November 23, 2016

Dr. Gregory Characklis

Dr. Gregory Characklis

Gregory Characklis, PhD, professor of environmental sciences and engineering in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and director of the Center for Watershed Science and Management in the UNC Institute for the Environment, has been named the Philip C. Singer Distinguished Professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the Gillings School.

The professorship was announced at a reception held Nov. 11 to honor Philip Singer, PhD, professor emeritus of environmental sciences and engineering at UNC Gillings.

Characklis, who earned a doctoral degree from Rice University in 1999, joined the UNC faculty in 2001 and became director of the Center for Watershed Science and Management in 2011.

His research interests include the development of improved strategies for managing water supply and treatment systems, exploration of the economic and environmental trade-offs associated with energy production (e.g., hydropower and biofuels), and the management of environmental financial risks.

He has obtained more than $17 million in extramural funding to support his work and has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. In 2011, he was named a Leopold Leadership Fellow by Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment; in 2014, he was invited to the U.S. Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium, a premiere honor bestowed by the National Academies of Sciences for distinguished young scientists. In 2015, Characklis completed a term as president of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, an organization in which both he and Singer have been active.

“Professor Characklis is an outstanding choice to further Dr. Singer’s legacy,” said Barbara Turpin, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering. “He integrates engineering and economic principles to develop sustainable, systems-based approaches for effective water quality management, energy production decision-making and environmental risk management. His work and the engaged research of his students, while at UNC and in their subsequent careers, have made positive impacts on water management planning in communities across the country. We wish Greg a long and productive career on our faculty as the Singer Distinguished Professor.”

Drs. Gregory Characklis and Philip Singer were honored by current and former department faculty.

Drs. Gregory Characklis (center, standing) and Philip Singer (center, seated) were honored by current and former department faculty, shown here.

Turpin also said that the professorship is a fitting tribute to Singer’s contributions to the study of drinking water quality, as well as a testament to his career-long devotion to students, friends and colleagues.

“Phil’s dedication to public health protection, to his profession, to this institution and to our alumni make us all proud,” she shared.

An alumnus of Northwestern University and Harvard University, Singer is an internationally renowned expert in water-quality issues, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and recipient of numerous awards. His scholarly work has been documented in more than 240 scientific articles. Currently, he serves on the Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee, which provides guidance on long-term solutions to the water issues in Flint, Mich.

The fundraising effort for the Singer Professorship was championed by Singer’s former students and spearheaded by Doug Owen, MS, who earned a master’s degree in environmental sciences and engineering from UNC in 1982. 92 members of the Gillings School community, from 21 different states, came together to honor Singer by contributing to the professorship fund. The average gift was more than $3,000, with the total contributed and matching funds from the state bringing the amount in the professorship fund to more than $500,000.

“It is a great honor to be awarded the Singer Distinguished Professorship  all the more so as it is named for Phil,” said Characklis. “I had the great honor of working with him as a young faculty member and consider him an ideal role model, one who perfectly blended excellence in research with superb teaching and selfless devotion to service.”


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Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: David Pesci, director of communications, (919) 962-2600 or dpesci@unc.edu

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