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Christy M. Dykstra, PhD, EIT

Assistant Professor

Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering

5500 Campanile Drive

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA 92182-1324

christy.dykstra@gmail.com

 

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering - Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA - 2017
  • M.S. in Environmental Engineering - Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA - 2014
  • B.S. in Environmental Engineering -  University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL - 2011
  • A.A. in Pre-engineering -  Valencia College, Orlando, FL -  2008

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 2017 – 2018
  • Graduate Assistant,  Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 2016-2017

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Bioelectrochemical systems for energy and nutrient (i.e., N, P) recovery from wastewater.
  • Anaerobic digestion and biogas upgrading technologies to improve energy recovery from existing wastewater treatment facilities.
  • Biotransformation of contaminants and the application of bioelectrochemical systems to in-situ contaminant removal and remediation.
  • Microbial interactions with metals (i.e., iron, heavy metals) and sulfur species (e.g., H2S, S0, SO42-) in natural and engineered environments.

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Georgia Power Fellowship, 2017
  • Water Environment Federation (WEF) Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship, 2016 – 2017
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2012 – 2017
  • Georgia Institute of Technology President’s Fellowship, 2012 – 2016
  • Institute of Paper Science & Technology, Paper Science & Engineering Fellowship, 2012 – 2013
  • Outstanding PhD Student; Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AEES), 2015
  • First Place PhD Student Poster, AEES Spring Symposium, 2015, 2017
  • CH2M HILL Engineers Without Borders Scholarship, 2010 – 2011
  • University of Central Florida, Honors in the Major Research Scholarship, 2009 – 2010

 

PUBLICATIONS

Pan, A., Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G. (in preparation), “Laccase-adsorbed single wall carbon nanotubes as a novel cathode in microbial fuel cells”.

Dykstra, C.M., Costa, B., Pavlostathis, S.G. (under revision), “Bioanode sulfur cycling enhances biocathodic carbon dioxide reduction to methane”.

Dou, Z., Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G. (2018), “Bioelectrochemically assisted anaerobic digestion system for biogas upgrading and enhanced methane production”. Science of the Total Environment, 633(2018), 1012-1021.

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G. (2017), “Zero valent iron enhances biocathodic carbon dioxide reduction to methane”. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(21), 12956-12964.

Dykstra, C., Pavlostathis, S.G. (2017), “Methanogenic biocathode microbial community development and the role of Bacteria”, Environmental Science & Technology, 51(9), 5306-5316.

Dykstra, C., Pavlostathis, S.G. (2017), “Evaluation of gas and carbon transport in a methanogenic bioelectrochemical system (BES)”, Biotechnology & Bioengineering, 114(5), 961-969.

Dykstra, C., Giles, H.D., Banerjee, S., Pavlostathis, S.G. (2015), “Fate of phytosterols in a simulated aerated stabilization basin”, Water Research, 68(1), 589-600.

Dykstra, C., Giles, H.D., Banerjee, S., Pavlostathis, S.G. (2014), “Biotransformation of phytosterols under aerobic conditions”, Water Research, 58(1), 71-81.

Dykstra, C., Giles, H.D., Banerjee, S., Pavlostathis, S.G. (2014), “Biotransformation potential of phytosterols under anoxic and anaerobic conditions”, Water Science and Technology, 69(8), 1661-1668.

 

PRESENTATIONS

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G. “Bioelectrochemical Systems for Anaerobic Digester Biogas Upgrading”, NAXOS 2018, 6th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, June 14, 2018, Naxos Island, Greece.

