June 14, 2018 McMahon wins award for microbial ecology and water research Written By: Tom Ziemer Departments: Civil & Environmental Engineering Categories: Awards Katherine (Trina) McMahon, a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been recognized among the world leaders at the intersection of microbial ecology and water and wastewater treatment research. McMahon is one of two grand prize recipients of the International Society for Microbial Ecology/International Water Association Bio Cluster Award, which is presented every two years. The award “rewards interdisciplinary research of unusual merit in this field” as chosen by world-leading experts, according to the organizations. Wen-Tso Liu of the University of Illinois was the other grand prize recipient, while Ameet Pinto of Northeastern University won a rising star prize. The winners will receive their awards at the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition in September in Tokyo.