Background and Research Interests

    Dr. Jorge Gardea-Torresdey is the Dudley Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Science and Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

He is currently the Chair of the Department Chemistry at UTEP.  He received his PhD from New Mexico State University in 1988. The research interests of Dr. Gardea include: applications of spectroscopy techniques in environmental chemistry; phytoremediation, novel methods for the bioproduction of nanoparticles and study of the fate of nanoparticles in the environment, among others. His current research is funded by the US NIH, DOE, EPA, USDA, and the NSF. He is a co-investigator in the NSF/EPA funded “Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology.”

He has authored over 350 publications and issued 5 US patents for environmental remediation. Dr. Gardea has graduated 25 PhD. Students (21in Environmental Science and Engineering and 3 in Chemistry), and 27 students have received their M.Sc. degrees under his mentorship. Also he has mentored more than 35 undergraduate students in research.

The scientific contributions of Dr. Gardea have allowed him to receive many honors throughout his professional life. Recently, his research achievements are highlighted in the Lawrence Hall of Science of the University of California Berkeley. He received the 2009 SACNAS Distinguished Scientist of the Year Award and he was just awarded the 2012 Piper Professor Award, which is the most prestigious honor conferred to a Professor in the State of Texas.

Dr. Gardea’s career has been highlighted by the most important Journals in Science and Engineering, including the October 28, 2009 issue of Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) and the December 3, 2009 Issue of Nature. He was Editor of the Journal of hazardous material from 2007 to 2010 and in January 1, 2011, he was appointed Associate Editor of ES&T, which is ranked # 1 in the world in the fields of Environmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering. 

Awards and Activities

2012 Piper Professor Award, which is the most prestigious honor conferred to a Professor in the State of Texas.

2012 Grand Marshal at Commencement ceremony 

2011 UTEP Green Award

2011 UTEP Finalist for the State of Texas's Piper Award

2011 UTEP College of Science Distinguished Teaching Award

Associate Editor, Environmental Science and Technology, Jan. 2011 - Present.

2009 SACNAS Distinguished Scientist of the YEAR Award

Editor, The Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2006-2010

Editorial Advisory Board of the Environmental Science and
Technology Journal, 2006

Nominated for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2006

Research Mentorship Award, October 2005

Member of the Governor of Texas' Emerging Technology Committee, 2005.

Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas Invited Fellow, 2005.

Distinguished recognition at the Lawrence Hall of Science,
University of California Berkeley, 2004

American Microchemical Society's Benedetti-Pichler Award, 2004 

Member of the International Advisory Committee of Southern and Eastern Africa Network of Analytical Chemistry (SEANAC), 2003

Exceptional Leadership Award, UTEP-Environmental Science and
Engineering, 2003

Border Environment in the Paso del Norte Region Outstanding Award, 2002

Dudley Professorship Awarded at University of Texas at El Paso, 2001

University of Texas at El Paso Distinguished Achievement Award for
Research, 2001