William Arnold's Research Group, U of MN

1. Ph.D Students
2. Masters Students
3. Visiting Students
4. Postdoctoral Researchers

Ph.D Students

Dr. Thomas Mundhenke (Ph.D Civil Engineering, 2025)

Dr. Anna Mahony (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2025)

Dr. Akash Bhat (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2023)

• Water Resource Control Engineer at California State Water Resources Control Board (Cal EPA)
• Photolysis of fluorochemicals: Tracking fluorine, use of UV-LEDs, and computational insights

Dr. Grant Goedjen (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2023)

• Environmental Engineer at US EPA
• Neonicotinoid and Fipronil Insecticides in Minnesota: A Statewide Survey into the Occurrence, Detection, and Removal of Neonicotinoids and Fiproles in Minnesota Surface Waters ,Groundwater, and Engineered Treatment Systems

Dr. Jiaqi Li (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2023)

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Georgia Tech
• NDMA Formation during chloramination: temporospatial distribution of NDMA precursors, the effect of lime softening treatment, and precursor identification via non-targeted analysis

Dr. Adel Soroush (Ph.D., Civil Engineering, 2022)

• Membrane Senior Scientist, Repligen Crop.
• The role of continuous contaminant exposure and natural organic matter on the evolving reactivity of iron oxide nanoparticles

Dr. Clare Johnston (Ph.D. Chemistry, 2021)

• The Influence of Aluminum Substitution on the Synthesis, Transformation, Reactivity, and Oxidative Mineral Growth of Iron Oxide Minerals

Dr. Matthew Berens (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2020)

• Environmental Engineer | NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services | Division of Soil & Water Conservation
• Postdoctoral Researcher, UMN-Duluth 2021-2023, ORNL 2023-2025
• Exploring the Reactions and Presence of Munitions Compounds and Insecticides in Aquatic Systems
• Neonicotinoid data set

Dr. Meghan (O’Connor) Brockman (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2020)

• Environmental Project Engineer at Bolton & Menk, Inc
• Photolysis and detection of contaminants of emerging concern in Minnesota waterways
• Data set

Dr. Priya Hora (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2020)

• Principal Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Labs
• Assessing the persistence of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment and surface waters

Dr. Jeanette Tensfeldt (Ph.D., Chemistry, 2019)

• Senior Quality Engineer, NAMSA
• Classifying Iron in Redox Reactions between Iron-Bearing Minerals and Environmental Contaminants

Dr. Andrew McCabe (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2017)

• Environmental Engineer, Barr Engineering
• Photochemical Production of Reactive Intermediates in Inland Surface Waters

Dr. Jill Kerrigan (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2017)

• Senior Analytical Chemist, 3M
• Investigating the drivers of chemical pollution: A spatial and historical analysis of emerging organic contaminants in aquatic and engineered systems

Dr. Jennifer Strehlau (Ph.D., Chemistry, 2016)

• Principal Chemist, Medtronic
• Contaminant reduction by iron oxide nanoparticles: Environmental variables and evolving reactivity

Dr. Amanda Vindedahl (Ph.D., Chemistry, 2015)

• Instructor at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
• Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Aggregation and Reactivity in Simulated Natural Environments

Dr. David Tan (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2014)

• UNDP Accelerator Labs – Head of Experimentation, Malaysia Country Officel Institute for Global Health (Malaysia)
• Effects of Organic Carbon on the Biodegradation of Estrone in Multiple Substrate, Mixed-Culture Systems

Dr. Megan Kelly (Ph.D. Water Resources Science, 2013)

• Clinical Professor, Environmental Science, Arrupe College, Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Assessment
• The Environmental Fate of the Phytoestrogens Genistein and Daidzein

Dr. Teng Zeng (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2012)

• Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Syracuse Univ.
• Abiotic transformations of pesticides in prairie potholes 

Dr. Sarah Page (Ph.D. Chemistry, 2012)

• Drinking Water Treatment Lead at Utah Department of Environmental Quality
• Hydroxyl Radical Formation From Dissolved Organic Mtter Under Photochemical and Non-Photochmeical Conditions

Dr. Andrew Warta (Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2010)

• Praxair, Buffalo, NY
• Reactive barrier membranes with environmental applications

Dr. Erin Surdo (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2009)

• Teaching Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering
• Active membranes for containing and treating environmental contamination.

