Linda M. Abriola

Linda M. Abriola is an American environmental engineer and hydrogeologist renowned for her pioneering research on the fate and transport of subsurface contaminants. Her work has fundamentally advanced the understanding of multiphase flow in porous media and the development of innovative groundwater remediation strategies. A distinguished academic leader, she has held prominent positions at the University of Michigan and Tufts University, and is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Early life and education

Abriola completed her undergraduate studies in civil engineering at Princeton University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. She then pursued graduate studies at the University of Michigan, where she received both a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in civil engineering, with a focus on water resources and environmental engineering. Her doctoral research, conducted under the guidance of prominent figures in the field, laid the groundwork for her subsequent investigations into non-aqueous phase liquid contamination in the subsurface.

Career and research

Abriola began her academic career as a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research program there established her as a leading authority on multiphase flow and the complex interactions governing the migration of dense non-aqueous phase liquids and light non-aqueous phase liquids in aquifers. She developed sophisticated mathematical models to simulate these processes, which became critical tools for environmental consulting firms and regulatory agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In 2011, she was appointed Dean of the School of Engineering at Tufts University, where she also served as a University Professor, guiding the school's growth and fostering interdisciplinary research in sustainability and public health. Her scientific contributions span experimental, theoretical, and numerical work, significantly impacting practices in site characterization, risk assessment, and the design of in situ remediation technologies such as surfactant flushing and bioremediation.

Awards and honors

Abriola's contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and memberships. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her leadership in environmental engineering and modeling of subsurface contamination. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Geophysical Union. Her honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the National Ground Water Association's M. King Hubbert Award. She has been recognized by the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors with their prestigious Frontiers in Research award.

Selected publications

Abriola is the author of over a hundred influential peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Key publications often appear in leading journals such as Water Resources Research, Environmental Science & Technology, and Advances in Water Resources. Her seminal works include studies on the modeling of capillary pressure-saturation relationships, the entrapment and dissolution of organic liquids in groundwater, and the efficacy of surfactant-enhanced aquifer remediation. These publications are widely cited and form a core component of the curriculum in graduate-level contaminant hydrogeology courses at institutions worldwide.

Professional service and leadership

Beyond her research and academic leadership, Abriola has served in vital roles for major professional societies and advisory boards. She has held leadership positions within the American Geophysical Union and served on various committees for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Her service includes contributing to studies for the United States Department of Energy and the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. As Dean at Tufts University, she championed initiatives to increase diversity in STEM fields and strengthened ties between the School of Engineering and other divisions like the School of Medicine and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Category:American environmental engineers Category:American hydrogeologists Category:Tufts University faculty Category:University of Michigan alumni Category:Princeton University alumni Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering Category:Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences