Dr. Michael Stenstrom

Biography

Michael K. Stenstrom is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has specialized in environmental engineering with a focus on biological treatment methods, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment systems over his extensive career. Stenstrom has directed significant research in estimating oxygen transfer in activated sludge plants and high purity oxygen plants. His recent experimental work includes field studies to ascertain fine pore diffuser fouling rates and develop effective cleaning techniques, alongside theoretical laboratory-scale work to analyze the effects of surfactants on oxygen transfer, including dynamic surface tension measurements. His findings have been instrumental in major energy conservation programs in treatment facilities across the United States and Canada. Over the past fifteen years, he has developed predictive models for pollutant emissions in stormwater runoff, including empirical spreadsheet models and efforts focusing on the Santa Monica Bay watershed. Stenstrom has also held administrative positions, including Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and Assistant Dean for Computing Resources. Since 1998, he has been involved with the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, promoting interdisciplinary approaches to environmental research.

Research Interests