The University of Toledo

Professor of Ecology
Director, Environmental Remediation & Restoration Lab

Research and Teaching Interests:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Bioremediation, Phytoremediation
• Natural Attenuation
• Microbial Physiology, Genetics

(419) 530-2661 | daryl.dwyer@utoledo.edu

Research objectives encompass modeling and understanding the interactions of soil, water, and plants and restoring converted or degraded sites to native habitat with sustainable design as a remediation goal. Current projects include:

The modeling and design of treatment wetlands to remove chemical contaminants, such as arsenic and other heavy metals, from water and soil.

The design of alternative landfill covers that rely on evapotranspiration to control leachate formation in older landfills such as those that are prevalent in Northwest Ohio.

The characterization of hydrodynamic, meteorlogical, and watershed variables in the fate and transport of bacterial and viral pathogens at the public swimming beaches of Maumee Bay for the development of a passive biological treatment system.

• EEES - 2150 BIODIVERSITY [3 hours]
  Examination of the diversity of life on earth and its evolution, systematics and behavior; the structure of ecosystems, and concepts of population and community ecology. [Fall] Natural Sciences core course.
• EEES - 4510 ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY [3 hours]
  The diversity of microbial life and activities, the functioning of microbial ecosystems in energy and carbon flow and remediation of polluted environments, and the detection and control of pathogens. [taught when demand warrants] Prerequisite: EEES 2150 and CHEM 1230 or consent of instructor.
• EEES - 4520 BIOREMEDIATION [3 hours]
  The environmental fate and transport of contaminants; their transformation and biodegradation by plants and microorganisms; bioremediation strategies, including solid phase, slurry phase, and vapor-phase treatments, and natural attenuation. [taught when demand warrants] Corequisite: EEES 2150 and CHEM 1230 or consent of instructor.
• EEES - 4530 PHYTOREMEDIATION PRINCIPLES [3 hours]
  Course describes the process of phytoremediation with references to both physiological modes of uptake and transformation of contaminants to field applications. [taught when demand warrants] Prerequisite: EEES 2150 and CHEM 1230 or consent of instructor.
• EEES – 3900 LITERATURE AND COMMUNICATIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES [3 hours]
  Includes discussions of environmental issues featuring guest experts from a variety of environmental-related occupations, readings in environmental literature and student reports on projects and internships. [Spring] Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (Taught as a writing intensive course)
• EEES – 4980 SPECIAL TOPICS: ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATE [1 - 4 hours]
  An advanced undergraduate course covering some aspect of the environmental sciences not covered in the formal upper-division undergraduate curriculum. Student may repeat the course for different topics. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.