Faculty
Dr. Hanadi S. Rifai, Ph.D., P.E.
John and Rebecca Moores Professor
Director, Environmental Engineering Graduate Program
Associate Dean Research and Facilities
Director, Environmental Engineering Graduate Program
Associate Dean Research and Facilities
Office Location: N138 Engineering Building 1, Houston, TX 77204-4003
Phone: 713-743-4271 | Fax: 713-743-4260
Email: rifai [at] uh.edu
Education:
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, May 1989
M.S. Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, May 1985
B.E. Civil Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, June 1982
Professional Experience:
June 2013 — Present: Associate Dean Research and Facilities, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston
Jan. 2010 – Present: Director, Environmental Engineering Graduate Program, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston
Sept. 2007 – Present: Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston
Sept. 2001 – Aug. 2007: Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston
Sept. 1997 – Aug. 2001: Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston
Sept. 1997 – Aug. 1999: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Environmental Science and Engineering, Rice University
April 1994 – Aug. 1997: Executive Director, Energy and Environmental Systems Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas
July 1994 – Aug. 1997: Faculty Fellow, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
May 1989 – March 1994: Research Associate, Rice University, Houston, Texas
Classes:
Computing for Engineers (CIVE 1331)
Environmental Engineering Design Project (CIVE 4312)
Groundwater (CIVE 7332)
Engineering Hydrology (CIVE 6361)
Engineering Geographic Information Systems (CIVE 7342)
Environmental Risk Assessment (CIVE 7397)
Awards & Honors:
John and Rebecca Moores Professor, 2017
Environmental Engineer of the Year, Texas Association of Environmental Professionals, 2013
Editor-in-Chief, Bioremediation Journal, Taylor and Francis, January 2002-present.
Recipient of the 2001 Wesley W. Horner Award for Best Paper from the American Society of Civil Engineers for Rifai et al., Modeling Natural Attenuation of Fuels with BIOPLUME III, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 126(5): 428-438, 2000.
Member, U. S. EPA Science Advisory Board Environmental Engineering Committee (FY00) – Natural Attenuation Subcommittee, 2000-01.
Guest Editor, Special 3-Part Issue on Natural Attenuation, Bioremediation Journal, 1998-1999.
Associate Editor, Bioremediation Journal, CRC Press, 1997-2001.
Ralph Budd Award for Best Dissertation in Engineering, Rice University highest award to graduating Ph.D. students in engineering, 1989.
Eleanor and Mills Bennett Fellowship in Hydrology, Rice University fellowship awarded to outstanding graduate students, 1987-1989.
Research Awards:
Union Carbide Unrestricted Research Grant $25,000/yr: 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Professional Memberships:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
National Ground Water Association (NGWA)
American Ground Water Scientists and Engineers (AGWSE)
Water Environment Federation (WEF)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP)
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
Other Awards and Honors:
Board Member, American Ground Water Scientists and Engineers (AGWSE), Jan 2010 –current.
Editor-in-Chief, Bioremediation Journal, 2002 – current.
Member, American Ground Water Scientists and Engineers (AGWSE) Awards Committee.
Member, National Ground Water Association Awards (NGWA) Committee.
Member, Interest Group Oversight Subcommittee, National Ground Water Aassociation (NGWA), 2001-2005.
Member, NGWA (National Ground Water Association) Research and Technology Transfer Committee, 1999-2001.
Student Chapter Advisor, Engineers without Borders.
Professional Engineer, State of Texas, No. 71207 (since 1991).
Reviewer for Water Environment Research, Environmental Science & Technology, Ground Water, Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, Journal of Environmental Monitoring, Bioremediation Journal, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal of American Water Research Association.
Proposal Reviewer for EPA STAR Fellowship Program, NIH/NIEHS, USGS, UT Public Health/NIEHS, Natural Environment Research Council (United Kingdom).
Chair and Organizer, Technical Session on Modeling, 8th International and In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation, Baltimore, Maryland, June 6-9, 2005.
Organizing Committee Member of the National Ground Water Association Theis Conference, 2003-2005.
