Collaborations
Find out how we’re helping develop the next generation of engineering leaders.
Graduate Research Fellowship
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