Dr. Bruce E. Rittmann is a pioneering leader in environmental biotechnology and a preeminent authority on harnessing microbial communities for societal benefit. He currently serves as Regents' Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology at Arizona State University, where he has driven transformative research since joining the faculty in 2005. Prior to his tenure at ASU, Dr. Rittmann held prominent positions at Northwestern University as the John Evans Professor of Environmental Engineering from 1992 to 2004 and established his research career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he rose from assistant to full professor between 1980 and 1988. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Washington University in 1974 and completed his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at Stanford University under the guidance of Professor Perry McCarty.
Dr. Rittmann's groundbreaking research on biofilm fundamentals has revolutionized environmental engineering, earning him election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2004 for pioneering the development of biofilm science and its application in cleaning contaminated waters, soils, and ecosystems. His seminal work has established the scientific foundation for managing microbial communities to provide critical services including renewable energy generation, water and soil remediation, and human health improvements. The textbook Environmental Biotechnology Principles and Applications which he co-authored has become the global standard reference used by universities worldwide to educate students on microbial applications for environmental quality. His research has directly influenced environmental engineering practices globally with applications spanning bioremediation of contaminated sites development of microbial fuel cells for renewable energy and advanced water treatment systems that protect public health.
Beyond his research achievements Dr Rittmann has significantly shaped the environmental engineering field through leadership roles including President of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors and editorial positions with major journals. He has received numerous prestigious honors including the Stockholm Water Prize in 2018 recognition as a Fellow of multiple professional societies and the R I Clarke Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Water Science and Technology. As Director of the Swette Center he continues to advance innovative approaches to sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary research that bridges environmental engineering microbiology and systems thinking. His current work focuses on developing next-generation biotechnologies that address pressing global challenges in water security renewable energy production and sustainable resource management ensuring his continued influence on both scientific advancement and practical environmental solutions for decades to come.
