Burzik Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
My research lab focuses on the areas of water chemistry, water treatment, and environmental nanotechnology. We conduct research on interdisciplinary topics such as innovative water treatment processes including the use of nanotechnology, low impact development, water quality monitoring, and physiochemical interactions of contaminants to the built environment.
Research Thrusts
Research Projects
6/30/2017-6/29/2021 “Graduate Fellowship Program in Nuclear Safety: Critical Thinking, Research Skills and Professional Development” Sponsored by Nuclear Regulatory Commission $399,351, PI-Shipley, Co-PI Montoya
6/1/2017-5/31/2020 “Rain Gardens to Improve Stormwater Treatment at the University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus” Sponsored by City of San Antonio $1,069,663, PI-Giacomoni Co-PI Shipley
3/14/2017-3/13/2018 “Understanding Interactions of Chemical Contaminants to DOE Facility Materials using Spectroscopic Techniques” Sponsored by DOE $273,134, PI-Shipley, Co-PIs Montoya and Nash
1/1/2017-12/31/2017 “Synthesis of Nano Embedded Zeolites for Water Pollutant Removal” Sponsored by NSF $65,000, PI-Shipley, Co-PI Nash
9/1/2016-8/31/2017 “Molecular characterization and quorum sensing of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) bacteria in pipeline populations.” Sponsored by CONNECT Program $125,000, PI-Shipley UTSA Reeves-SwRI, Co-PI Lamas-Samanamud, Gauge, and Lange.
3/1/2016-2/31/2017 “Monitoring Stormwater Quality at UTSA Main Campus”, Sponsored by San Antonio River Authority $15,000, PI-Giacomoni, Co-PI-Shipley
3/1/2016-2/31/2017 “Monitoring Stormwater Quality at UTSA Main Campus”, Sponsored by Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance $28,700, PI-Giacomoni, Co-PI-Shipley
10/1/2015-8/31/2018 “The Role of Cell-to-Cell Communication in Micro-Aeruginosa Blooms”, Sponsored by National Science Foundation $290,468, PI-Shipley
8/1/2015 – 7/31/20 “S-STEM: Scholarship Program for Undergraduates Retention and Success (SPURS)”, Sponsored by National Science Foundation $626,890, PI-Shipley, Co-PI Castillo, Bizios, Guo
10/1/2014 – 9/31/2016 “Opportunities for Higher Education and Research Experience in Renewable Energy and Water Quality to Enable STEM Hispanic Leaders” Sponsored by US Dept. of Agriculture $200,000, PI- Castillo, Co-PI Shipley, Chen, Giacomoni
10/1/2014 – 10/1/2015 “Activated Sludge Aeration Waste Heat for Membrane Evaporation of Desalination Brine Concentrate: A Bench Scale Collaborative Study”, Sponsored by US Bureau of Reclamation $97,587, PI-Johnson, Co-PI Shipley and Esther Harrah
9/1/2014-8/31/2015 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) “Support for Historical Data Review and Source Analysis for Lower Leon River Watershed,” Sponsored by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality” $68,381.00, PI-Johnson, Co-PI Shipley
8/1/2014-7/31/2016 NSF “ADVANCE IT-Catalyst: Institutional Self-Study on Women Faculty in STEM and SBS Disciplines at UTSA” $168,000, PI-Frederick and Shipley Co-PIs Acevedo, Sponsel
5/1/2014-9/30/2014 Texas Workforce Commission “Governor’s Summer Merit Robotics Camp” $100,000, PI-Shipley, Co-PI: Wan
9/1/2013-8/31/2014 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) “Support for Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring in Lower Leon Creek”, $50,000, PI-Pei, Co-PI: Shipley and Johnson
7/1/2011-6/30/2013 Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Lean Systems “Wastewater Improvements and Lean Transformation, The Nugget Company, Inc”, $56,000, PI- Shipley, Co-PI-HungDa Wan
9/1/10 to 8/31/11 Interactive Technology Experience Center-UTSA “Discover Where Your Water Comes From”, $20,000, PI-Shipley, affiliated faculty member
9/1/09 to 4/30/10 University of Texas-San Antonio Health Science Center “Excretion and Toxicity of Gold-Iron Nanoparticles”, $9,600, PI-Shipley, sub-contract
8/1/09 to 7/31/12 NSF OCI 0923468 “Acquisition of an Integrated System for Advanced Visualization with Haptic Feedback Control” $495,700, PI- Yusheng Feng co-PI- Harry Millwater, Heather Shipley, Brent Nowak, Ruyan Guo
8/1/09 to 7/31/14 NSF CREST “SiViRT: Integrating High Performance Computing in Research and Education” $5,000,000, PI-Harry Millwater, Member of Center- Shipley (my part ~$200,000)
1/1/09 to 8/31/09 UTSA TRAC Grant “Environmental Fate of Metal-containing and Carbonaceous Nanoparticles”, $22,000, PI-Shipley
11/14/08 to 12/31/09 San Antonio Water Systems “Hydrogen Sulfide Project”, $55,000, PI-Drew Johnson, co-PI-Shipley
8/1/08 to 7/31/11 NSF Award No: EEC-0823685 “BRIGE Program: Sorption Behavior of Contaminants to Manufactured Nanomaterials for Potential Use as Remediation and Water Treatment Technologies”, $174,054, PI-Shipley
We are always looking for motivated individuals to join our research group. Possible positions are listed below.
Graduate Student Openings: Students with a B.S or M.S in Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering or related fields are encouraged to apply.
Postdoctoral Research Associates: Individuals with a Ph.D. in Chemistry, Environmental Engineering or related fields are encouraged to apply.
If you are interested, send your CV to Dr. Heather Shipley by email.
Current Students
Master’s
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Selected Media Stories