Dr. Adam Smith

Biography

Dr. Adam L. Smith received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2014, and his M.S.E. in Environmental Engineering from the same institution in 2011. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Marquette University in 2009. Currently, he serves as an Associate Professor in the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California. His research evaluates new emerging environmental biotechnologies to improve the sustainability of water systems and infrastructure, which play a crucial role at the interface of built and natural environments. Dr. Smith focuses on developing systems that minimize energy inputs while recovering resources from wastewater. His work on anaerobic biotechnologies, including anaerobic membrane bioreactors, aims to match the treatment performance of existing aerobic systems while generating renewable energy resources. His research includes process engineering, microbial ecology, and sustainability assessments, and is particularly pertinent to regions like Southern California, which face intense water shortages.

Research Interests