Dr. Jeffrey Buth (Ph.D. Chemistry, 2009)

• Method Development Scientist, Now Foods (formerly Professor at Mount Union College)
• Transformation of pharmaceutical and personal care product pollutants by wastewater chlorine disinfection and aqueous photolysis

Dr. Jeff Werner (Ph.D. Water Resources Science, 2006; M.S. WRS 2004)

• Professor, Department of Chemistry, SUNY Cortland

Dr. Chanlan Chun (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2006)

• Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minneosta-Duluth

Dr. Todd DeJournett (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2005)

• Project Director, SCS Engineers

Dr. Tsutomu “Shimo” Shimotori (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2005; M.S. Civil Eng. 2001)

• Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering and Manager, Research Instrumentation Laboratory, University of MN-Duluth

Dr. Li Zhang (Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2004)

• Environmental Engineer, City of Minneapolis Public Works

Masters Students

McKenzie Pearson (M.S. Civil Engineering 2025), Environmental Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants

• Enhancing Feammox-Based Perfluorooctanoic Acid Biotransformation Using Porous Polyethylene-Supported Zeolite Carriers

Frantz Joseph (M.S. Civil Engineering 2025), Environmental Engineer, Hazen and Sawyer

• Biodegradation of QACs in lake and river water and effects on the microbial community

Karina Hanson (M.S. Civil Engineering 2025), Water Resources EIT, Houston Engineering

• An Adaptable, Interactive Computer Program to Predict the Fate and Transport of Antibiotics in Streams Impacted by Wastewater Effluent

Ethan Botmen (M.S. Civil Engineering 2024) Project Engineer at Ruekert & Mielke, Inc.

Gretchen Gutenberger (M.S. Civil Engineering 2023) Environmental Engineer, Black and Veatch

• Polyethylene glycol as a robust, biocompatible encapsulant for two-stage treatment of food and beverage wastewater

Eric Noe (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2022). Environmental Engineer, Saint Paul Regional Water Services

Joshua Kirk (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2020). Senior Engineer at Metropolitan Council Environmental Services – Plant Engineering

Quinn Whiting (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2020), ORISE/U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH (2020-2022), Ph.D. Student, University of Minnesota-Duluth, 2022-

• Fluorinated Photoproduct Formation from Photolysis of Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals and Phenols

Lara (Frankson) Fallon (M.S. Water Resources Science, 2020), Research Scientist at the Minnesota Department of Health

• Measurement of Antibiotics in Water and Sediment: Determining Our Antibiotic Footprint
• Data set

Stephen Todey (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2018), Environmental Engineer III, AECOM

• Neonicotinoid Insecticide Hydrolysis and Photolysis: Rates and Residual Toxicity
• Data set

Michael McCarty (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2016), Chemist WuXi AppTec

• Development of a Novel Perfluoroalkyl Substance Sequestration Scheme Using Alginate Macrobeads and Common Water Treatment Polymers

Grant Wallace (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2015), Project Engineer, GEI Consultants, Raleigh, NC

Louis Sigtermans (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2014), Environmental Engineer, Stantec

• A modular technology for fermentative hydrogen production and capture from wastewater

Hao Pang (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2013), Data Scientist, Product Analytics, Meta

Cale Anger (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2012) – Deceased

• Quantification of triclosan, chlorinated triclosan derivatives, and their dioxin photoproducts in lacustrine sediment cores

Dr. R. Noah Hensley (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2012; Ph.D. Physics, University of Otago, NZ) – Acting Manager Technical Advice – Water Services Authority – Taumata Arowai

• Effects of wastewater disinfection on triclosan and detection of a hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ether in wastewater effluent

Alissa Dienhart Lawler (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2012), Principal, Stantec, MN

• In situ sensors for monitoring BMP performance and in-stream pollutant loading

Kevin Erickson (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2010)-Arcadis, NY

• Temporal variations in urban stream water quality and the use of high frequency sampling for watershed management

Kirsten (Moore) Baker (M.S., Civil Engineering, 2010)-Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

• Degradation of groundwater contaminants by iron containing systems.

Chris Ryan (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2009)-Environmental Project Manager at 3M

• Photolysis and digestion as polishing steps for the removal of antibiotics from municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent and biosolids

Peter Steen (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2009)-Principal Chemist at Boston Scientific

Michael Henjum (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2009)-, Senior Project Manager, Bonneville Power, OR

Christine (Wennen) Tufts (M.S. Water Resources Science, 2009)-Senior Project Manager/Geologist at Antea Group

Jeremiah Jazdzewski (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2007)-Hydraulic Engineer at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, MN

Jon Doering (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2006)-last known–Principal Environmental, Health and Safety Representative, Global Business Solutions, Shoreview, MN

Jacob Thompson (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2004)-Engineer, Leggette, Brashears and Graham, St. Paul, MN

Jennifer Packer (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2002)-Boston Scientific, MN

Song Wang  (M.S. Civil Engineering, 2002)-Global Business Director at Honeywell

Visiting Students

Yuta Hatano, Institute of Science Tokyo, Spring 2025

Mattia Balestra, ETH-Zurich, Fall 2024

Bin Wu, Tongi University

Ida Engen from NTNU conducted M.S. research in the Arnold lab in 2016.

Cecilie Brekke and Camilla Overgaard from the University of Stavanger, Norway conducted their M.S. research in the Arnold lab in 2012.

Postdoctoral Researchers