Skip to main content
tech-assess-collaborations_900x350

Graduate Research Fellowship

UW logo

Together with the University of Washington Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Technology Assessment Program helps support the next generation of engineering leaders by providing them an opportunity to conduct applied research that not only supports their advanced educational goals but allows them to influence potential innovation at WTD.

The program awards funds to graduate students conducting applied research and technology development concentrating on wastewater treatment that:

  • Improves performance
  • Reduces costs
  • Recovers resources
  • Reduces environmental impacts of wastewater treatment facilities  

Recent research

Future leaders in environmental engineering.

Brian Roman, seeking Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Student Project: Intensifying Continuous Flow Activated Sludge Systems with the Mobile Organic Biofilm Process

County Projects: Pilot Testing of Mobile Organic Biofilm to Evaluate Proof of Concept and Performance 

Outcome: Ongoing work

September 2021 – present

John Carter, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thesis Title: Bioaugmentation with Sidestream Granular Sludge for Nitrification in Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment: Pilot-Scale Investigation

County Project: Grant funded (WRF) Bioaugmentation of activated sludge with high activity nitrifying granules/flocs - population selection, survival, biokinetics 

June 2019 – June 2020

Mara Roteliuk, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Student Project: Evaluation and Mitigation of Membrane Fouling at King County Wastewater Treatment Facilities Operating with Membrane Bioreactors

County Project: Brightwater Treatment Plant Mixed Liquor Filterability and Membrane Fouling Evaluation

September 2020 – April 2022

Maxwell Armenta, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thesis Title: Operation and Performance of a Sidestream Aerobic Granular Sludge Pilot Reactor for Mainstream Bioaugmentation

County Project: Grant funded (WRF) Bioaugmentation of activated sludge with high activity nitrifying granules/flocs - population selection, survival, biokinetics 

September 2017 – August 2019

Shannon Cavanaugh, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Student Project: Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Processes and Process Parameters Affecting Emissions

County Projects: Nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment processes increased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from biological nitrification and denitrification 

September 2019 – September 2021

Kota Nishiguchi, Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thesis Title: Correlating Sludge Constituents with Digester Foaming Risk Using Sludge Foam Potential and Rheology

County Project: Addressing digester foaming at West Point and Brightwater  (operations project)

September 2017 – June 2019

Bryce Figdore, Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dissertation Title: Nitrification bioaugmentation in mainstream flocculent activated sludge systems using sidestream aerobic granular sludge

County Project: Grant funded (WRF) Bioaugmentation of activated sludge with high activity nitrifying granules/flocs - population selection, survival, biokinetics 

September 2015 – June 2017

expand_less