Skip to main content
Christy Remucal

Christy Remucal

Professor

Dr. Remucal’s Aquatic Chemistry research group works in two major areas. First, we investigate the transformation of polar organic contaminants in both natural and engineering aquatic systems. Contaminants of interests include aquatic pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We are interested in photochemical reaction mechanisms, oxidative transformation at mineral surfaces, and fate in conventional and advanced drinking water treatment systems. Second, we study the molecular composition and reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM). We couple optical properties and analysis by high resolution mass spectrometry to assess the reactivity of DOM in lakes and engineered treatment systems. By studying fundamental reaction mechanisms, our group aims to develop models and real-world applications that can be used to improve water quality.

Department

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Contact

271, Goodnight Hall
1975 Willow Dr
Madison, WI

  • PhD 2009, Univ. of California-Berkeley
  • MS 2004, Univ. of California-Berkeley
  • BS 2003, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • 2024 Lakies Award for Great Lakes Research of the Year
  • 2023 University of Wisconsin-Madison, H.I. Romnes Faculty Fellowship
  • 2022 ACS ES&T Water , Best Paper Award
  • 2022 College of Engineering, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, Ragnar Onstad Service to Society Award
  • 2021 ACS ES&T Water , Best Paper Award
  • 2020 College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Benjamin Smith Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • 2020 ESWRT, HOT Article; Among top 10 percent of papers in 2020
  • 2019 Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, Outstanding Reviewer Award
  • 2019 ES&T and ES&T Letters, Young Investigator Award
  • 2018 Environmental Science and Technology Letters, Excellence in Review Award
  • 2018 ESPI, HOT Article; Among top 10 percent of papers in 2018
  • 2018 Royal Society of Chemistry, Included collection – Celebrating excellence in research: 100 years of chemistry
  • 2017 ESPI , HOT Article; Among top 10 percent of papers in 2017
  • 2016 Environmental Science and Technology, Excellence in Review Award
  • 2016 Environmental Sciences: Processes and Impacts, Top 10 Reviewer Award
  • 2016 University of Wisconsin-Madison, University Honored Instructor
  • 2015 National Science Foundation, NSF CAREER Award
  • 2014 ESPI, HOT Article; Among top 20 most downloaded articles in 2014
  • 2010 ETC, Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • 2008 American Chemical Society Division of Environmental Chemistry, Graduate Student Paper Award
  • 2008 University of California, Berkeley, Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
  • 2003 National Science Foundation, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

  • Pomazal, R., Malecki, K., Stanton, N., Shelton, B., Lange, M., Irving, R., Meiman, J., Remucal, C., Cochran, A., & Schultz, A. A. (2024). Determinants of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure among Wisconsin residents. Environmental Research, 254, 119131.
  • Swenson, J. T., Ginder-Vogel, M., & Remucal, C. (2024). Influence of Divalent Cation Inhibition and Dissolved Organic Matter Enhancement on Phenol Oxidation Kinetics by Manganese Oxides. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(5), 2479--2489.
  • Van Frost, S. R., White, A. M., Jauquet, J. M., Magness, A. M., McMahon, K. D., & Remucal, C. (2024). Laboratory measurements underestimate persistence of the aquatic herbicide fluridone in lakes. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 26(2), 368--379.
  • Milstead, R. P., Horvath, E. R., & Remucal, C. (2023). Dissolved organic matter composition determines its susceptibility to complete and partial photooxidation within lakes. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(32), 11876--11885.
  • Berg, S. M., Wammer, K. H., & Remucal, C. (2023). Dissolved organic matter photoreactivity is determined by its optical properties, redox activity, and molecular composition. Environmental science & technology, 57(16), 6703--6711.
  • Bulson, E. E., Remucal, C., & Hicks, A. L. (2023). End-of-life circulation of PFAS in metal recycling streams: A sustainability-focused review. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 194, 106978.
  • Bulman, D. M., Milstead, R. P., & Remucal, C. (2023). Formation of targeted and novel disinfection byproducts during chlorine photolysis in the presence of bromide. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(47), 18877--18887.
  • Chin, Y., McKnight, D. M., D’Andrilli, J., Brooks, N., Cawley, K., Guerard, J., Perdue, E. M., Stedmon, C. A., Tratnyek, P. G., Westerhoff, P., & others, (2023). Identification of next-generation International Humic Substances Society reference materials for advancing the understanding of the role of natural organic matter in the Anthropocene. Aquatic Sciences, 85(1), 32.
  • Milstead, R. P., Berg, S. M., Kelly, B. M., Knellwolf, C. D., Larson, C. J., Wammer, K. H., & Remucal, C. (2023). Limitations of conventional approaches to identify photochemically produced reactive intermediates involved in contaminant indirect photodegradation. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 25(10), 1694--1707.
  • White, A. M., Van Frost, S. R., Jauquet, J. M., Magness, A. M., McMahon, K. D., & Remucal, C. (2023). Quantifying the role of simultaneous transformation pathways in the fate of the novel aquatic herbicide florpyrauxifen-benzyl. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(33), 12421--12430.

  • CHEM 699 - Directed Study (Spring 2025)
  • CHEM 990 - Research (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2025)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Spring 2025)
  • CHEM 699 - Directed Study (Fall 2024)
  • CHEM 990 - Research (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Fall 2024)
  • CHEM 990 - Research (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Summer 2024)
  • CHEM 699 - Directed Study (Spring 2024)
  • CHEM 980 - Seminar: Review of Current Research (Spring 2024)
  • CHEM 990 - Research (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Spring 2024)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Spring 2024)
  • CHEM 699 - Directed Study (Fall 2023)
  • CHEM 980 - Seminar: Review of Current Research (Fall 2023)
  • CHEM 990 - Research (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 322 - Environmental Engineering Processes (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 699 - Independent Study (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 790 - Master's Research or Thesis (Fall 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Fall 2023)
  • CHEM 990 - Research (Summer 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 890 - Pre-Dissertator's Research (Summer 2023)
  • CIV ENGR 990 - Thesis (Summer 2023)
  • INTEGSCI 299 - Independent Study (Summer 2023)