Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Dr. Matthew J. Higgins,
Ph.D. 1995
Associate Professor, Bucknell University

Matthew Higgins earned his BS in 1990 and his MS in 1992 in civil engineering from University of Maine. He received his Ph.D. in environmental engineering in 1995 from Virginia Tech.



Dr. Higgins began teaching in 1995 at Bucknell University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and he is now an associate professor. He teaches courses mainly in environmental engineering but also teaches fluid mechanics, water resources, and a course in engineering graphics. He was a member of the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Project Catalyst – A Catalyst for Change in Engineering Education – which aimed to improve the classroom experience of engineering students by incorporating active learning and problem based instruction into the classroom. Prior to teaching at Bucknell, Dr. Higgins was a teaching and

research assistant at Virginia Tech in CEE for four years and worked as an environmental engineer for CH2M Hill in Bangor, Maine from 1991-92. His other work experiences included construction, lobstering off the coast of Maine, and an engineering technician at an architectural firm.



At Bucknell, he was the faculty advisor to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter for five years. He is also a member of the ASCE, the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, the Water Environment Federation, and the International Water Association.



In 2002, he earned the ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering Editor’s Award for outstanding service to the organization and profession. Dr. Higgins was also awarded the CH2M Hill National Foundation Award in 2001; was nominated for a DuPont Young Faculty Award in 2000; and was awarded the NSF-New Century Scholars Workshop Award in 1999.



Dr. Higgins’ work has focused on both water and wastewater treatment. His main research interests are in the area of mechanisms of bioflocculation and the role of biopolymer (especially protein) in bioflocculation, conditioning, dewatering and odor production from biosolids as well as the application of molecular tools for solving environmental engineering problems. He has also recently started research on the transformation and removal of organic compounds such as personal care products in water and wastewater treatment systems.



He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society as well as Chi Epsilon, a civil engineering honor society. Dr. Higgins won first place in the Water Environment Federation’s Student Paper Competition in 1991, in the bachelors/masters category. He won the Virginia Water Environment Association’s Best Student Paper Presentation in 1995. In 1993, he was a recipient of the Edna Bailey Sussman Fund Internship Grant and was the first scholarship recipient of the Southwest Virginia Solid Waste Management Association Scholarship.



Dr. Higgins is responsible for more than $1.25 million in research funding, with support from entities such as the NSF and The Water Environment Research Foundation and several large municipalities. His work often ranges from understanding fundamental mechanisms of processes through full-scale application of the concepts that are developed. His work has led to numerous publications and presentations at conferences, workshops and seminars.



He has been married to Patti for 13 years and they have two sons, Ben and Zach. They met at Virginia Tech and currently live in the woods of Lewisburg, Pa. where they enjoy hiking, biking, making maple syrup, and anything to do with snow.