Yixuan Lin

Dr. P.J. Moore

EAP506

April 4th, 2017

Professor research

Dr. Liza Wilson Durant, who is an environmental engineering, is an associate professor

in Sid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure

Engineering. Since Dr. Deborah J. Goodings became the director of the Division of Civil,

Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation of the Directorate for Engineering, George

Mason University has appointed Dr. Liza Durant to lead the CEIE Department [1]. In 1987,

Dr. Liza Durant graduated from Cornell University in Agricultural Engineering and in 1991,

she finished her master degree from Stanford University in environmental engineering [2].

Also, she received her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the Johns Hopkins

University where her research focused on bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in

aquifer materials under mixed electron acceptor conditions [2]. Dr. Liza Durant has published

at least 144 journals, which includes 39 top level peer-reviewed journals [3]. They are Annals

of the New York Academy of Sciences, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, American Journal

of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Journal of Pediatrics, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and

Aquatic Sciences, Nephrology Nursing Journal, ANNA Journal, Environmental Engineering

Science, Environmental Protection Agency, Journal of Industrial Microbiology and

Biotechnology, Water Science and Technology, and so on [3]. Some of her journals focus on

researching bacteria, which is related to biodegradation, bioremediation, and

biotransformation [2]. Some focus on environmental microbiology and the rest research focus

on fate and transport of contaminants in the subsurface [2]. This shows that Dr. Liza Durant is

most interesting in researching bacteria to reduce pollution in soil, water or air and this is her
main goals, which is related to her Ph.D. major, environmental engineering.

Whats more, Dr. Liza Durant is currently teaching Environmental Engineering,

Environmental Microbiology, Water Quality, Hazardous Waste, Groundwater, Information

Technology, and Water Resources Engineering at George Mason University [2]. She also has

participated in a lot of academic community. In the past, she served as a science advisor to

the US EPA in the National Center for Environmental Assessment and in the Immediate

Office of the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development [2].

However, now Dr. Liza Durant is a faculty advisor to the GMU Student Chapter of the

American Society of Civil Engineers and a faculty advisor to the GMU Student Chapter of

Design-Build Institute of America, which helped Christopher Nelson, Kelsey Ryan, and Lisa

Grube to be each recognized with scholarship awards for their outstanding academic

achievement and involvement with ASCE [2].

Since Dr. Liza Wilson Durant is the CEIE department chair, she has a lot of experience

both in environmental engineering and civil engineering. Not just her high-level achievement

in her discipline, but also her aid that given to students honor her to a real scholar. What I

learned from her affect me a lot. In the academic aspect, she insisted on keeping hardworking

and making progress every day so that she can achieve her goal in career, which inspires me

to work hard and to follow. The journals where she published the articles and the activities

that she participated in are also the resources that benefit to my future study. In the social

aspect, her attitude towards students taught me that real successful scholars should not just

improve themselves but also help others make progress. A good scholar should have some

influence on the people around her. This is also the reason why I choose her to research and

to be my idol in this discipline, give me a direction and guide me to succeed in my graduate

student life.
 References

[1] "CEIE Department Welcomes Dr. Liza Durant | GMU CEIE," George Mason University,

[Online]. Available: http://civil.gmu.edu/news/fall-2010/ceie-department-welcomes-dr-

liza-durant. [Accessed 4th April 2017].

[2] "Liza Durant | GMU CEIE," George Mason University, [Online]. Available:

http://civil.gmu.edu/people/liza-durant. [Accessed 4th April 2017].

[3] "Mason University Library," George Mason University, [Online]. Available: http://gml-

primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?

fn=search&ct=search&initialSearch=true&mode=Basic&tab=default_tab&indx=21&du

m=true&srt=rank&vid=GMU&frbg=&vl

%28freeText0%29=Liza+Wilson+Durant&scp.scps=scope%3A%28GMU_VOYAGER

%. [Accessed 4th April 2017].