Co-Chair, Technical Session on Long Term Monitoring, 7th International Symposium on In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation, Orlando, Florida, June 2-5, 2003.
Co-Chair, Technical Session on Natural Attenuation of Recalcitrant Compounds, 3rd International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, Monterrey, California, May 20-23, 2002.
Chair, Poster Session on Remediation Technologies, 2002 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, TX, March 10-13, 2002.
Chair, Technical Session on Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Compounds, 6th International Symposium on In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation, San Diego, California June 4-7, 2001.
Panelist, Student Award Committee, The 6th Battelle International Symposium on In Situ and On-Site Bioreclamation, San Diego, California, June 4-7, 2001.
Chair, Technical Session on Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Solvents, The Fifth Battelle International Symposium on In Situ and On-Site Bioreclamantion, April 1999.
Chair, Student Award Committee, The Fifth Battelle International Symposium on In Situ and On-Site Bioreclamation, April 1999.
Co-Chair, Technical Session on Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Solvents, The Fourth Battelle International Symposium on In Situ and On-Site Bioreclamantion, May 1997.
Co-Chair, Technical Session on Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, The Third Battelle International Symposium onIn Situ and On-Site Bioreclamation, April 1995.
Research Interests:
Dr. Rifai's expertise includes ground water flow and transport modeling, risk assessment, natural attenuation, hazardous waste, hydrology, urban storm water quality, non-point source pollution, Total Maximum Daily Loads, Water Quality Modeling, Decision Support Systems and Geographic Information Systems. In addition to authoring the widely-used BIOPLUME II, BIOPLUME III and BIOPLUME IV computer models for biodegradation and natural attenuation modeling, Dr. Rifai has built and manages the GIS (Geographical Information Systems) computer laboratory in the department.
Sponsored Research / Research Grant:
STEP Forward: STEM Talent Expansion Program for Women and Under Represented Group Recruitment and Retention Development at the University of Houston, National Science Foundation, 2009-2014.
NUE: Development of the NanoEngineering Minor Option (NEMO) at the University of Houston, National Science Foundation, 2009-2010.
New, GK-12 Program at the University of Houston: Innovations in Nanotechnology and Nanosciences using a Knowledge, Applications, Research, and Technology (KART) Approach, National Science Foundation, 2009-2013.
Hurricane Ike: Lessons Learned and Steps for the Future Critical Infrastructure Sustainability and Resilience, Houston Endowment, 2009-2011.
REU Civil Infrastructure Engineering, National Science Foundation, 2008-2010.
Historical Data Analysis and Refinement of Dissolved Oxygen Modeling of Dickinson Bayou, TCEQ/EPA., 2009-2010.
Watersheds for the Future: Houston 2035, Houston Endowment, 2008-2010.
Total Maximum Daily Load Analysis and Load Allocations of Indicator Bacteria in Dickinson Bayou Tidal (Segment 1103) and Associated Tributaries (Segments 1103A, 1103B, 1103C, and 1103D), TCEQ/EPA, 2007-2010.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for PCBs (Polychlorinated Bi-phenyls) in the Houston Ship Channel System, TCEQ/EPA, 2006-2011.
Survey of PCBs and Dioxin in the Galveston Bay System, TCEQ/EPA., 2009-2010.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Dioxin in the Houston Ship Channel System, TCEQ/EPA, 2005-2010.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in the Houston Metropolitan Area, 2005-2010.
Study on the Effectiveness of BMPs to Control Bacteria Indicator Loads, TCEQ/EPA, 2005-2009.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Indicator Bacteria in the Clear Creek Watershed, TCEQ/EPA, 2004-2008.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Pathogens in Buffalo Bayou and Whiteoak Bayou, TCEQ/EPA, 2005-2009.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Dissolved Oxygen in Dickinson Bayou, TCEQ/EPA, $101,483, P. I., 20% credit, w. Dynamic Solutions, Inc., 2006-2008.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Pathogens, TCEQ/EPA, $738,292, P. I., 55% credit, w. PBSJ, Inc. and TAMU-Corpus Christi, 2003-2005.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Dioxins, TCEQ/EPA, 2003-2005.
