Michael Vincent Liga

Educational Background:

Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University (-Present)

M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University

B.S. (Honors), Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering with minors in
mathematics and biochemistry, University of Arizona.

Professional Background:

Agricultural Engineer with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Monterey, CA (2004-2007).
Licensed Civil Engineer (CA)

Development of a high efficiency photocatalyst for virus inactivation in drinking water.  This research is a collaborative effort with several groups in the Chemistry department at Rice.  We synthesize composite photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide using various dopants.  The resulting photocatalysts are tested for activity against a model organic pollutant (congo red dye) and a model virus (bacteriophage MS2).  Our composite catalysts have been found to inactivate viruses over five times faster than the base titanium dioxide material.  Future research will be focused on inactivating pathogenic adenovirus, which is of concern to the drinking water treatment industry.  We will also attempt the construction of a lab scale treatment reactor employing the photocatalyst.