Derick G. Brown

Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
P. C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science, Lehigh University

Biography

Dr. Brown’s research interests include interactions between microorganisms and surfaces, focusing on how adhesion affects microbial processes; microbial attachment and transport through porous media, focusing on attachment and transport of microorganisms through both saturated and unsaturated porous media and how solution chemistry affects these processes; and microbial kinetics in natural and engineered systems, with application to bioremediation of environmental contaminants and energy recovery from organic waste streams. He also has research interests in bioinspired materials, and has collaborated on microbial processes to strengthen soils.

Brown is recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award as well as the P. C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science Teaching Excellence Award. He is a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP), International Society for Subsurface Microbiology (ISSM), and the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi. Brown is a registered engineer in California and Pennsylvania, and is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer with the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists.

Current Appointments

• Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, P. C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science, Lehigh University (2023–present)
• Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University (2018–present)
• Environmental Engineering Group Leader, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University (2008–present)
• Affiliated Faculty, Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University

Areas of Research

• Environmental Engineering
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Bacterial Transport in Porous Media
• Bacterial Adhesion and Cellular Bioenergetics
• Charge-Regulation Effect at Biological and Engineered Surfaces
• Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil and Groundwater
• Surfactant-Enhanced Biodegradation
• Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) for Soil Improvement
• Bio-Inspired Geotechnical Engineering
• Activated Carbon Treatment of Ionizable Organic Chemicals
• Ion Exchange Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment
• Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Systems
• Coal Tar and NAPL Characterization and Remediation
• Environmental Risk Assessment

Education

• Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, 2000.
• M.A., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, 1996.
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 1992.
• B.S., Aerospace Engineering, cum laude, Boston University, 1986.

Professional Experience

Academic Positions

• Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, P. C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science, Lehigh University (2023–present)
• Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University (2018–present)
• Associate Chair, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University (2015–2023)
• Co-Director, Lehigh Environmental Initiative (2010–2018)
• Environmental Engineering Group Leader, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University (2008–present)
• Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University (2007–2018)
• Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Lehigh University (2001–2007)
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Princeton University (2000–2001)

Industry Experience

• Technical Consultant, McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company, Huntington Beach, CA (1994)
• Senior Project Engineer, Multimedia Environmental Technology, Inc., Newport Beach, CA (1993–1994)
• Technical Specialist, McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company, Huntington Beach, CA (1986–1993)

Licenses and Certifications

• Professional Engineer (P.E.), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Professional Engineer (P.E.), State of California
• Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE), American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists

Selected Honors and Awards

• Eugene Mercy, Jr. President and Provost’s Fund for Faculty Development, Lehigh University (2014)
• P. C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science Teaching Excellence Award (2011)
• Class of 1961 Associate Professorship, Lehigh University (2009–2011)
• Frank Hook Assistant Professorship, Lehigh University (2004–2006)
• Lehigh Engineering Ingenuity Award for Exceptional Accomplishment in Teaching and/or Research for Junior Faculty (2004)
• NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award (2002)
• P. C. Rossin Assistant Professorship, Lehigh University (2001–2003)
• Princeton Environmental Institute Research Initiative in Science and Engineering Fellowship (1997)
• McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company General Manager’s Award (1989)
• McDonnell Douglas Independent Research and Development Awards (1989, 1991)

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

• Russack, J. S., J. T. Fox, H. T. Huynh, K. C. Worrilow and D. G. Brown. Predicting airborne volatile organic compound transport in highly sensitive in vitro processes and biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities with kinetic models. Applied In Vitro Toxicology, 11(4):51–61, 2024.
• Gao, K., P. Bick, M. T. Suleiman, X. Li, J. Helm, D. G. Brown and N. Zouari. Wind Erosion Mitigation Using Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 149(8):04023053, 2023.
• Gao, K., H. Lin, M. T. Suleiman, P. Bick, T. Babuska, X. Li, J. Helm, D. G. Brown and N. Zouari. Shear and Tensile Strength Measurements of CaCO3 Cemented Bonds Between Glass Beads Treated by Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 149(1):04022117, 2023.
• Lin, H., S. T. O’Donnell, M. T. Suleiman, E. Kavazanjian, Jr. and D. G. Brown. Effects of Enzyme and Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation Treatments on the Response of Axially Loaded Pervious Concrete Piles. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 147(8):04021057, 2021.
• Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman and D. G. Brown. Investigation of Pore-Scale CaCO3 Distributions and Their Effects on Stiffness and Permeability of Sands Treated by Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). Soils and Foundations, 60(4):944–961, 2020.
• Brown, D. G., H. Zhu, L. S. Albert and J. T. Fox. Rapid characterization and modeling of natural and undefined charge-regulated surfaces in aqueous systems. Langmuir, 35(43):14083–14091, 2019.
• Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, H. M. Jabbour and D. G. Brown. Bio-Grouting to Enhance Axial Pull-Out Response of Pervious Concrete Ground Improvement Piles. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 55(1):119–130, 2018.
• Tian, Y., A. K. SenGupta and D. G. Brown. In-situ stability control of energy-producing anaerobic biological reactors through novel use of ion exchange fibers. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 5(10):9380–9389, 2017.
• Lin, H., M. T. Suleiman, H. M. Jabbour, D. G. Brown and E. Kavazanjian. Enhancing the axial compression response of pervious concrete ground improvement piles using bio-grouting. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 142(10):04016045, 2016.
• Albert, L. S. and D. G. Brown. Variation in bacterial ATP concentration during rapid changes in extracellular pH and implications for the activity of attached bacteria. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 132:111–116, 2015.

Patents

• SenGupta, A. K., D. G. Brown and Y. Tian. In-situ, self-adjusting stability control of methane-producing anaerobic biological reactors through novel use of ion exchange fibers. U.S. Patent 10,399,877, issued September 3, 2019.
• Moo-Young, H. K., D. G. Brown and A. J. Coleman. Method and Apparatus for Characterizing Coal Tar in Soil. U.S. Patent 7,393,689, issued July 1, 2008.

Editorial Activities

• Member, AEESP Publications Committee (2016–2025)
• Peer reviewer for more than 35 journals, including Environmental Science & Technology, Water Research, Langmuir, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, and Journal of Hazardous Materials
• Proposal reviewer for the National Science Foundation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Teaching

• CEE 272 / 471: Environmental Risk Assessment
• CEE 275: Environmental, Geotechnics and Hydraulics Laboratory
• CEE 375 / 477: Environmental Engineering Processes
• CEE 376 / 476: Environmental Engineering Microbiology / Biotechnology
• CEE 377: Environmental Engineering Senior Design Project (Capstone)
• CEE 378 / 478: Hazardous Waste Management
• ENGR 5: Introduction to Engineering Practice

Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

Professor Brown has supervised nine doctoral students to completion and advised more than 25 master’s-level researchers, with alumni in academic positions at Louisiana State University, Tarleton State University (Texas A&M system), Korea University, and Delhi Technological University, and in industry roles at Stepan Company, Enzen Global Solutions, and elsewhere. He currently advises one doctoral student and mentors multiple undergraduate researchers.

Professional Society Memberships

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)
• International Society for Subsurface Microbiology (ISSM)
• American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) — Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE)
• Tau Beta Pi