Developing a Guidance Manual for Modeling Natural Attenuation at Field Sites, Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, 2000-2003.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Pathogens, Texas Natural Resource and Conservation Commission., 2002-2003.
Multi-Purpose Water Management Technology for the Texas-Mexico Border, Texas Advanced Technology Program, $550,000, P. I., 30%, Consortium Proposal w. Rice, UT Brownsville, A&M Int’l, and A&M Kingsville, 2000-2003.
Evaluating Source Grouting and ORC for Remediating MTBE Sites, Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center, 2000- 2003.
Characterizing the Intrinsic Remediation of MTBE at Field Sites, Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center, 2000-2004.
Total Maximum Daily Loads for Dioxins and Fecal Pathogens, Texas Natural Resource and Conservation Commission, 2000- 2004.
Transport, Fate and Risk Implications of Environmentally Acceptable Endpoint Decisions, Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center, 1999- 2003.
Developing an Integrated Methodology for Designing Long Term Monitoring Plans (LTMPs), Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, 1998-2004.
Intrinsic Bioremediation of Mixed Fuel/Solvent Plumes at Petroleum and Petrochemical Gulf Coast Sites, Texas Hazardous Waste Research Center, $83,155, P.I., 50% credit, w. D. Roberts, 1998-2001.
Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Compounds, Union Carbide Corporation, $100,000, P.I., 100% credit, 1996-2000.
Refereed Journal Publications:
Desai, A., and H. S. Rifai, Bacteria Diurnal Sag: A High Resolution Framework for Fecal Water Quality Monitoring, Environmental Science and Technology Special Issue, submitted May 2010.
Howell, N. L., H. S. Rifai, and L. Koenig, Comparative Distribution, Sourcing, and Chemical Behavior of PCDD/F and PCB in an Estuary Environment, Environmental Science and Technology, submitted May 2010.
Suarez, M. P., D. Lakshmanan, H. S. Rifai, K. E. Dean, and L. Koenig, Transport of Dioxin in the Houston Ship Channel Part I: Hydrodynamics and Water Quality Simulations, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, Submitted April 2010.
Suarez, M. P., D. Lakshmanan, H. S. Rifai, R. M. Palachek, and L. Koenig, Transport of Dioxin in the Houston Ship Channel Part II: Linked Mass Balance- Load Allocation Tool, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, Submitted April 2010.
Desai, A. M., H. S. Rifai, T. M. Petersen, and R. Stein, Mass Balance and Water Quality Modeling for Load Allocation of Escherichia coli in an Urban Watershed, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, Submitted 2009.
Desai, A. M., and H. S. Rifai, Variability of Escherichia coli Concentrations in an Urban Watershed in Texas, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, Accepted May 2010.
Lakshmanan, D., N. L. Howell, H. S. Rifai, and L. Koenig, Spatial and Temporal Variation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Houston Ship Channel, Chemosphere, 80(2); pp. 100-112, 2010.
Petersen, T. M., H. S. Rifai, and R. Stein, Modeling Escherichia coli and its Sources in an Urban Bayou with Hydrologic Simulation Program in Fortran (HSPF), ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, (Accepted, 2009).
Dean, K., M. P. Suarez, H. S. Rifai, R. M. Palachek and L. Koenig, Bioaccumulation of Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans in Catfish and Crabs along an Estuarine Salinity and Contamination Gradient, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(11), 2307-2317, 2010.
Desai, A., H. S. Rifai, E. Helfer, N. Moreno, and R. Stein, Statistical Investigations into Indicator Bacteria Concentrations in Houston Metropolitan Watersheds, Water Environment Federation, (Accepted, 2009).
Petersen, T. M., H. S. Rifai, and R. Stein, Bacteria Load Estimator Spreadsheet Tool (BLEST) for Modeling Spatial Escherichia coli Loads to an Urban Bayou, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 135(4): 203-217, 2009.
