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Belinda Sturm

Professor and Department Head

Areas of Interest

Wastewater Treatment, Biofuel Production, Resource Recovery from Wastewater, Water Quality, Environmental Impact Assessment

  • Ph.D. in Civil Engineering & Geological Sciences, School of Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2005
  • BSPH in Environmental Science & Engineering, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2000

  • Water Environment Federation Volunteer Service Recognition Award, 2025
  • Water Environment Federation / Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors / American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Master Lecturer, WEFTEC, 2023
  • Paul L. Busch Award, The Water Research Foundation, 2022
  • Ross McKinney Endowed Faculty Fellow, University of Kansas, 2022
  • Martha Hahn Best Abstract Award, Municipal Wastewater Design Symposium, Water Environment Federation, 2020
  • University Sustainability Faculty Leadership Award, University of Kansas, 2020

  • Jimenez J, Bauhs K, Miller M, Dold P, Al-Omari A, Garrido M, Hiripitiyage D, Wittman M, Burger G, Chandran K, and Sturm B. 2026. “Low dissolved oxygen nitrification through kinetic selection.” Water Research, 288 Part A, DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.
  • Belinda McSwain Sturm, PhD Curriculum Vitae Poli JV, Tabaka DV, Garcia MR, Sturm BSM, and Stagg-Williams SM. 2025.
  • “Hydrothermal liquefaction of sludge: impact of enhanced biological phosphorus removal and lime addition on product characteristics.” Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 13(5), DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.118085. Romero AD, Poli JV, Larson S, Stagg-Williams, Carter R, and Sturm BSM. 2025.
  • “Inhibition of nitrifying bacteria from heterocyclic N-containing organic compounds from municipal sludge hydrothermal liquefaction.” Frontiers in Chemical Engineering, 7, DOI: 10.3389/fceng.2025.1532958. Frazier CF, Harris TD, DelSontro T, Grossart H-P, Sturm BSM, Murry JM, and Ising A. 2025.
  • “Phytoplakton abundance and methane emissions are minimally impacted by environmentally-relevant glyphosate concentrations in small-scale outdoor mesocosms.” Water Research, 283, DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.123764. Princiotta S, Hiripitiyage Y, Holen D, Kellogg J, Sturm B, and Harris T. 2025.
  • “Nutrient limitation determines biological interactions between a mixotrophic Chrysophyte and toxin-producing Microcystis.” Journal of Plankton Research, 47(1), DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbae067.