Alison Cupples
Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Engr Rsch Complex, 1449 Engineering Research Ct Room A135
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
Read moreEducation
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
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)
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Read morePublications
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
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
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
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