Howell, N., M. P. Suarez, H. S. Rifai, and L. Koenig, Concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Water, Sediment, and Aquatic Biota in the Houston Ship Channel, Texas, Chemosphere, 70(4), 593-606, 2008.
Yeager, K. M., Santschi, P. H., H. S. Rifai, M. P. Suarez, R. Brinkmeyer, C-C. Hung, K. Schindler, M. Andres, and E. Weaver, Dioxin Chronology and Fluxes in Sediments of the Houston Ship Channel, Texas: Influences of Non-Steady State Sediment Transport and Total Organic Carbon, Environmental Science and Technology, 41, 5291-5298, 2007.
Ling, M., and H. S. Rifai, Modeling Natural Attenuation with Source Control at a Dry-Cleaner Site, Groundwater Monitoring Review and Remediation, 27 #1, 108-121, 2007.
Suarez, M. P., H. S. Rifai, J. Schimek, M. Bloom, P. Jensen, and L. Koenig, Dioxin in Stormwater Runoff in Houston, TX, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, v. 132, #12, 1633-1643, 2006.
Petersen, T., M. P. Suarez, H. S. Rifai, P. Jensen, Y-C. Su, and R. Stein, Status and Trends of Fecal Coliform Indicator Bacteria in Two Urban Watersheds, Water Environment Research, v78,#12, 2340-2355, 2006.
LaWare, P. and H. S. Rifai, Modeling Fecal Coliform Contamination from Non Point Sources in the Rio Grande, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v42, #2, 337-356, 2006.
Correa, O. E., L. Raun, H. S. Rifai, M. P. Suarez, T. Holsen, and L. Koenig, Depositional Flux of Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in an Urban Setting, Chemosphere, 64, 1550-1561, 2006.
Hausman, S., and H. S. Rifai, Modeling Remediation Time Using Natural Attenuation at a Dry Cleaner Site, Remediation, vol 16, No. 1, 5-31, 2005.
Suarez, M. P., H. S. Rifai, R. Palachek, K. Dean, and L. Koenig, Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p- Dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Houston Ship Channel Tissue and Sediment, Environmental Engineering Science, vol 2, No. 6, 891-906, 2005.
Suarez, M. P., H. S. Rifai, R. Palachek, K. Dean, and L. Keonig, Distribution of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Suspended Sediments, Dissolved Phase and Bottom Sediment in the Houston Ship Channel, Chemosphere, vol 62, No.3, 417-429, 2005.
Petersen, T., H. S. Rifai, M. P. Suarez, and R. Stein, Bacteria Loads from Point and Non-Point Sources in an Urban Watershed, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 131, No. 10, 1414-1425, 2005.
Raun, L., O. Correa, O., H. Rifai, M. Suarez and L. Koenig, Statistical Investigation of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-pdioxins and Dibenzofurans in the Ambient Air of Houston, Texas, Chemosphere, 60:973-989, 2005.
Ling, M., H. S. Rifai, and C. J. Newell, Optimizing Long-Term Monitoring Networks Using Delaunay Triangulation Spatial Analysis Techniques, Environmetrics, 16:635-657, 2005.
Rifai, H. S., and T. Rittaler, Modeling Natural Attenuation of BTEX with Analytical and Numerical Models, Biodegradation, 16 (4): 291-304, 2005.
Ling, M. H. S. Rifai, J. J. Aziz, C. J. Newell, J. R. Gonzales, and J. M. Santillan, Strategies and Decision-Support Tools for optimizing Long-Term Groundwater Monitoring Plans-MAROS 2.0, Bioremediation Journal, vol. 8, 3-4, 109-128, 2004.
Correa, O. H. S. Rifai, L. Raun, M. P. Suarez, and L. Koenig, Concentrations and Vapor-Particle Partitioning of Polychlorinated Di-benzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Ambient Air of Houston, TX, Atmospheric Environment, 38: 6687-6699, 2004.