Dykstra, C.M. “Bioelectrochemical Systems for Energy Recovery from Anaerobic Digestion”, Engineers for a Sustainable World Conference, April 6, 2018, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Biogas Upgrading with a Zero Valent Iron Assisted Bioelectrochemical System”, WEFTEC 2017, October 3, 2017, Chicago, IL

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Sulfide Effect on Biogas Upgrading with a Bioelectrochemical System”, ATHENS 2017 5th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, June 22, 2017, Athens, Greece

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Biogas Upgrading with a Bioelectrochemical System: The Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide”, Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Annual Spring Symposium, April 7, 2017, Atlanta, GA

Pan, A., Dykstra, C.M. Pavlostathis, S.G., “Laccase Coated- Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes as a Viable Alternative to Platinum Based Cathodes in Microbial Fuel Cells”, Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Annual Spring Symposium, April 7, 2017, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Biogas Upgrading and Hydrogen Sulfide Removal with a Zero Valent Iron-Assisted Methanogenic Biocathode”, Georgia Association of Water Professionals Industrial Expo, March 21, 2017, Athens, GA

Dykstra, C.M., “Bioelectrochemical Systems (BESs) for Energy Recovery from Wastewater”, Caltech Young Investigators Lecture Series, March 8, 2017, Pasadena, CA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Pre-enrichment and the Role of Bacteria in a Methanogenic Bioelectrochemical System”, Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Annual Spring Symposium, April 8, 2016, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Biogas Upgrading with a Bioelectrochemical System”, Georgia Association of Water Professionals Industrial Expo, March 30, 2016, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Development and Characterization of Bioelectrochemical System for Biogas Upgrading,” International Water Association 14th World Congress on Anaerobic Digestion, November 17, 2015, Viña del Mar, Chile

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “A Zero Valent Iron Assisted Bioelectrochemical System for the Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Methane”, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Civil and Environmental Engineering Rising Stars Workshop, October 15, 2015, Cambridge, MA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Development of a Continuous Flow Bioelectrochemical System for Biogas Upgrading”, Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Annual Spring Symposium, April 10, 2015, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Giles, H.G., Banerjee, S., Pavlostathis, S.G., “Performance and Phytosterol Fate in a Simulated Aerated Stabilization Basin fed with Pulp and Paper Wastewater”, Georgia Association of Water Professionals Industrial Expo, March 26, 2014, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., Banerjee, S., “Biotransformation of Phytosterols under Anoxic and Anaerobic Conditions”, Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Annual Spring Symposium, April 5, 2013, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Pavlostathis, S.G., Banerjee, S., “Biotransformation of Phytosterols under Anoxic and Anaerobic Conditions”, Institute of Paper Science and Technology Executive Conference, April 18, 2013, Atlanta, GA

Dykstra, C.M., Randall, A., Duranceau, S., “Decolorization of Structurally Different Textile Dyes by a Mixture of Living and Nonliving Trametes versicolor Fungus”, Seventh Annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence, April 1, 2010, Orlando, FL

 

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Sedimentation”, Water Quality Engineering (CEE 4310), Guest Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology, February 2, 2017

“Review of Biological Processes”, Environmental Engineering Principles (CEE 2300), Guest Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology, December 6, 2016

“Introduction to Environmental Engineering”, Environmental Engineering Principles (CEE 2300), Guest Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology, August 23, 2016

“Biological Processes” ”, Environmental Engineering Principles (CEE 2300), Guest Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology, November 12–19, 2015

“Coagulation, Flocculation and Sedimentation”, Water Quality Engineering (CEE 4310), Guest Lecturer, Georgia Institute of Technology, September 16–25, 2014.

 

MENTORING

Jinchen Chen (Ph.D.)

Cheng Cheng (Ph.D.)

Zeou Dou (M.S.)

Siyuan Zhai (M.S.)

Shuo Chen (M.S.)

Bianca Costa (Undergraduate)

Andrew Pan (Undergraduate)

Maya Collins (Undergraduate)

Xiaoying Lu (Postdoctoral Fellow)

Yan Luo (Visiting Scholar)

Leonam Gomes (Visiting Scholar)

 

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS USA 2009 – 2016

Technical Committee Member, Uganda Project

Water Purification Trainer, Haiti Project

Survey Administrator and Data Analyst, Haiti Project

Health and Safety Officer, Haiti Project

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Biogas Council

American Chemical Society (ACS)

American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)

American Water Works Association (AWWA)

Association of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AEES)

Engineers Without Borders USA

Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP)

Water Environment Federation (WEF)

 

CERTIFICATION

ENGINEER INTERN (EIT); Florida Board of Professional Engineers, EI #1100015624