and management approaches." Lake and Reservoir Management, 32(1), 13-26.
• Bambic DG, Kildare-Hann BJ, Rajal VB, Sturm BSM, Minton CB, Schriewer A, and Wuertz S*. 2015. "Spatial and hydrologic variation of Bacteroidales, Adenovirus and Enterovirus in a semi-arid, wastewater effluent-impacted watershed." Water Research, 75, 83-94.
• Roberts GW, Sturm BSM, Hamdeh U, Stanton GE, Rocha A, Kinsella TL, Fortier M-O, Sazdar S, Detamore MS, and Stagg-Williams SM*. 2015. "Promoting catalysis and high-value product streams by in-situ hydroxyapatite crystallization during hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae cultivated with reclaimed nutrients." Green Chemistry, 17(4), 2560-2569.
• Fortier M-OP, Roberts GW, Stagg-Williams SM, and Sturm BSM*. 2014. “Life cycle assessment of bio-jet fuel from hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae.” Applied Energy, 122, 73-82.
• Witthaus LM*, Smith VH, Sturm BSM, and Carney E. 2014. “Evaluation of empirical models coupled with EUTROMOD for water quality prediction in Kansas reservoirs.” Inland Waters, 4, 167-178.
• Peterson J*, Caldas M, Bergtold J, McSwain Sturm B, Graves R, Earnhart D, Hanley E, Brown J. 2014. “Economic linkages to changing landscapes.” Environmental Management, 53(1), 55-66.
• Bode C*, Criss M, Ising A, McCue S, Ralph S, Sharp S, Smith V, and Sturm B. 2014. "Pond Power: How to use algae to energize inquiry and interdisciplinary connections.” The Science Teacher, 81 (2), 43-49.
• Chen X, Peltier E*, Sturm BSM, and Young CB. 2013. “Quantification of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in a stormwater bioretention system.” Water Research, 47(4), 1691-1700.
• Roberts GW, Fortier M-O, Sturm BSM, and Stagg-Williams SM*. 2013. “Promising pathway for algal biofuels through wastewater cultivation and hydrothermal conversion.” Energy & Fuels, 27 (2), 857-867.
• Antezana Zbinden MD, Sturm BSM, Nord RD, Carey WJ, Moore D, Shinogle H, and Stagg-Williams SM*. 2013. “Pulsed electric field (PEF) as an intensification pretreatment for solvent lipid extraction from microalgae.” Biotechnology & Bioengineering, 110 (6), 1605-1615.
• Fortier M-O and Sturm BSM*. 2012. “Geographic analysis of the feasibility of collocating algal biomass production with wastewater treatment plants.” Environmental Science & Technology, 46 (20), 11426–11434.
• Sturm BSM*, Peltier E, Smith V, and deNoyelles F. 2012. “Controls of microalgal biomass and lipid production in municipal wastewater-fed bioreactors.” Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 31(1), 10-16.
• Yang C, Guo JS, Sturm BSM, Lane RF, Adams CD, and Carter RE. 2012. “Impact of sludge retention time on pharmaceuticals removal in activated sludge system.” China Water & Wastewater, 28(13), 99-102.
• Yang C, Guo JS, Sturm BSM, Lane RF, Adams CD, and Carter RE. 2012. “Impact of sludge residence time on the relative biodegradation and biosorption of sulfonamide antibiotics in activated sludge.” Journal of Chongqing University, 6, 12.
• Sturm BSM* and Lamer SL. 2011. “An energy evaluation of coupling nutrient removal from wastewater with algal biomass production.” Applied Energy, 88, 3499-3506.
• Smith VH, Sturm BSM*, Billings S, deNoyelles FJ. 2009. “Ecological aspects of algal biodiesel production.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 25(5), 301-309.
• Knapp CW*, Zhang W, Sturm BS, and Graham DW. 2010. “Differential fate of erythromycin and beta-lactam resistance genes from swine lagoon waste under different aquatic conditions.” Environmental Pollution, 158(5), 1506-1512.
• Zhang W, Sturm BS*, Knapp CW, and Graham DW. 2009. “Accumulation of tertracycline resistance genes in aquatic biofilms due to periodic loadings from swine lagoons.” Environmental Science & Technology, 43(20), 7643-7650.
• Mohan SV, Falkentoft C, Nancharaiah YV, McSwain Sturm BS, Wattiau P, Wuertz S, and Hausner M*. 2009. “Bioaugmentation of microbial communities in laboratory and pilot scale sequencing batch biofilm reactors using the TOL plasmid.” Bioresource Technology, 100(5), 1746-1753.
• McSwain Sturm BS* and Irvine RL. 2008. “Dissolved oxygen as a key parameter to aerobic granule formation.” Water Science and Technology, 58(4), 781-787.
• Rajal VB, McSwain BS, Thompson DE, Leutenneger CM, and Wuertz S*. 2007. “Molecular quantitative analysis of human viruses in California stormwater.” Water Research, 41(19), 4287-4298.
• Kildare BJ, Leutenneger CM, McSwain BS, Bambic DG, Rajal VB, and Wuertz S*. 2007. “16S rRNA-based assays for quantitative detection of universal, human-, cow-, and dog-specific fecal Bacteroidales: a bayesian approach.” Water Research, 41(16), 3701-3715.
• Rajal VB, McSwain BS, Thompson DE, Leutenegger C, Kildare B, and Wuertz S*. 2007. “Validation of hollow fiber ultrafiltration and real-time PCR using bacteriophage PP7 as surrogate for the quantification of viruses from water samples.” Water Research, 41(7), 1411-1422.
• McSwain BS*, Irvine RL, Hausner M., and Wilderer PA. 2005. “Composition and distribution of extracellular polymeric substances in aerobic flocs and granular sludge.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 71(2), 1051-1057.
• McSwain BS*, Irvine RL, and Wilderer PA. April 2005. “Population dynamics during aerobic granule formation – lessons from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.” Water Environment Management Series (WEMS), ISBN 1843395096, 53-61.
• McSwain BS*, Irvine RL, and Wilderer PA. 2004. “The influence of settling time on the formation of aerobic granules and extracellular polymeric substances.” Water Science and Technology, 50(10), 195-202.
• McSwain BS*, Irvine RL, and Wilderer PA. 2004. “The effect of intermittent feeding on aerobic granule structure.” Water Science and Technology, 49(11-12), 19-25.
• Wilderer PA* and McSwain BS. 2004. “The SBR and its biofilm application potentials.” Water Science and Technology, 50(10), 1-10.
• Chiavola A*, McSwain BS, Irvine RL, Boni MR, and Baciocchi R. 2004. “Biodegradation of 3-chlorophenol in a sequencing batch reactor.” Environmental Science & Health (Part A), 38(10), 2113-2123.
• Schwarzenbeck N*, Erley R, McSwain BS, Wilderer PA, and Irvine RL. 2004. “Treatment of malthouse wastewater in a granular sludge SBR.” Acta hydrochimica et hydrobiologica, 32(1), 16-24.
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