Dr. Simoni Triantafyllidou was born and raised in Greece, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Crete. She first came to the USA in 2004 to pursue a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech. From 2004 to 2006 she was a graduate teaching assistant and a graduate research assistant in the Environmental and Water Resources (EWR) program area of the civil engineering department.
Triantafyllidou’s masters research led to 5 high-quality peer reviewed publications, including 4 in the Journal American Water Works Association (JAWWA). Her work evaluated US federal regulations, industry standards, and drinking water utilities’ practical experiences associated with lead (Pb) contamination of tap water. That work was externally acknowledged by winning national 1st place awards in two prestigious masters thesis competitions in 2007: one sponsored by the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) and the other by the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Dr. Triantafyllidou inevitably returned to Virginia Tech in 2008 to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Water Resources. Motivated by cases of childhood lead poisoning, she conducted laboratory/ modeling/ field work related to lead contamination of drinking water and the associated public health risk. Her core Ph.D. work resulted in 6 peer reviewed papers (4 as primary author). In 2012, an external review panel from AEESP awarded Dr. Triantafyllidou the Paul V. Roberts/AEESP Outstanding Dissertation Award nationally for Environmental Engineering. This annual award recognizes a rigorous and innovative doctoral dissertation that advances the science and practice of water quality engineering. During her Ph.D. studies, Dr. Triantafyllidou also taught CEE 3104 (Introduction to Environmental Engineering) as part of the CEE Academic Preparation Program.
Dr. Triantafyllidou is currently a post-doctoral research fellow at the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development in Cincinnati, OH. She is the principal investigator in several research projects related to drinking water quality. Some of her recent work involves field investigations of harmful contaminants in drinking water distribution systems and in drinking water outlets of large buildings. Her research interests include aquatic chemistry, corrosion science, drinking water quality/treatment, sustainable drinking water infrastructure and public health. Dr. Triantafyllidou is actively involved in several professional organizations, including the International Water Association (IWA), AWWA and AEESP.
Simoni is very thankful for her years at Virginia Tech and tries to visit Blacksburg and the civil engineering department at every opportunity. She wishes to thank everyone in the department, and particularly in Environmental Water Resources, for making her graduate studies so meaningful and so rewarding.