UPAL GHOSH

Professor
Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250.
Phone: 410-455-8665; Fax: 410-455-6500
PUBLICATIONS BIOGRAPHY
News
NIEHS Stories of Success Feature, 2023
Sustainable closed loop aquaculture research
C&E News Podcast interview on failing wastewater treatment plants in Baltimore, 2023
Ohio Train Derailment interview, Baltimore Banner, 2023
Fox 24 Interview on PCB Bioremediation Research
DoD ESTCP Environmental Restoration Project of the Year Co-PI for 2021
Entrepreneur of the Year Award, UMBC 2019
University System of Maryland Board of Regents Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity, 2016
OTHER NEWS FROM THE LAB
Research Projects
Leveraging the chemo-physical interaction of halorespiring bacteria with solid surfaces to enhance halogenated organic compounds bioremediation (NIEHS R01)
Pollutant mass balance and source identification in Anacostia River, DC (DOEE)
Development of novel functionalized polymeric thin films for equilibrium passive sampling of PFAS compounds in surface and groundwater (DoD SERDP)
Innovative blending of large volume dredged materials to reduce pollutant risk and enable sustainable reuse (Maryland Port Admin)
Actively shaken in-situ passive sampler platform for methylmercury and organics (DoD SERDP)
Assessment of contaminant levels in fish caught in Maryland to derive fish consumption advisories (MDE)
In-situ treatment of Mirror Lake sediments to reduce uptake of pollutants in the food web (DNREC)
GRADUATE AND POST DOCTORAL OPENINGS
Teaching
ENCH 427 Heat and Mass Transfer
Environmental Risk Assessment
Environmental Biological Processes
Advanced Analytical Methods
Research Interests
My group performs research in environmental engineering and science with a focus on the fate, effects, and remediation of toxic pollutants in the environment. We use multidisciplinary tools to investigate exposure and bioavailability of organic and metal pollutants to organisms and apply the new understanding to develop novel approaches for risk assessment and remediation. Our research has contributed to the development and transition of sustainable sediment remediation technologies based on altering sediment geochemistry and enhancing biological degradation. Our research is breaking new ground and transforming the way engineering professionals and regulators approach remediation/restoration of polluted aquatic environments. We also led the development of monitoring tools for pollutant bioavailability, especially work on passive sampling for measuring freely dissolved concentrations in water. Our work has been published in the leading journals (Google Scholar)and the technology development has led to several US patents and commercialized technologies. The research contributions have been recognized through multiple awards including the University System of Maryland Board of Regents award for Excellence in Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity in 2016. I am an Associate Editor of the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. I am also a co-founder of two startup companies Sediment Solutions LLC (manufacturer of SediMite), and RemBac Environmental that are transitioning emerging sediment remediation technologies to the field.


Research Group (2021): L to R: Jada, Oindrila, Nathalie, Songjing, Matt, Mandar, Upal, Yu, Louis.


Research Group (2014): L to R: Meg, Eli, Rick (DNREC), James, Huan, Hilda, Jose, Upal, not in picture: Trevor, Natasha.


Research Group (2006): L to R: Joon (Res. Assoc.), Upal, Jeff (M.S.), Piuly (Ph.D.), Katie (M.S.), Adam (M.S.), Barbara (Ph.D.), Phil (Ph.D.), Xueli (Ph.D.), Not in Picture: Sonja (Res. Assoc.), Jennifer (M.S.).


Research Group (2005): L to R: Joon, Piuly, Katie, Nii, Xueli, Upal
Deployment of field exposure cages containing oligochaetes in Grasse River for baseline study. Biological Processes class trip to the Little Patuxent Water Reclamation Plant.