Lutgarde Raskin, a pioneering environmental engineer whose work has fundamentally reshaped the study and management of microbial communities in water systems, has been appointed the Goizueta Foundation Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science, effective July 1.
Raskin, a member of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, joined the Yale faculty in 2026. Her arrival at Yale follows a distinguished career at the University of Michigan, where she served as the Vernon L. Snoeyink Distinguished University Professor, and a 12-year tenure as a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Her influence on the field is profound. In the early 1990s, Raskin pioneered the application of molecular biology tools to environmental engineering—a breakthrough that helped establish environmental biotechnology as a core sub-discipline. By applying biomolecular techniques to characterize microbial communities in engineered systems, she provided researchers with the means to solve complex water treatment problems that had previously been considered intractable. Today, the methods she helped develop serve as a standard in virtually every environmental engineering program worldwide.
Raskin’s current research focuses on the “microbiome of the engineered water cycle,” aiming to advance human and environmental health through sustainable infrastructure design. Her laboratory investigates critical areas such as drinking water distribution, biofiltration, and building plumbing systems. By balancing the management of beneficial microorganisms with the suppression of opportunistic pathogens, her work helps ensure safer water delivery.
Furthermore, her group is at the forefront of circular economy solutions. By developing anaerobic biotechnologies—some inspired by rumen biomimicry—Raskin’s research enables the conversion of organic waste into valuable resources, including renewable natural gas and medium-chain carboxylic acids. This research has played a pivotal role in shifting global water and waste sectors toward biological treatment strategies, promoting them as viable and sustainable alternatives to conventional, resource-intensive approaches.
Recognition for her contributions is extensive. In 2021, Raskin was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering for her role in applying genetic tools to improve anaerobic biological water treatment. Her accolades include the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Simon W. Freese Environmental Engineering Award and the Water Research Foundation’s Paul L. Busch Award. She is an elected fellow of multiple professional organizations, including the American Academy of Microbiology and the International Water Association, and she holds an Honorary Doctorate from KU Leuven, Belgium.
Beyond the laboratory, Raskin has established herself as a dedicated educator and mentor. Throughout her career, she has guided more than 200 students, including 32 Ph.D. students and 22 postdoctoral researchers. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes scientific rigor, creative problem-solving, and the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle global environmental challenges. In 2017, she was honored with the University of Michigan Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award for her commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers.
As a member of the Yale faculty, Raskin continues to lead initiatives aimed at improving the sustainability of water and energy systems. Her interdisciplinary expertise strengthens Yale Engineering’s broader mission to address the most pressing environmental hurdles of the 21st century.
Raskin holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in both bioscience engineering and economics from KU Leuven, and she earned her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As she assumes the Goizueta Foundation Professorship, her work remains central to the evolution of environmental engineering, bridging the gap between molecular-level science and large-scale infrastructure solutions for a more sustainable future.
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