Alison Cupples

Contact Information

Engineering Research Complex
1449 Engineering Research Ct
Room: A135
East Lansing , MI 48824

(517) 432-3370

cupplesa@msu.edu

Faculty Website

Professor

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Biography

Dr. Alison Cupples is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her research focuses on the application of microbiology to understand and treat soil and water contamination. This includes the identification of the microorganisms and functional genes involved in biodegradation of traditional, problematic contaminants (chlorinated solvents, BTEX, MTBE, RDX, 1,4-dioxane) and emerging contaminants (antimicrobials, pharmaceuticals and personal care products). Her work also involves the application of molecular methods to environmental microbiology including quantitative PCR, stable isotope probing, LAMP, high throughout sequencing, as well as the occurrence and fate of emerging contaminants in engineered and natural systems.

Education

  • Ph.D., Environmental Engineering and Science, Stanford University 2003
  • M.S., Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois 1999
  • B.S., Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, England 1997

Selected Publications

  1. Eshghdoostkhatami, Z., Li., Z., Faghihinezhad, M. and A. M. Cupples. “Characterization of propanotrophic enrichments from agricultural soils capable of 1,4-dioxane biodegradation to sub-µg/L levels”. Science of the Total Environment. 1005, 180824. 2025
  2. Faghihinezhad, M., Eshghdoostkhatami, Z., Bernstein, A. and A. M. Cupples. “Identification of the dominant methanotrophs in trichloroethene degrading enrichment cultures from multiple sources”. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 499, 140268. 2025
  3. Li, Zheng, Eshghdoostkhatami, Z. and A. M. Cupples. “Biodegradation rates of low concentrations of 1,4-dioxane in impacted site sediments and agricultural soils and an investigation of the microorganisms and genes involved”. Environmental Pollution. 381, 126513. 2025
  4. Li, Zheng and A. M. Cupples. “Impact of yeast extract and basal salts medium on 1,4-dioxane biodegradation rates and the microorganisms involved in carbon uptake from 1,4-dioxane”. Environmental Pollution. 362, 125014. 2024
  5. Dar Tafazul Islam, Williams, M. R., Teppen, B. J., Johnston, C. T., Li, H., Boyd, S. A., Zylstra, G. J., Fennell, D. E., Cupples, A. M. and Syed A. Hashsham. “ Comprehensive model for predicting toxic equivalents (TEQ) reduction due to dechlorination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F Congeners)”. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 480, 135749. 2024.
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MSU Scholars (Publications)

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Google Scholar (Publications)

Awards

  • Service Award, American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), Division of Environmental Engineering (2021)
  • Withrow Teaching Excellence Award (2015-2016)
  • Lilly Teaching Fellow, MSU (2011-2012)
  • Excellence in Review Award, Environmental Science & Technology (2011)
  • North American Endowment Environmental Engineering Travel Award (2009)
  • Superior Research in Environmental Microbiology Award, USDA-ARS (2005)
  • Superior Research Accomplishments in Microbiology Award, USDA-ARS (2004)
  • Alumni Award for Graduate Student Travel, UIUC (1998)

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