Civil and environmental professor is first recipient of new award series

Published: Apr 15, 2021 12:00 AM

By Alyssa Turner

The accolades for Lauren Beckingham continue to pile up.

The civil and environmental engineering assistant professor, who in 2019 received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early CAREER Development award for her work in environmental engineering, and in 2020 secured a NSF Major Research Instrumentation Award, is now the first recipient of the Emerging Investigator award from the Journal of Applied Geochemistry presented by the International Association of Geochemistry (IAGC).

Beckingham won the award for her paper with Ph.D. candidate Fanqi Qin “The impact of mineral reactive surface area variation on simulated mineral reactions and reaction rates.”

The IAGC Emerging Investigator award series was launched in January to highlight the work of independent researchers that brings innovative insight into the field of geochemistry and its applications.

Beckingham’s paper helps define the necessary approach and analysis needed to accurately simulate water-rock interactions in environmental systems. But she is quick to credit her most recent success to the 23 undergraduate and eight graduate research assistants.

“I am fortunate to work with a great group of students,” Beckingham said, noting that the article features excellent work from doctoral candidate Fanqi Qin.

Andrzej Nowak, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, attests to Beckingham’s enthusiasm for student development.

“We are very proud to have Dr. Beckingham in our department,” Novak said. “She has established a successful research and education program in environmental engineering that aligns with the department’s mission to prepare civil and environmental engineering students for professional careers.”

Media Contact: Jeremy Henderson, jdh0123@auburn.edu, 334-844-3591

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