Suarez, M. P., H. S. Rifai, T. J. Rittaler, and S. Hausman, Natural Attenuation of Chlorinated Solvent Plumes at Texas Dry-Cleaners, Remediation, v. 14, No. 3, 7 – 31, 2004.
Mehdizadeh, F. and H. S. Rifai, Modeling Point Source Plumes at High Altitudes Using a Modified Industrial Source Complex Model, Atmospheric Environment, 38, 821-831, 2004.
Fiorenza, S. and H. S. Rifai, Review of MTBE Biodegradation and Bioremediation, Bioremediation Journal, 7(1):1-35, 2003.
Aziz, J. J., M. Ling, H. S. Rifai, C. J. Newell, and J. R. Gonzales, MAROS: a Decision Support System for Optimizing Monitoring Plans, Ground Water, v41, No. 3, 355-367, 2003.
Ling, M., Rifai, H. S., Newell, C. J., Aziz, J. J. and Gonzales, J. R., Groundwater Monitoring Plans at Small Scale Sites–An Innovative Spatial and Temporal Methodology, Journal of Environmental Monitoring, vol. 5, No. 1, 126-134, 2003.
Fiorenza, S., M. P. Suarez and H. S. Rifai, MTBE in Groundwater: Status and Remediation, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 128, No. 9, 773 – 781, 2002.
Suarez, M. P. and H. S. Rifai, Evaluation of BTEX Remediation by Natural Attenuation at a Coastal Facility, Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, 22(1):62-77, 2002.
Suarez, M. P. and H. S. Rifai, Modeling Natural Attenuation of Total BTEX and Benzene Plumes with Different Kinetics, Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, 24(3):53-68, 2002.
Rifai, H. S., P. B. Bedient, and G. L. Shorr, Monitoring Hazardous Waste Sites: Characterization and Remediation Considerations, Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 2(3): 199-212, 2000.
Rifai, H. S., C. J. Newell, J. R. Gonzales, and J. T. Wilson, Modeling Natural Attenuation of Fuels with BIOPLUME III, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 126(5): 428-438, 2000.
Rifai, H. S., S. M. Brock, K. B. Ensor, and P. B. Bedient, Determination of Low-Flow Characteristics for Texas Streams, ASCE Journal of Water Resources Planning, 126(5): 310- 319, 2000.
Hopkins, L. P., K. B. Ensor and H. S. Rifai, Empirical Evaluation of Ambient Ozone Interpolation Procedures to Support Exposure Models, Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association, v. 49: 839-846, 1999.
Suarez, M. P. and H. S. Rifai, Biodegradation Rates for Fuel Hydrocarbons and Chlorinated Solvents in Groundwater, Bioremediation Journal, 3(4): 337-362, 1999.
Rifai, H. S., L. A. Hendricks, K. Kilborn, and P. B. Bedient, A Geographical Information System (GIS) User Interface for Delineating Wellhead Protection Areas, Ground Water, 31(3): 480- 488, 1993.
Bedient, P. B., and H. S. Rifai, Ground Water Contaminant Modeling for Bioremediation: A Review, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 32:225-243, 1992.
Rifai, H. S., and P. B. Bedient, Comparison of Biodegradation Kinetics with an Instantaneous Reaction Model for Groundwater, Water Resources Research, 26 (4), 637-645, 1990.
Rifai, H. S., P. B. Bedient, J. T. Wilson, K. M. Miller, and J. M. Armstrong, Biodegradation Modeling at Aviation Fuel Spill Site, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 114 (5), 1007-1029, 1988.
Books / Book Chapters:
Bedient, P. B., H. S. Rifai, and C. J. Newell, Textbook: Ground Water Contamination: Transport and Remediation, 2nd Edition, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 604 p., 1999.
Weidemeier, T. H., H. S. Rifai, C. J. Newell and J. T. Wilson, Textbook: Natural Attenuation of Fuels and Chlorinated Solvents in the Subsurface, John Wiley and Sons, NY, NY, 617 p., 1999.
Bedient, P. B., H. S. Rifai, and C. J. Newell, Textbook: Ground Water Contamination: Transport and Remediation, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 541 p., 1994.
