Aerial view of a row of oblong reservoirs with dividers and green algae in bloom.

Lab Group

Kirchhoff Lab Group

We are unconventional thinkers. We arrived from divergent paths to this shared space of discovery and impact.

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Current Members
Former Members
Student Research Opportunities
Our Research

Kirchoff Lab Group

Christine J. Kirchhoff Ph.D., P.E.

Principal Investigator, Kirchhoff Lab Group
Associate Professor & Associate Director of Law, Policy, and Engineering

cxk475@psu.edu

814-863-0436

Dr. Matthew J. Barnett

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Environmental Engineering

Matthew Bizer Ph.D.

Research Associate at the University of Connecticut

Jaron Campbell

Master's Student, School of Engineering Design & Innovation

Jim Glen

Doctoral Student, Planning, Design and Construction and City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning

Davis Manshardt

Doctoral Student, Natural Resources and Environment, Jorgenson Fellow

Dr. Irma (Xiaomei) Wang

Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Engineering Design and Innovation

: Berdakh Utemuratov; Doctoral Student, Civil Engineering. Topic: groundwater governance

Chesney McOmber; Postdoctoral Researcher. Topic: drivers/barriers wastewater reuse; human dimensions of infrastructure resilience

Lily Michaud; M.S. Natural Resources and Environment (May 2022). Researched: human dimensions of infrastructure resilience and innovation in socio-technical systems in U.S. states. Thesis Topic: Examining Solar Adoption and Climate Action Planning in the Wastewater Sector. Currently: USEPA

Cristina Mullin; Postdoctoral Researcher Ph.D. (2020) GAANN Fellow Thesis topic: predicting algal blooms in CT reservoirs; resilient water and wastewater systems Currently: USEPA

Galen Treuer, Ph.D.; Formerly: Postdoctoral Researcher. Topic: water system resilience; water policy. Currently: Resilience Coordinator, Office of Resilience, Miami-Dade County

Julia Flagg, Ph.D.; Formerly: Postdoctoral Researcher. Topic: resilient water systems & usable knowledge. Currently: Assistant Professor at Connecticut College

Peter Watson; M.S. ENVE (2017). Thesis topic: wastewater infrastructure resilience. Currently: Doctoral Student, UCONN

Christopher Gill; graduated May 2017, with Honors. Gill C. (2017). Water Quality Violations, State Funding for Public Water Systems, and Planning Regulations and Requirements among States: A Review and Evaluation. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

Alyssa Carroll; graduated May 2016. Carroll A. (2016). The Utility of Scientific Modeling through Co-production. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

Brianna Church; graduated May 2016, with Honors. Church B. (2016). The Evolution and Evaluation of an Improved Soil Hydraulic Permeameter. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

William Grant; graduated May 2016. Grant W. (2016). Nitrate Contributions to the Niantic River Estuary: Two End-member Temperature Mixing Model. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

Brian Tang; graduated May 2016. Tang B. (2016). Forecasting Transportation Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Connecticut. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

Jonathan Bossi; graduated May 2015. Bossi J. (2015). Improving information use to prevent harmful algal blooms in Western Lake Erie. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

Caroline Rando; graduated May 2015. Rando C. (2015). Evaluating and Enhancing communities’ willingness to adopt N-sink as a community based pollution mitigation decision tool. Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

Jacob Griffith Gardner; Student Interview & Survey Research Specialist, BS in Horticulture/BA Economics, expected May 2017.

Our Research

Learn about our research in water quality issues, management, and resilient systems.

Explore our research

Student Research Opportunities

If you are a talented, hardworking interdisciplinary (engineering + social science) doctoral student or interdisciplinary/environmental social scientist looking for a postdoc, please contact Dr. Christine Kirchhoff.

Open Positions:

: JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Postdoctoral Scholar – Law, Policy & Engineering (LPE)

The Kirchhoff Lab at Penn State is recruiting a talented Postdoctoral Scholar to contribute to two National Science Foundation funded projects that investigate 1) transformation/transitions in U.S. water quality governance and co-production that resulted in measurable improvements in water quality and 2) the human dimensions of resilience and climate adaptation in water/wastewater systems. The successful candidate will also contribute to advancing public service-oriented research initiatives at the interface of Law, Policy and Engineering (LPE) to benefit society. This limited-term, benefits-eligible position will have an initial contract for one year; the possibility of renewal for a second year is contingent on satisfactory performance.
Applications should include a 1) a statement of interest that describes your background, fit for the position, and career goals, 2) CV, 3) two relevant publications, and 4) names and contact information for three referees that can speak to your qualifications and fit with the Lab and our work.
The position will remain open until filled and applications will be reviewed upon receipt. The anticipated start date is January 2023, although the start date is negotiable. Remote work is possible. Contact Dr. Christine Kirchhoff at cxk475@psu.edu if you have questions about the position.

Full job posting and apply here: psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic/job/Penn-State-University-Park/Postdoctoral-Scholar--Law--Policy---Engineering_REQ_0000037366