about

Experience and Appointments

2016-2026 Joseph T. and Rose S. Ling Chair in Environmental Engineering, University of Minnesota

2011-present Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

2003-2011 Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

1997-2003 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

2013-2021 Co-director, MnDrive Initiative, Advancing Industry, Conserving our Environment, University of Minnesota

2019-2022 Editor in Chief of Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology (a Royal Society of Chemistry journal)

2014–2018 Associate Editor for Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology

2019 Dr. Alfred A. Yee Visiting Professor, University of Hawai’i at Mãnoa, Honolulu, HI

1/2012-5/2012 Visiting Professor, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii

1/2005-7/2005 Visiting Scientist, CNR, Water Research Institute, Rome, Italy

2010-present Member of the Graduate Faculty in Microbial Engineering, University of Minnesota

2010-present Member of the BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota

1997-present Member of the Graduate Faculty in Water Resources Science, University of Minnesota

Education

1997 Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

1994 M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

1992 B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

Selected Honors, Awards, and Distinctions

  • 2019, Fellow of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)
  • 2019, granted status of Board Certified Environmental Engineer by eminence, American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
  • 2013-2019, Member, Standing Committee on Chemical Demilitarization, National Research Council (U.S. National Academy of Sciences)
  • 2016-2018, Member, Board of Directors, AEESP
  • 2018, The Distinguished Service Award from AEESP
  • 2017, Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates Undergraduate Faculty Award
  • 2016, Fellow of the Water Environment Federation
  • 2014, Excellence in Review Award, Environmental Science and Technology (American Chemical Society)
  • 2014, Nevada Distinguished Environmental Engineering Lecture (University of Nevada, Reno)
  • 2012-2013, Member, Committee on Review of the Biotreatment, Water Recovery, and Brine Reduction Systems for the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant, National Research Council (U.S. National Academy of Science)
  • 2013, Participant, First Korean-American Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium (U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Korean Academy of Science)
  • 2013, Sara Evans Faculty Woman Scholar/Leader Award (the Office for Faculty and Academic Affairs and the Women’s Center, the University of Minnesota)
  • 2013, Bill Boyle Educator of the Year Award (Central States Water Environment Association)
  • 2012, Faculty of 1000 inclusion of Krzmarzick et al. (AEM, 78(2):393-401) as one of the top 2% of manuscripts in Biology and Medicine
  • 2011, Samuel Arnold Greeley Award (American Society of Civil Engineers)
  • 2010-2013, Resident Fellow of the Institute on the Environment (IonE) at the University of Minnesota
  • 2009, Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow (Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University)
  • 2007-2008, Founding Fellow of the IonE at the University of Minnesota
  • 2007, Paul Busch Award (Water Environment Research Federation)
  • 2007 and 2001, The Distinguished Service Award from AEESP
  • 2003–2006 Member, Board of Directors, AEESP
  • 2001, Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates Undergraduate Faculty Award
  • 2000, Minnesota Federation of Engineering Societies Young Engineer of the Year 

Professional Registration

Licensed Professional Engineer, Minnesota State Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design, License Number 40481.

Patents

  • Novak, P. J., Arnold, W. A., Surdo, E. M. Membranes for Wastewater-Generated Energy and Gas, United States Letters Patent No. 9,534,236.
  • Novak, P. J., Arnold, W. A., Aksan, A. System and Membrane for Wastewater-Generated Energy and Gas, United States Letters Patent No. 10,035,719 B2.
  • Novak, P. J., Romero-Vargas Castrillon, S., Huff, A., Hillmyer, M., Tsapatsis, M. Systems and Methods for Treating Wastewater, United States Patent No. 10,894,732.