Nancy Love receives governor's appointment to Chesapeake Bay Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee

2 Mar 2005

Nancy Love, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and adjunct professor of biology at Virginia Tech, has been appointed to the Governor's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).

The STAC provides scientific and technical guidance to the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) on measures to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay. "This is a very important position in terms of scientific and policy decisions associated with the Bay," said Bill Knocke, department head of civil and environmental engineering.

Since its creation in December of 1984, the STAC has worked to enhance scientific communication and outreach throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed area. The committee provides scientific and technical advice by way of technical reports and papers, discussion groups, assistance in organizing merit reviews of CBP programs and projects, technical conferences and workshops, and service by STAC members on related subcommittees.

As an interdisciplinary researcher, Love is a natural choice for this appointment. Her studies range from biomolecular mechanisms in complex biological systems to practical aspects of full-scale treatment systems. Her research primarily focuses on the role of molecular stress responses in defining the function of complex microbial communities that are used to treat toxic wastes. Love is converting this information into practical tools such as biosensors, monitoring strategies, and decision support networks.

Love has participated in the acquisition of nearly $8.7 million in sponsored projects in support of research, educational and institutional transformation efforts at Virginia Tech, of which $3.8 million is her responsible share. She has a bachelor's and a master's in civil engineering from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in environmental systems engineering from Clemson University.

Love is the recipient of a 1995 NSF CAREER Award, the 2001 Paul L. Busch Award for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research, the 2002 Outstanding Young Alumnae Award from the College of Engineering and Science at Clemson University, and the 2003 Harrison Prescott Eddy Medal from the Water Environment Federation.

For more information about the CBP, go to: www.chesapeakebay.net.